Varga (band)

Last updated

Varga
Origin Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Genres Progressive metal, industrial metal, thrash metal, heavy metal
Years active1989 - 1998, 2012 - present
Labels Zoo Entertainment, BMG
MembersJoe Varga
Dan Fila
Sean Williamson
Adam Alex
Websitevargahq.com

Varga is a Canadian metal band that was formed in 1985. "Freeze Don't Move" and "Greed", from their Prototype album, were minor hits on MuchMusic throughout 1993. [1] Dan Fila and Sean Williamson were later members of Hypodust, an industrial metal band hailing from Hamilton, Ontario. In 2012 Varga reformed, going back to their progressive metal roots, and released two new full-length albums, Enter The Metal (2013) and Return of the Metal (2014). [2]

Contents

History

1985-1992

Varga was formed in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada in 1985. Their first independent cassette, Multiple Wargasms, [3] was released in 1991, garnering positive reviews both locally and internationally, featuring a progressive/thrash metal sound. In 1992, the band recorded a full-length album for New York independent label Maze America, but the label folded and the CD was never released. [4]

1993-1997

Varga signed with Zoo/BMG in 1993, and released Prototype the following year, introducing some industrial elements to their sound. [5] The band was nominated for a Canadian Juno award for "Best Hard Rock Act", [6] and was one of the first bands to perform live on MuchMusic's Power 30, and toured extensively in the U.S. and Canada. In the U.S. the band's video for "Greed" was picked up on Headbangers Ball , and was featured in an episode of Beavis and Butthead. In 1995, the band released Oxygen, but with little support from the label, and no hit songs, the band parted ways with BMG, but not before opening for international acts such as White Zombie [7] and Metallica. [8]

1998-2010

After disbanding in 1998, the members continued to perform individually. From 2002 to 2008, Dan Fila and Sean Williamson were members of industrial/metal band "Hypodust". Dan, Sean, and Joe Varga also performed during this time in a classic-metal cover band called "SuperBlaster". [9]

2011-Present

Through social media, the band reconnected with Adam Alex in 2011. It quickly became apparent that the old chemistry was still there, and the band decided to once again enter the studio, with producer Julius Butty (Alexisonfire, Protest The Hero). [10]

Personnel

Discography

Albums

Compilation appearances

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Econoline Crush</span> Canadian rock band

Econoline Crush is a Canadian rock band from Vancouver, British Columbia, formed in 1992. They have released five studio albums and are known for their charting singles such as "You Don't Know What It's Like", "Home", "Surefire ", "All That You Are (X3)", "Make It Right", and "Dirty". They achieved platinum status with the 1997 album The Devil You Know and also received two Juno nominations, in 1995 and 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beatallica</span> American band

Beatallica is a mash-up band that plays music made from combinations of songs of the Beatles and Metallica. A Beatallica song is typically a blend of a Beatles song and a Metallica song with a related title, though sometimes just a Beatles song will be used as a basis with modified lyrics. The lyrics slip back and forth between the two songs, or occasionally neither, in lieu of original lyrics comically referencing Metallica, heavy metal music, or the heavy metal community. While the scansion and melody are usually Beatles-based, the music is played metal style with some Metallica riffs and solos thrown in. Consistent quirks made in the lyrics also criticize glam metal much in the fashion that thrash metal fans would do, as well as many references to blood. Their version of "I Want to Hold Your Hand" called "I Want to Choke Your Band", is an example of their criticism towards glam metal.

Ronald J. McGovney is an American semi-retired musician, best known as the original bass guitarist in the heavy metal band Metallica from October 1981 to December 1982.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Messiah Marcolin</span> Swedish heavy metal singer

Messiah Marcolin, also known as Eddie Marcolin, is a Swedish singer best known for his work in the epic doom metal band Candlemass. He is well known for his operatic voice and for his signature "Doom Dance".

Noise Records is a German heavy metal record label founded in 1983 by German music industry personality Karl-Ulrich Walterbach as an expansion of his company Modern Music Records. It was sold to the Sanctuary Records Group in 2001 and ceased any activity in 2007 due to the bankruptcy of Sanctuary. The Noise catalogue was consequently acquired by Universal Music Group later on. In April 2016, BMG Rights Management, which had acquired Sanctuary Records in 2013, announced that it would revive the Noise Records label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anvil (band)</span> Canadian heavy metal band

Anvil is a Canadian heavy metal band from Toronto, Ontario, formed in 1978. The band currently consists of founding members Steve "Lips" Kudlow, Robb Reiner (drums), and Chris Robertson (bass). As of 2022, the band has released nineteen studio albums, and has been cited as having influenced many notable heavy metal groups, including Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax, and Metallica.

