Kill Devil Hill (band)
American heavy metal supergroup formed in 2011.
Kill Devil Hill is an American heavy metal supergroup that came together in 2011. The founding members were drummer Vinny Appice (known from Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, and Dio), bassist Rex Brown (Pantera and Down), guitarist Mark Zavon (formerly of 40 Cycle Hum), and lead vocalist Dewey Bragg. Their name comes from Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, a town with a history tied to piracy. Critics have described their music as "heavy and modern without succumbing to typical contemporary hardcore trappings – indecipherable vocals or overused blast beats."
The band released their first album, a self-titled effort, in May 2012, and later toured the United States alongside Adrenaline Mob. In March 2014, Vinny Appice left the group to focus on other projects; he later cited his bandmates' lack of punctuality as the reason. Former Type O Negative drummer Johnny Kelly stepped in as his replacement. Kill Devil Hill performed on Motörhead's Boat Cruise in September 2014, and afterward began writing new material with Kelly. They recorded at Stagg Street Studios in California with engineer Josh Newell, who had worked with Linkin Park and In This Moment.
In February 2023, the band signed with Legend Recordings and announced a new album for that year, releasing the single "Blood in the Water." On August 24, they revealed the album's title, *Seas of Oblivion*, with a release date of September 20.
Current members are Dewey Bragg on vocals, Mark Zavon on guitar, Johnny Kelly on drums, and Matt Snell on bass, who joined in 2021. Former members include Rex Brown (bass, 2011–2019), Vinny Appice (drums, 2011–2014), and Nico D'Arnese (bass, 2019–2021). The band's discography consists of *Kill Devil Hill* (2012), *Revolution Rise* (2013), and *Seas of Oblivion* (2023).
In July 2015, Texas Hippie Coalition bassist John Exall formed a side project called Smoke Hollow with Ashes from Static-X, Dewey Bragg, and Ralf Mueggler from Crowned by Fire. The town of Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, is most famous as the site of the Wright brothers' first failed flight attempt, which destroyed their catapulted projectile.
- formed
- 2011
- origin
- United States
- genre
- Heavy metal
- years_active
- 2011–present
- label
- Legend Recordings
- associated_acts
- Black Sabbath, Pantera, Type O Negative, Dio, Heaven & Hell, Down
Lore & Background
Kill Devil Hill released their self-titled debut album in May 2012 and toured the US with rock band Adrenaline Mob. On March 10, 2014, drummer Vinny Appice left the band to commit to other projects, citing the lack of punctuality of his bandmates; he was replaced by former Type O Negative drummer Johnny Kelly. The band performed on Motörhead's Boat Cruise in September 2014 and then began writing another album with Kelly, recording at Stagg Street Studios in California with engineer Josh Newell (Linkin Park, In This Moment).
On February 24, 2023, the band announced they had signed with Legend Recordings and released a new single titled 'Blood in the Water' from their upcoming third album. On August 24, 2023, they announced their third album, Seas of Oblivion, would be released on September 20. The band's current lineup includes Dewey Bragg (vocals), Mark Zavon (guitars), Johnny Kelly (drums), and Matt Snell (bass, since 2021). Former members include Rex Brown (bass, 2011–2019), Vinny Appice (drums, 2011–2014), and Nico D'Arnese (bass, 2019–2021).
Reader's Guide
Kill Devil Hill occupies a notable place in modern heavy metal as a supergroup drawing members from iconic acts like Black Sabbath, Pantera, and Type O Negative. Their debut album in 2012 and follow-up Revolution Rise in 2013 established a sound that was heavy and modern yet avoided typical hardcore clichés. The band's lineup changes, particularly the departure of founding drummer Vinny Appice in 2014 and the later replacement of bassist Rex Brown, reflect the challenges of sustaining a supergroup. Their signing with Legend Recordings in 2023 and the release of Seas of Oblivion that same year demonstrate continued activity. The band's name, derived from Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, ties them to both pirate lore and the Wright brothers' early aviation attempts. Their significance lies in bridging classic heavy metal pedigree with a contemporary edge, appealing to fans of traditional and modern metal alike.
Did You Know?
- The band is named after Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, a location renowned from pirating days.
- Vinny Appice left the band in 2014 due to the lack of punctuality of his bandmates.
- In July 2015, Dewey Bragg joined a new musical ensemble called Smoke Hollow alongside members of Static-X and Texas Hippie Coalition.
- Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, is best known as the site of the Wright brothers' first failed attempt at flying.
More in American heavy metal supergroups 1-24
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