I know I am in the minority on this one, but the album does nothing for me. Once dead (Band) blows Roger Rising away IMHO. I remember being excited that New VR was coming out, I saw the cover and throught it was even goofier than the one that preceeds it. The music is forgettable and production bad. I agree with Ult that I would have liked to hear what this album would have sounded like had the rest of the band not yet quit - sorry Spec!

If you like this one, great - enjoy it!

I only know the song Before the Time, which I frankly find a little crappy. Never bothered to check this album out.

Back when 'Destruction Comes' came out, I was not as hung up line-up etc., so I didn't even notice at first that this was almost an entirely new band. I just know I liked the music. Roger and his new pals released a heavier effort with this album, even slowing the pace down a bit here and there, and delivering some death metal elements. Ex-Deliverance drummer, Chris Hyde, gets a joke tune named after him ("Hyde Under Pressure"). The original release of this album came with a sticker on the jewel case, that covered up the torn body of the body-builder, making the man look unharmed. But getting a used copy that has this sticker still intact have so far seemed impossible. This release have not managed to hold the test of time as good as its 2 predecessors. The songs sound too much like each other, and has little variation. It still has its choice cuts, like "You Can't Stop It" and my favorite, "Thanatos" to name a few. This is not to say that this is a bad album, I actually still like it. It just cannot touch 'Human Sacrifice' or 'Once Dead'.

I was pretty late in getting a CD-player. So when 'Destruction Comes' was released, I bought the cassette version (I already had the first 2 albums on cassette and vinyl). And, as usual, I played the crap out of that tape. Then my brother loaned it, to play it for some unsaved kids living at a troubled youth center where he was working at the time. The tape ended up stolen, so I can only hope it managed to minister to someone at that center.

Trivia: Some songs were written to be included on this album, before most of the members left and formed Die Happy. 2 of them were performed on the 'Once Dead'-tour, namely "The Wailing" and "The Contract". "The Wailing" ended up on the first Die Happy album, but then renamed "Cage". The band also did a photo shoot in front of the Jim Jones temple, which of course later appeared in drawing on the actual cover for 'Destruction Comes'.

Killer tracks: You Can't Stop It, The Rising, Before The Time, Countless Corpses, Thanatos, You Will Bow, Raegoul

Maybe I'm wrong, but I think a lot of the people who were very disappointed in this album had a preconceived idea about it (since they were disappointed that only Roger was left).

Perhaps not. But I think this is the case much of the time when I hear about all the negative views toward this album.

Taken on it's own (if a person had no idea about the band's past and how the members had left), this album is a thrash platter to be contended with.

It is very similar in nature to what Germany was producing in the thrash department. So if Kreator and Sodom wasn't your thing - then it makes sense this album wouldn't be as good for you.

It just so happens that at the time this album came out, Kreator was my all time favorite thrash band. So I found a lot to enjoy with "Destruction Comes". I like the simplified, abrasive thrash concoction Roger created here.

Then again, I can also understand why someone wouldn't like this album as much too.

Damn I missed a lot going on in this forum, but you all post so fast that it doesn't give much of a chance to other posters.

I heard the demo in high school from a friend and thats how I got into VR. Awesome demo though!

Human Sacrifice pushed a lot of boundaries and the band was accepted throughout the entire metal underground at the time. Only one song I hated and that was Mulligan Stew.

Once Dead I picked up before it was even officially released. Went to a show that The Crucified, VR< and Deliverance played with some friends of mine called Revelatr and the show was rained out and canceled so the band started selling them that day before stores got them. I was blown away by this record, but the production was real sloppy.

Destruction Comes was horrendous. Every song almost sounds the same and I think there were 3 songs that had the same riff. My least favorite of them all.

No not one song on that was any good to me. Seemed like it was rushed an no thought went into it at all. Chris' drumming was good but thats all the credibility I can give DC.

LOL yeah Roger does look a little bit like Steve Sousa here.

I always thought this video was pretty cool.

Think it's time for the next album to be released upon the earth!

Alright, without further adue...the final VR album written by me while kinda f'd up in the head after new years...




VENGEANCE RISING Released upon the earth 1992

Roger Martinez-vocals, lead and rhythm and bass guitars
Johnny Vasquez-drums
Jamie Mitchell-lead guitars
Simon Dawg(George Ochoa)-rhythm guitars
Joe "manic" monsorb'nik(Victor Macias)-Bass guitars

1.Help Me
2.The damnation of judas and the salvation of the thief
3.Released upon the earth
4.Human dark potential
5.Instruments of death
6.Lest you be judged
7.out of bounds
8.Bishop of souls
9.Tion
10.You will be hated


