Diablo Blvd
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Founder | Alex Agnew, Dave Hubrechts |
| Defunct | 2018 |
| Headquarters | Belgium |
| Products | Albums, singles, music videos |
Diablo Blvd was a Belgian band specializing in hard rock and heavy metal, established in 2005.
History
The inception of Diablo Blvd dates back to 2005, initiated by vocalist Alex Agnew, who is also recognized as a prominent stand-up comedian within the Benelux region, alongside guitarist Dave Hubrechts. The ensemble was rounded out by guitarist and composer Andries Beckers (formerly of Born from Pain), bassist Tim Bekaert (associated with A Brand), and drummer Kris Martens (from Tangled Horns).
In 2006, the group issued their demo titled Scarred and Undefeated on cassette format and secured a contract with PIAS (Play It Again Sam).
Over the subsequent two years, Diablo Blvd crafted their first full-length album The Greater God, produced by Ace Zec. Upon its 2009 release, it attained position No. 33 on the Belgian album charts. The band enhanced their visibility by performing at prominent Belgian festivals such as Graspop Metal Meeting and Pukkelpop.
Their sophomore album Builders of Empires was released in 2011, with mixing handled by Swedish producer Jens Bogren. It debuted at number 21 in Belgium. The track "Black Heart Bleed" emerged as a staple in their live performances. Additionally, they produced a music video for "Saint of Killers," drawing inspiration from the comic series Preacher.
In May 2014, the third studio album Follow the Deadlights was launched under Sony Music, achieving a peak chart position of No. 3 in Belgium. The recording took place at ICP Studio in Brussels, with mixing by Jay Ruston and mastering by Paul Logus—both renowned for collaborations with Anthrax, Stone Sour, among others.
By November 2014, Diablo Blvd had inked a global agreement with Nuclear Blast. CEO Markus Staiger highlighted the song "Rise Like Lions" favorably. Nuclear Blast reissued Follow the Deadlights in January 2015. Subsequent lineup adjustments saw Dave Hubrechts leave and Tim Bekaert transition to guitar duties. The band then embarked on an extensive 17-month European tour, supporting notable acts including Epica, Machine Head, Ace Frehley, and Life of Agony during their US dates.
On 28 June 2018, Diablo Blvd declared their dissolution, concluding with farewell concerts culminating on December 10 at the Ancienne Belgique venue.
Albums
- 2009: The Greater God
- 2011: Builders of Empires
- 2014: Follow the Deadlights
- 2017: Zero Hour
Demos
- 2006: Scarred and Undefeated
Singles
- 2011: Black Heart Bleed
- 2013: Rise Like Lions
- 2014: Beyond the Veil, Follow the Deadlights, Son of Cain
Music videos
- 2011: "Saint of Killers"
- 2014: "Follow the Deadlights"
- 2014: "Son of Cain"