Glen Alvelais

Last updated

Glen Alvelais (born February 22, 1968) is an American heavy metal guitarist from the San Francisco Bay Area. He was the lead guitarist for the thrash metal band Forbidden [1] and has also played in Testament. [1]

Contents

Career

Forbidden

Alvelais joined Forbidden (then known as "Forbidden Evil") in 1987 as the replacement for Robb Flynn who had quit to join Vio-lence. Alvelais recorded three demos with the band, followed by their cult classic debut Forbidden Evil . [1] After the 1989 touring to support the album, whose Dynamo Open Air appearance was captured on the live album "Raw Evil - Live at the Dynamo", Alvelais parted ways with the band.

Testament

In 1992, lead guitarist Alex Skolnick informed Testament that he would be leaving the band at the end of the tour and chose Glen as someone he thought would be a good replacement for him. [2] The remaining band members agreed, and Glen joined the band. Glen toured with the band who was still on a touring cycle for The Ritual and appears in the music video for "Return to Serenity". One show from this tour, November 27 at the Hollywood Palladium, was captured on the live EP Return to the Apocalyptic City . Glen struggled to be part of the writing team of Testament, and this friction resulted in him leaving the band. Glen was asked to rejoin the band in 1997 for a guest solo for the Demonic album on the song "New Eyes of Old" and the follow-on touring cycle for the album. The Dynamo Open Air show from this tour was recorded and released as "Live at Dynamo Open Air 1997". Again there was friction as Glen tried to make his way into the writing team and he and the band parted ways again.

Later activities

In 2008, Alvelais orchestrated the reuniting of Forbidden, but left the band in 2009 after the end of the initial reunion touring cycle. [3]

Glen also was recruited to play lead guitar for the metal band Tenet, featuring Jed Simon, Gene Hoglan, and Steve "Zetro" Souza. [4] The band's debut album "Sovereign" was released in 2009 on Century Media Records.

Alvelais projects include, "LD/50", which features vocalist Clark Brown, bassist Terry Goss, and drummer Tony Providence. The lineup formerly included noted drummer Jeremy Colson. [1]

He later worked with "Earth Crawler", which consisted of members of Falling to Pieces, Left of Christ, Divided, and Scorched-Earth Policy. In 2017, Earth Crawler independently released their first EP entitled, "From Below". The album features vocalist - Ryan Reynoso, Guitarist - Kimo Sanborn, Bassist - Terry Goss, and Drummer - Nick Benigno.

Discography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Poland</span> American guitarist (born 1957)

Chris Poland is an American guitarist, best known as the former guitarist of the thrash metal band Megadeth. Since 2002, Poland has been the guitarist of the instrumental rock/jazz fusion bands OHM and OHMphrey, among others, and has appeared on several projects and albums from a variety of different genres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flotsam and Jetsam (band)</span> American thrash metal band

Flotsam and Jetsam is an American thrash metal band that was formed in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1981. Before settling on its current name in 1984, the band had existed under three different names, Paradox, Dredlox and Dogz. Their current lineup includes vocalist Eric "A.K" Knutson, guitarists Michael Gilbert and Steve Conley, bassist Bill Bodily, and drummer Ken Mary. Flotsam and Jetsam went through several lineup changes over the years, leaving Knutson as the only constant member. They are also notable for featuring a then-unknown Jason Newsted, who was Flotsam and Jetsam's bassist from 1981 to 1986, when he left the band shortly after the release of their debut album to join Metallica.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vader (band)</span> Polish death metal band

Vader is a Polish death metal band from Olsztyn. Formed in 1983, the group was founded by then-bassist Piotr "Peter" Wiwczarek and guitarist Zbigniew "Vika" Wróblewski. Vader went through several lineup changes over the years, with Wiwczarek as the only constant member. Since 2022, the band has comprised Wiwczarek on lead guitar and vocals, rhythm guitarist Marek "Spider" Pająk, bassist Tomasz "Hal" Halicki, and drummer Michał Andrzejczyk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sacred Reich</span> American thrash metal band

