BORN TO SHRED!

A Lavern Clewley special - 91 MC short run tank

Another of the contributors to GT is Jim Nickles of North Tonawanda (suburb of Buffalo)NY. Jim was a founding member of LEVIATHAN (which also had Chris Barnes of CANNIBAL CORPSE & SIX FEET UNDER fame) , then moved on to become an original member of MALEVOLENT CREATION along with Phil Fasciana and Brett Hoffman.

Original MC lineup shot courtesy of Jim Nickles

Jim, like so many from the Malevolent camp, moved down to Florida as this sort of 'mass exodus' occured when MC decided they were going to relocate to what then was being termed (rightly or wrongly enough): The Death Metal Capital Of The World.

 
MC roadie Brad Smith's 21st celebration (white cut off shirt), members of MC, Joewitch from Hellwitch, even one of the GT editors, plus assorted fiends and family that made the move down to FL (note Phil's Van of debauchery in back).
Pic: Alan Moses

This was a behaviour that wasn't that much out of the ordinary, considering one of the editors did just the same thing, taking on a couple 1000 extra miles onto the itinerary to do so.
Having left MC to joing for a short period of time the equally well known underground unit Hellwitch, long running due to the never-give-in attitude of Pat Ranieri (also a GT contributor)Jim turned back to NY and set up SHREDLY STUDIOS and his new current band VILE VINDICTION.

VILE VINDICTION LOGO BY MARK

VILE VIDICTION originally formed in 1989 and opened for such acts as PRIME EVIL & CANNIBAL CORPSE. Founding guitarist George Grant could not keep a stable lineup so the band was shelved for several years before being revived. With the addition of Jim Nickles on guitar VILE VINDICTION has released a limited EP and full length CD.

Jimmy with VILE VINDICTION December 2009 Pic: Brian Pattison

Grab these recordings while they are still available (see VV myspace url )

We have to thank Jim again for his input, adding special sentiment that normally would be unavailable, not to mention some almost ancient photos that show the whole then-baby-faced gang of miscreants which really were some of the funnest people to hang with of all time.

The short lived band THAW partying with Phil, the last year Spring Break was hosted in Ft. Lauderdale 90 Pic: Alan Moses. Below: 2 Specii = transatlantic drunkfest one of the editors with Jeff 'Hawk' Hawkins.

Jim Nickles with his piece of photographic history

The not so gentle giant, Mark Van Erp, who did a year long stint on bass with Malevolent beginning in 1990 - had provided quite a bit of sentiment that we just couldn't find a way to include unless doing a section on Cynic (perhaps, if there is a next time pal!).

 Mark Van Erp (then MC bassist) & Pete Sandoval outside the Rockit Club in Tampa before MC played, one of the few gigs where all of Morbid Angel showed up to support.

Between Vile Vindiction - which you can learn more about at www.myspace.com/vilevindiction and ordering their 2008 EP and 2009 CD, and SHREDLY STUDIOS which Jim is preparing for (we hear) a remastering of the 'original Malvolent demo' (the demo recorded in North Tonawanda, NOT the demo that got them signed years later) - it's surprising he would MAKE the time for us and have such a great input in our book.

Rich Z & Dennis John @ The VV gig Dec 2009 with GT. Pic: Brian Pattison

Just recently as of Jan 1 2010 Jim's been with GRAVE DESCENT featuring Dennis John Glinski (formerly of TIRANT SIN), Rich Zielinski (formerly of TIRANT SIN), Mike Green (formerly of LEVIATHAN), ANOTHER Buffalo death metal stalwart in the form of Jimmy Link on drums and a little help from VILE VINDICTION guitarist George Grant on a 3 song CD that is shaping up to be a real killer too! We can't wait to hear more of what will be coming out of SHREDLY, and suggest whole heartedly that you investigate VILE VINDICTION.

INVESTIGATE FURTHER HERE:

VILE VINDICTION: www.myspace.com/vilevindiction

GRAVE DESCENT: www.myspace.com/gravedescent

SHREDLY STUDIOS : www.myspace.com/shredlystudios