Threat Signal is a Canadian heavy metal band from Hamilton, Ontario. The band has had numerous lineup changes, with only Jon Howard remaining from the original incarnation. Their music is often classified as metalcore, melodic death metal, groove metal and industrial metal.

Pokolgép is a Hungarian heavy metal band formed in the early 1980s. They were among the first heavy metal bands in Hungary along with Moby Dick. The name "Pokolgép" literally means Infernal Machine, but is the Hungarian word for a home-made bomb.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julius Butty</span> Musical artist

Julius Butty is a Canadian record producer. From 2004 thru 2016, he was the owner/producer of Silo Recording Studio. In late 2016, he began work on his new recording studio and in August 2018 ARC Recording Studio opened in Hamilton, Ontario.

Sven Gali is a Canadian hard rock/heavy metal band which originally started as a cover band in 1987 in Hamilton, Ontario, and Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. The 2018 line-up includes all three remaining original members: Dave Wanless (vocals), Andy Frank (guitar), Shawn Minden (bass); as well as new members Sean Williamson (guitar) and Dan Fila (drums).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Milne</span> Canadian jazz pianist (born 1969)

Andy Milne is a Canadian jazz pianist, who records and performs both as a solo artist and as the leader of the ensemble Dapp Theory. He was born in Hamilton, Ontario, and raised in Kincardine and Toronto. One of ten siblings, he studied music at York University, where he was a student of Oscar Peterson.

Fantom Warior is an American thrash metal band that was founded in 1984 in Union, New Jersey. consisting of John Chernack, Keith Pires, James Jensen (drums) and Steve Schley (guitar). The band's major influences were Slayer, Metallica and Anthrax. Fantom Warior had a self-distributed demo and album as well as appearing on a compilation album. Fantom Warior's musical style was said to be hardcore thrash similar to Slayer and Kreator with changes throughout their songs that mix speedcore and very heavy thrash. Their music contained a blend of speed and technical development unknown to some of the other bands of their time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Starr</span> Musical artist

Jack Starr is an American heavy metal and blues guitarist and songwriter, born of a French mother and American father.

<i>Exciter</i> (Exciter album) 1988 studio album by Exciter

Exciter is the fifth studio album by the Canadian speed metal band Exciter, released through the Canadian label Maze Music in 1988. The album was re-released in 1995 Magnetic Air Records and again by Megaforce Records in 2005 with the title O.T.T., which stands for "Over the Top". This is the first album as a quartet, with new frontman Rob Malnati replacing Dan Beehler as lead vocalist of the band; however Beehler still performs drums and backing vocals.

Arkells is a Canadian rock band, formed in Hamilton, Ontario. In 2006, they signed with Dine Alone Records, and have since signed with Universal Records Canada and Last Gang Records. They are managed by Last Gang Management. They have released six albums, two EPs and a number of singles that have charted in Canada. The band has won multiple Juno Awards, including one for their album High Noon in 2015. The band headlined the 108th Grey Cup halftime show in Hamilton, Ontario on December 12, 2021.

Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives is an online encyclopedia based upon musical artists who predominantly perform heavy metal music along with its various sub-genres. Encyclopaedia Metallum was described by Matt Sullivan of Nashville Scene as "the Internet's central database for all that is 'tr00' in the metal world." Terrorizer described the site as "a fully-exhaustive list of pretty much every metal band ever, with full discographies, an active forum and an interlinking members list that shows the ever-incestuous beauty of the metal scene". Nevertheless, there are exceptions for bands which fall under disputed genres not accepted by the website.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eldritch (band)</span>

Eldritch is a power metal band formed in 1991 in Italy.

ANCIIENTS are a Canadian heavy metal band from Vancouver, British Columbia. The band was founded by vocalist and guitarist Kenny Cook, guitarists Brock MacInnes and Chris Dyck, bassist Aaron "Boon" Gustafson and drummer Mike Hannay.

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

Evocation is a Swedish death metal band from Borås.

References

  1. "Varga - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives".
  2. "Splash".
  3. "Varga - Multiple Wargasms - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives".
  4. http://www.viewmag.com/13931-Hamilton+Music+Notes.htm [ dead link ]
  5. "Varga - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives".
  6. "Artist Summary | The JUNO Awards". junoawards.ca. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013.
  7. "Montreal Concerts".
  8. "Metallica at Phoenix Concert Theatre (23 Jun 1996)".
  9. http://www.viewmag.com/13931-Hamilton+Music+Notes.htm [ dead link ]
  10. "VARGA To Release 'Enter The Metal' Next Month". BlabberMouth. 7 September 2013.