Fatal Opera
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Founder | Gar Samuelson |
| Headquarters | Orange City, Florida , United States |
| Products | Music albums |
Fatal Opera was a United States-based band specializing in thrash metal and progressive metal, established by drummer Gar Samuelson following his 1987 exit from Megadeth and subsequent move to Orange City, Florida. The group originally featured Gar’s brother Stew Samuelson on guitar, Travis Karcher handling bass duties, David Inman as the vocalist, and Jeff Bloom on guitar. After their initial demo, Bloom departed, and Inman left post the first album, with Bill Brehme stepping in on guitar and Andy Freeman taking over vocal responsibilities.
During the 1990s, Fatal Opera issued two studio albums through Massacre Records: Fatal Opera and The Eleventh Hour. These works were re-released in the 2020s by Divebomb Records, including previously unreleased bonus material. The debut album garnered a 9/10 score from Metal Temple Magazine in 2018, receiving acclaim for its composition and instrumental performance, despite some criticism regarding vocal delivery and production quality.
In 2022, Combat Records unveiled Fatal Opera III, an album comprising recordings initiated prior to Gar Samuelson’s passing in 1999. This release features guest contributions from ex-Megadeth members Chris Poland and David Ellefson, alongside Robbie "Pags" Pagliari, who played bass in Samuelson’s earlier fusion ensemble The New Yorkers during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Discography
Fatal Opera (1995)
All compositions by G. Samuelson except track 1 credited to Fatal Opera; track 10 is a Jimi Hendrix cover. Lyrics written by G. Samuelson except for track 1 (co-written by D. Inman & G. Samuelson), track 8 (by D. Inman), and track 10 (by Jimi Hendrix).
- Dave Inman – vocals
- Stew Samuelson – guitar
- Travis Karcher – bass
- Gar Samuelson – drums
The Eleventh Hour (1997)
Fatal Opera III (2022)