Sacred Reich is an American thrash metal band based in Phoenix, Arizona, that was formed in 1985. The band split in 2000, but reunited in 2006. Sacred Reich has been credited, along with Testament, Destruction, Death Angel and Dark Angel, for leading the second wave of thrash metal in the late 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Testament (band)</span> American thrash metal band

Testament is an American thrash metal band from Berkeley, California. Formed in 1983 under the name Legacy, the band's current lineup comprises rhythm guitarist Eric Peterson, lead vocalist Chuck Billy, lead guitarist Alex Skolnick, bassist Steve Di Giorgio and drummer Chris Dovas. Testament has experienced many lineup changes over the years, with Peterson being the only remaining original member, though they have since reunited with Skolnick, who had been out of the band from 1992 to 2005. Billy has been a member of Testament since 1986, when he replaced original singer Steve "Zetro" Souza, who had left to replace Paul Baloff in Exodus. Peterson and Billy are the only members to appear on all of Testament's studio albums. The band has released thirteen studio albums, four live albums, five compilation albums, thirteen singles and three DVDs. They are estimated to have sold over 1.4 million albums in the United States since the beginning of the SoundScan era, and over 14 million copies worldwide as of 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Bostaph</span> American drummer

Paul Steven Bostaph is an American drummer best known as a member of the thrash metal band Slayer, initially from 1992 to 2001, again from 2013 to 2019, and in 2024, after the reunion. His drumming career began in 1984 when he was 20 years old. In addition to Slayer, he has worked with bands such as Forbidden, Exodus, Systematic, Testament, and BlackGates. Metal-Rules.com describes Bostaph as "a true professional and one of the best drummers on today's metal music scene".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forbidden (band)</span> American thrash metal band

Forbidden is an American thrash metal band from the San Francisco Bay Area, California. They formed in 1985 as Forbidden Evil, but would change their name in 1987. Since their formation, Forbidden have broken up and reformed twice with numerous line-up changes. After breaking up for the first time in 1997, Forbidden reunited once again in 2007, went into an indefinite hiatus in 2012, but reformed in 2023. The current line-up of the band is Norman Skinner (vocals), Craig Locicero (guitar), Matt Camacho (bass), Steve Smyth (guitar) and Chris Kontos (drums).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sadus</span> American thrash metal band

Sadus is an American thrash metal band from Antioch, California, active from 1985[A] to 2015, and reunited in 2017. Originally a quartet, the band's sound fuses thrash metal with death metal, featuring highly technical musicianship. They are known for the unique death growl of vocalist Darren Travis, and bassist Steve Di Giorgio. During their career, Sadus has released six studio albums, one compilation album and four demos, and had two lineup changes, with the band continuing without replacing any of the departed members.

Tenet is a heavy metal band formed as a side project by Jed Simon of Strapping Young Lad and Zimmers Hole.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exodus (band)</span> American thrash metal band

Exodus is an American thrash metal band formed in 1979 in Richmond, California. Their current lineup consists of guitarists Gary Holt and Lee Altus, bassist Jack Gibson, drummer Tom Hunting, and lead vocalist Steve "Zetro" Souza. There are no original members left in Exodus other than Hunting, who has departed from the band twice, in 1989 and 2004, but rejoined in 2007. Exodus is also notable for including a then-unknown Kirk Hammett, who was the band's lead guitarist from its inception to his departure in 1983, when he left to join fellow Bay Area thrash metal band Metallica as Dave Mustaine's replacement. Holt has been most consistent member throughout various lineup changes and breakups, and is the only member to appear on all of Exodus' recordings. Much of the band's career has also been affected by feuds between both band members and record companies, two extended hiatuses, deaths of former band members and drug addictions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gene Hoglan</span> American drummer

