Cleveland’s underground death metal force Vicar Blood made their presence felt on the airwaves last Friday night, delivering a raw and relentless performance on The Zach Moonshine Show. From debut single ‘When War Comes‘ to crushing riffs and gut-punch grooves, the appearance captured a band fueled by old-school aggression and sharpened by modern precision.

Frontman Dan Gates shared how the project came together in true contemporary fashion, after vocalist Veda heard riffs he had posted online and suggested starting a band. The lineup quickly solidified with Steve Fernandez on bass, Will on guitar, and Charlie on drums, leading to their first live show in December opening for Castrator in Cleveland.

Vicar Blood’s intensity is matched by a hands-on approach to sound. Gates detailed the band’s DIY process—writing, mixing, mastering, and dialing in guitar tones using drop A tuning on a seven-string through a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier—ensuring the brutality lands with clarity and force.

With most of a full-length album already written and a release planned ahead of Inkcarceration Fest 2026, Vicar Blood are moving with purpose.