Brain Drill was an American

technical death metal Technical death metal (also referred to as tech-death) is a musical subgenre of death metal that began and developed in the early- to mid-1990s, with particular focus on challenging, demanding instrumental skill and complex songwriting. Techni ...

band formed in 2005 from

Ben Lomond Ben Lomond (Scottish Gaelic: Beinn Laomainn, 'Beacon Mountain'), , is a mountain in the Scottish Highlands. Situated on the eastern shore of Loch Lomond, it is the most southerly of the Munros. Ben Lomond lies within the Ben Lomond National Me ...

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

founded by guitarist and songwriter Dylan Ruskin. They released 2 albums while signed to

Metal Blade Records Metal Blade Records is an American independent record label founded by Brian Slagel in 1982. The US office for Metal Blade is located in Agoura Hills, California. It also has offices in Germany, Japan, Canada, and the UK. The label is distrib ...

and self released their final third album titled ''Boundless Obscenity.''

History

Formation and ''The Parasites'' (2005–2006)

Brain Drill was founded in 2005; originally meant to be a

side project In popular music, a side project is a project undertaken by one or more people already known for their involvement in another band. It can also be an artist or a band temporarily switching to a different style. Usually these projects emphasize a ...

by guitarist Dylan Ruskin after parting from his main band Burn at the Stake. Ruskin began searching for a drummer, eventually finding and hiring on as a session drummer Marco Pitruzella (former drummer of death metal groups, Vile,

Vital Remains Vital Remains is an American death metal band from Providence, Rhode Island, formed in 1988. History Formation and early years Guitarist Paul Flynn formed Vital Remains in 1988. Vital Remains' first line-up included Paul Flynn on lead guitar, ...

The Faceless The Faceless are an American technical death metal band from the Encino neighborhood of Los Angeles. They released their debut album, ''Akeldama'', in November 2006, and a follow-up, '' Planetary Duality'', in November 2008. The band's third ...

, and other

extreme metal Extreme metal is a loosely defined umbrella term for a number of related heavy metal music subgenres that have developed since the early 1980s. It has been defined as a "cluster of metal subgenres characterized by sonic, verbal, and visual tran ...

bands). After a few months of

jam session A jam session is a relatively informal musical event, process, or activity where musicians, typically instrumentalists, play improvised solos and vamp over tunes, drones, songs, and chord progressions. To "jam" is to improvise music without exte ...

s, vocalist Steve Rathjen joined the band. The trio entered Castle Ultimate Studios with producer Zack Ohren and recorded their six-track EP, dubbed The Parasites, during March and May 2006. Soon after the recording, Rathjen left the band and was replaced by former Dead Syndicate singer, Andre Cornejo. Former Vile bassist Jeff Hughell was added to the band as the new and permanent member. Rathjen then returned to Brain Drill as vocalist again.

''Apocalyptic Feasting'' (2007–2009)

In a 2007 interview,

Cannibal Corpse Cannibal Corpse is an American death metal band formed in Buffalo, New York in 1988, now based out of Tampa, Florida. The band has released fifteen studio albums, two box sets, four video albums, and two live albums. The band has had little radi ...

's bassist,

Alex Webster Alex Webster (born 1969) is an American bass player who is best known as a member of the death metal band Cannibal Corpse. He is one of two remaining members of the original lineup of the band, along with drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz. He is al ...

recommended Brain Drill to

, who signed the band later that year. The group again entered at Castle Ultimate Studios with producer Zack Ohren; this time to work on their debut full-length, recorded during August 2007. Brain Drill's follow-up to their 2006 EP, ''

Apocalyptic Feasting ''Apocalyptic Feasting'' is the second release and debut album by the technical death metal band Brain Drill. It is the last release by the band to feature bassist Jeff Hughell and drummer Marco Pitruzella before their departure from Brain Drill d ...

'', was released on February 5, 2008 by Metal Blade. Shortly after the release of ''Apocalyptic Feasting'', both members Marco Pitruzzella and Jeff Hughell left the band due to touring complications. Based on a statement from Dylan Ruskin that was posted on the group's Myspace profile, it appeared that Brain Drill had split up. Soon after, the rumors were denied, and the band started looking for a new drummer and bassist.

''Quantum Catastrophe'', ''Boundless Obscenity'' and breakup (2009–2019)

Brain Drill entered Castle Ultimate studios with Zack Ohren in December 2009 to record their second album through Metal Blade Records. It was titled ''

Quantum Catastrophe ''Quantum Catastrophe'' is the second studio album by American technical death metal band Brain Drill, released through Metal Blade on May 11, 2010. After the release of their debut album '' Apocalyptic Feasting'' in February 2008, the band almo ...

'' and was released on May 11, 2010. "Monumental Failure" premiered as streaming media prior to the album's release. A new song, "Beyond Bludgeoned", was released from the new record as the date grew nearer. A music video was later created for the song and is featured on ''

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'' on-demand. In July 2016, vocalist Steve Rathjen and drummer Ron Casey left the band and were then later replaced by Travis Morgan and Alex Bent respectively. Brain Drill then entered Castle Ultimate Studios and self-released their third album titled ''Boundless Obscenity'' on July 2, 2016. On September 10, 2019, it was announced the band had broken up.

Members

;Final lineup * Dylan Ruskin – guitars , bass *

Alex Bent Alex Bent (born January 31, 1993) is an American musician best known as the drummer for heavy metal bands Trivium, Arkaik and Dragonlord. Bent is a former drummer for Battlecross and Brain Drill. Bent has also toured with Decrepit Birth a ...

– drums * Travis Morgan – vocals ;Former members * Marco Pitruzzella – drums * Steve Rathjen – vocals * Andre Cornejo – vocals * Jeff Hughell – bass * Ivan Munguia – bass * Joe Bondra – drums * Ron Casey – drums

Timeline

Discography

;Studio albums * ''

'' (2008) * ''

'' (2010) * ''Boundless Obscenity'' (2016) ;EPs * ''The Parasites'' (2006)

References

External links

Brain Drill at Metal Blade Records
* {{Authority control Death metal musical groups from California Musical groups established in 2005 American technical death metal musical groups American grindcore musical groups Metal Blade Records artists Musical quartets Musical groups disestablished in 2019