Eugene Victor Hoglan II is an American drummer, acclaimed for his creativity in drum arrangements, including use of abstract devices for percussion effects and his trademark lengthy double-kick drum rhythms. Though his playing style is very technically demanding, he retains high accuracy at extreme tempos, earning him the nicknames "The Atomic Clock" and "Human Drum Machine".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vio-lence</span> American thrash metal band

Vio-lence is an American thrash metal band formed in 1985 in the San Francisco Bay Area. Throughout its career, they have released demo tapes, three EPs and three studio albums. Vio-lence is best-known for their association with the 1980s Bay Area thrash metal scene, and often credited as one of the leading lights of the second wave of the genre. They are also considered to be a member of the "Big Six of Bay Area Thrash Metal," alongside Exodus, Testament, Death Angel, Lȧȧz Rockit and Forbidden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Death Angel</span> American thrash metal band

Death Angel is an American thrash metal band from Daly City, California, initially active from 1982 to 1991 and again since 2001. It has released nine studio albums, two demo tapes, one box set and three live albums. The band has gone through several line-up changes, leaving guitarist Rob Cavestany as the only constant member; he and vocalist Mark Osegueda are the only members of to appear on all of their studio albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Krisiun</span> Brazilian death metal band

Krisiun is a Brazilian death metal band, founded by brothers Alex Camargo, Moyses Kolesne (guitars) and Max Kolesne (drums). Since its formation in 1990, the group recorded two demos, Evil Age in 1991 and Curse of the Evil One in 1992, and self-released an extended play (EP) titled Unmerciful Order in 1993. After signing with Dynamo Records, Krisiun released the debut full-length Black Force Domain in 1995, followed by Apocalyptic Revelation, in 1998. They signed with major label Century Media in 1999, releasing a further ten studio albums.

<i>Demonic</i> (album) 1997 studio album by Testament

Demonic is the seventh studio album by American thrash metal band Testament. Released in 1997 with original members Chuck Billy (vocals) and Eric Peterson (guitar), the record also features artists Derrick Ramirez (bass), Gene Hoglan (drums) and Glen Alvelais (guitar). Ramirez was previously the band's first guitarist, and Alvelais had previously performed with Testament on the 1993 live album, Return to the Apocalyptic City. Demonic was also Testament's only album with Hoglan for 15 years, until he rejoined and performed on the album Dark Roots of Earth (2012).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heathen (band)</span> American thrash metal band

Heathen is an American thrash metal band originating from the San Francisco Bay Area, active from 1984 to 1993 and again from 2001 onwards. Despite never achieving commercial success, the band is often credited – alongside Exodus, Testament, Forbidden, Death Angel and Vio-lence – as one of the leaders of the Bay Area thrash metal scene of the mid-to-late 1980s, and they have gone through several lineup changes, leaving guitarist Lee Altus as the only constant member. To date, Heathen has released four studio albums: Breaking the Silence (1987), Victims of Deception (1991), The Evolution of Chaos (2009) and Empire of the Blind (2020).

<i>Forbidden Evil</i> (album) 1988 studio album by Forbidden

Forbidden Evil is the debut album by American thrash metal band Forbidden, released in 1988. The title of the album refers to their original name before shortening it to Forbidden in 1987. The album was well received by both critics and fans and eventually became a cult classic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jon Dette</span> American drummer

Jonathan Dette is an American heavy metal drummer best known for his time in Slayer and Testament. Over the years, he has also been chosen to fill-in with Anthrax, Heathen, and Iced Earth. Dette also played with Evildead and Impellitteri for several years.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Metal-Rules: Interview with Glen Alvelais - Forbidden, Testament, LD/50
  2. "The New Order". Guitar School. July 1993.
  3. Guitarist Glen Alvelais Quits Forbidden blabbermouth.net
  4. "Blabbermouth.net". Archived from the original on October 28, 2003. Retrieved October 18, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)blabbermouth.net