For the very last VR album Roger manages to scrape together another batch of thrashers to crank out 10 more songs to fulfill the original Intense records deal. Roger always liked to consider VR as grindcore and related Vengeance to Napalm death and Godflesh very frequently...heck man, a vid for the destruction comes album even appeared on the grindcore edition of Hard n heavy at one point. Well, I think this record is the closest to that kind of sound that Vengeance ever had. Roger experimnts with some heavy duty death growls, but also mixes in the same unique yelp from before. Guitars have that distinct death buzz on certain songs....etc. Following the Destruction comes tour, Roger hired all new musicians for this record including Jimmy P. Brown and George ochoa of Deliverance and Victor Macias of Tourniquet(both under pseudonames). Also Jamie Mitchell who was from the christian themed punk band scaterd few covers lead guitars on a few tracks. This is my least favorate VR album, but thats not to say that this disc shreds. The first time I heard "help me" I was ultra chilled, just like the end of beheaded from Human sacrifice.


As most know, after this record alot of drastic happenings occured, I didnt really want to go into the details when I started this complete works as the info is fairly well documented, but while I'm typing this I figured I would just give a brief summary without most of the drama involved....

Inbetween the recording process of Once dead and Destruction comes, Roger flew over to Australia to help with the producing work on Mortifications Break the curse album. When he came back to the states to finish the Once dead tour, the band realized that they were not making the profit off merch, etc that they were hoping and needless to say the Once dead tour turned out to be a bit of a flop. Following this, the other members of VR including Larry farkas, Doug Thieme, Roger Dale Martin, and Glenn Mancaruso made a decision to hand over everything rights-wise to Roger Martinez and to form their new band, Die Happy. Roger Agreed and accepted the responsibility to finish Intenses contract of a 4 album quoto. Roger I think had strong desire to finish what he helped start with VR, but took on WAY to much, and I believe this wore him down to a point where he couldnt take it anymore and had a mental breakdown resulting in him turning his back on most of his friends like Steve Rowe, Sanctuary church, his own wife Ruby....etc.

All the intrique aside, VR will always be a very historic band and can be argued that they helped metal within the christian circles become widespread and acceptable with the general metal scene just like what Petra, Stryper, and Rez band did before them. VR just took the Rad thrash approach.

'Released Upon The Earth' was to be the last album by Vengeance Rising. Roger took the band even further into the death metal style. The core is still thrash, but his vocals are much more in the growling vein. He did get some help from some old acquaintances, as George Ochoa (Recon, Deliverance, Mortification) plays rhythm guitar (under the pseudonym Simon Dawg), and a bunch of other profiles do some backing vocals. Unfortunately, this album is not at all as good as any of the 3 other albums Vengeance Rising released. The album delivers more songs that are mediocre, and less songs that I enjoy to this very day. The whole deal just gets repetitive, and without any real variation. Roger is a much better vocalist then he ever was an instrumentalist, and here non of it really works. The first track on the album pretty much spells it out. A pretty sad ending to one of my all time favorite bands.
One of the worst days in my life was being a youngster entering a record store in Oslo and finding this release on CD. First of all, I didn't even know it was out (living in Norway, and never getting to read the Christian metal magazines, it was impossible to keep up with all the new releases coming out in the US), and secondly, I didn't have any money!! Man, my brain was frying as I had to leave that store without getting to buy this CD. So it wasn't until several years later, when I got the internet, that I was able to track this album down for my collection. Now I own a copy signed by Johnny Vasquez, thanks to Nordic Mission.
Killer tracks: Instruments Of Death, Bishop Of Souls, You Will Be Hated

My thoughts:

I can't believe they released this garbage upon the earth!!!!

I don't know, I sort of like this one. It has attitude. It's raw, yet has hook. Nowhere near what the band was, but still a cool thrash metal album. Some early death metal influences as well. Not sure how Roger ever thought this was "grindcore", but either way, it's still an aggressive album. "Bishop of Souls" is a cool worship song.

Okay - there is not any doubt that this album is the weak link in the Vengeance Rising catalogue.

But having said that, I still like it. There is plenty to enjoy here and enough quality material to redeem the album on the whole.

However, you could sort of feel the end was coming with this one. Roger's heart just wasn't in it anymore. Quite a drastic change from the album just before it (Destruction Comes), which really had Roger firing on all cylinders - and is to this day my favorite VR album.


Overall rating/ranking of the VR catalogue:

1. Destruction Comes 9/10
2. Human Sacrifice 8.75/10
3. Once Dead 8.5/10
4. Released Upon the Earth 8/10

I contemplated seeking the oppurtunity to play on this but didn't make the call to the phone number given to me. Back then, I was so caught up in the term "music ministry" that I forgot to seek out things that may have turned out to be alot of fun.

When I saw George at Cornerstone California, we discussed that phone number. He clowned me, saying, you were "almost" in alot of things weren't you.

Good songs here and there but directionless

Fer me....

1. Destruction Comes 9/10
2. Released Upon the Earth 8/10
3. Once Dead 8/10
4. Human Sacrifice 5/10