Vestal Claret
OriginConnecticut, United States
GenresOccult Metal
Years active2006–present
LabelsCruz Del Sur
MembersPhil Swanson, Simon Tuozzoli
Website

Vestal Claret is an American occult metal duo based in Connecticut, United States. Formed in 2006 by Phil Swanson (vocals)[1][2][3] and Simon Tuozzoli (bass, guitar),[4] the band has released two full length albums, two EPs, and several splits and demos. Swanson's work with doom projects Hour of 13 and Seamount[5] among others has helped Vestal Claret gain notoriety within the underground metal community.[6]

History

Swanson and Tuozzoli wrote Vestal Claret's demo Two Stones in 2006, while Swanson was working on Upwards of Endtime's second album. The following year, they released a split with another one of Swanson's projects, German doom metal band Atlantean Kodex; the split was well-received and Vestal Claret was offered a recording contract with Sentinel Steel. This offer was later revoked because the music Vestal Claret planned to release was too different than the Two Stones demo material in the opinion of the record label. As a result, Swanson took lyrics he had written to Chad Davis and created Hour of 13's eponymous first album, put out by Shadow Kingdom. Swanson continued to sing for Hour of 13 from 2006–09, 2009–11, and 2011–13.[7][8][9]

In between Swanson and Tuozzoli's other musical endeavors, they continued writing Vestal Claret material and releasing it on various underground metal labels.[10][11][12] Their first full-length album, Bloodbath, was noted for its traditional doom influences and sophisticated lyrics.[13][14] This aesthetic continued in 2014's The Cult of Vestal Claret, (Cruz del Sur[15]) a dark composition dealing with topics such as Satanism, sexual abuse, and ritual torture.[16][17][18][19][20] A music video was released for final track "The Stranger."[21]

Vestal Claret has worked with session drummers Jim Quinn (Upwards of Endtime, Atlantean Kodex),[22] Michael Petrucci (Curse the Son), and Christopher Taylor Beaudette (Nightbitch, Entierro, Kingdom of Sorrow, Jasta live member). Tuozzoli and Swanson are currently writing a third and final Vestal Claret album. Additionally, they plan to release a full length album of original material and an EP of covers under the band name Bestial Clitoris.

Discography

YearTitleRelease TypeLabel
2006Two Stonesdemoself-released
2007Ritual and Rehearsal demoself-released
2007The Hidden Folk / Two Stonessplit w/ Atlantean KodexMetal Coven Records
2008WorshipEPSwaying Ball Music
2009Lost Loved OnesEPNoVisible Scars
2011"Virgin Blood"singleSarlacc Productions
2011Bloodbathfull-lengthCyclopean Productions
2012The Kissing Flies / Black Priestsplit w/ AlbatrossRoadcrew Records
2012Vestal Claret / UngodsplitNoVisible Scars
2013Bloodbathfull-length, rereleasedNine Records
2014The Cult of Vestal Claretfull-lengthCruz del Sur Music
2016Reborncover EPNine Records
2020Vestal Claretfull-length

References

  1. ↑ "Metal Archives: Seamount." Metal Archives. June 6, 2008. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Metal Archives: Hour of 13." Metal Archives. November 11, 2007. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Metal Archives: Phil Swanson." Metal Archives. April 10, 2011. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Interview with Simon Tuozzoli of UP Recording and Vestal Claret." Alternative Control. July 17, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Interviews: Seamount." Doom-Metal.com October 20, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Metal Archives: Vestal Claret." Metal Archives. August 20, 2006. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Phil Swanson Leaves Hour of 13." The Obelisk. January 24, 2011. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Suffer the Written: A Conversation with Hour of 13." Steel For Brains. January 14, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Phil Swanson Leaves Hour of 13." Terrorizer. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Hour of 13: Substance Beyond Shock Value." Metal Squadron. November 7, 2011. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  11. ↑ Lee, Cosmo (August 5, 2011). "Label Spotlight: NoVisible Scars". Invisible Oranges. Archived from the original on May 6, 2016. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Release Review: Albatross/Vestal Claret – The Kissing Flies (Split)." Metal Recusants. December 15, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  13. ↑ "LP Review: Bloodbath by Vestal Claret." Heavy Planet. March 11, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Vestal Claret, Bloodbath: Sacrilege and Invocation." The Obelisk. May 2nd, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Vestal Claret Signs With Cruz Del Sur." Blabbermouth. December 11, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Vestal Claret Stream The Stranger, from The Cult of Vestal Claret." The Obelisk. April 23, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Album Review: Vestal Claret, The Cult of Vestal Claret.", New Noise Magazine. June 11, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Vestal Claret Brings Out the Fine Wine." Alternative Control. April 12, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Sh*t That Comes Out Today: May 6, 2014." Metalsucks. May 6, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  20. ↑ "THE WEEKLY INJECTION: New Releases From CRADLE OF FILTH, EPICA, and More Out Today – 5/6." Metal Injection. May 6, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  21. ↑ "The Stranger." Cruz Del Sur Music Youtube Channel. May 30, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  22. ↑ "Metal Archives: Jim Quinn." Metal Archives. May 12, 2011. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
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