Von (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1987 in O'ahu, Hawaii, United States |
| Headquarters | San Francisco , United States |
| Products | Black metal music |
Von is a black metal group from the United States, originally established in 1987 on O'ahu, Hawaii before moving their base to San Francisco. They played a significant role in shaping the second wave of black metal.
There is a common misconception that the band's name is an acronym for "Victory Orgasm Nazi(s)," stemming from a misinterpretation by Varg Vikernes during a telephone interview. However, Von clarifies that their name evokes solely "images of darkness and blood."
History
The formation of Von is reported to have occurred in 1987 by members Goat, Snake, and Venien (who departed prior to the band adopting its name). Venien’s early contributions remain ambiguous, with no evidence of participation before 1990. By late 1990 or early 1991, Kill joined as bassist, completing the trio that produced the Satanic Blood demo. In 1991, they performed live and recorded another demo titled Blood Angel, which was never released independently. Shortly after issuing Satanic Blood in 1992, the band dissolved. Additionally, members recorded a gothic rock demo under the name Sixx.
Much of Von’s initial period lacks documentation; many enthusiasts consider the band’s true inception to be around 1990–91 with Goat (guitars, vocals), Kill (bass), and Snake (drums)—the lineup most recognized by fans as foundational. Venien has faced criticism for allegedly distorting Von’s early history to emphasize his involvement.
In 2003, Nuclear War Now! Productions issued Satanic Blood Angel, a compilation combining demos and a live recording—this remained Von’s sole official release until 2010. The Sixx demo was later released on LP as Sister Devil in 2009.
Von reunited with a revamped lineup for a singular performance on June 6, 2010, at London's Armageddon Fest—their first live appearance in two decades. Snake was replaced by session drummer Blood; Kill was succeeded by Venien, marking his first active role in the group. J. Giblet joined as an additional guitarist. Goat remained as the only original member.
To commemorate this event, the band issued a limited 7-inch single featuring re-recordings of "Satanic Blood" and "Veadtuck," alongside a new track titled "Blood Von," which was a reimagined demo composition. This release was capped at 500 copies through VMG Records.
Following this performance, Goat and Blood departed to concentrate on Goat's solo endeavor Von Goat. Venien assumed leadership and briefly enlisted session musicians to create new material and revise older works for two full-length albums.
On October 31, 2012, under Venien’s guidance and with another fresh lineup, Von unveiled their first studio album Satanic Blood. Their sophomore album, Dark Gods: Seven Billion Slaves, was released on March 22, 2013, available on CD and digital platforms.
Musical style and legacy
Von’s music is characterized by extremely straightforward black metal featuring brief tracks dominated by near-constant blast beats and repetition of one to three riffs composed of roughly three or four power chords each. Their vocal style employs guttural growls more commonly associated with death metal than the Scandinavian black metal that followed. In Lords of Chaos, their Satanic Blood demo was described as "one raw-sounding demo tape."
Ahead of its time, Von pioneered minimalist black metal during an era when thrash ruled the West Coast scene.
Since breaking up, Von has cultivated a devoted cult following within the black metal underground; their scarce recordings are regarded as classics with substantial influence. Prominent black metal acts such as Dark Funeral, Enthroned, Krieg, Taake, and Watain (named after a Von track) have covered their songs.
Members
Present lineup
- Venien (Jason Ventura) – bass, lead vocals
- HangMan (Carter Grant) – backing vocals, guitars
Previous members
- Goat (Shawn Calizo) – guitars, lead vocals
- Snake – drums
- Kill (Joe Trevisano) – bass
- Blood – drums
- Charlie Fell – drums
- Hammer of Dread (Alex Bank Rollins) – guitars
- Lord Giblete (JGiblete Cuervo) – backing vocals, lead guitar
- Xaphan (Julian Hollowell) – rhythm guitar
- Dirty FvKn! Pistols (Anthony Mainiero) – drums
Studio albums
- Satanic Blood (2012)
- Dark Gods: Seven Billion Slaves (2013)
- Dark Gods: Birth of the Architects (2017)
Extended plays
- Satanic Blood (2010), a 7-inch EP containing three tracks with re-recorded and updated versions of "Satanic Blood," "Blood Von," and "Veadtuck."
Compilation releases
- Satanic Blood Angel (CD/2LP, 2003; reissued in 2009), distributed by Nuclear War Now! Productions.
Demo recordings
- Satanic (1990), limited to only three copies
- Satanic Blood (1992), recorded during 1991
- Blood Angel (1992), not released separately but included within the Satanic Blood Angel compilation.
Video releases
- Satanic Blood Ritual (2010), issued by Nuclear War Now! Productions
Bootleg recordings
Several unauthorized releases exist, mostly centered around the Satanic Blood demo. These include versions issued by Hellspawn and Hammerheart Records. Among these, a notable bootleg is the split compilation titled Devil Pigs, shared with Dark Funeral, which was released through Karmageddon Media.