| Like many late-'90s
metal bands, Virgin Killers struck a balance between '80s
underground thrash metal and metallic early-'90s alternative rockers
like
Jane's Addiction. Their dark, neo-gothic alternative
metal earned a cult following in the wake of the popularity of such
like-minded bands as
Korn and
the
Deftones.
Vocalist
Farid,
guitarist
Lam, bassist
Adam
and drummer
Razlan formed Virgin Killers in
Taman Tun in the mid-'90s. They quickly earned a strong following in
Los Angeles, largely based on strong word of mouth. A three-song
demo began circulating through metal collectors, and their fan base
soon spread throughout not only Malaysia, but Europe and America. By
the end of 1997, the group had signed American, now distributed by
Columbia Records. American/Columbia released the group's eponymous
debut album in the summer of 1998, securing the band opening spots
on the
Slayer and Ozzfest tours. —
Stephen Thomas Erlewine
|
