EYE OF BALOR – set to release “Imp of the Perverse” album  #eyeofbalor

Bay Area band Eye of Balor was founded by guitarist Damian Smith, vocalist Sean Wert, and drummer Anthony Abeyta, originally titled A Subtle Art of Murder. (“Ah fuck, you don’t want us to get into the whole background story” says Sean). After dramatic exits from other bands, the three wanted to start something new altogether. The goal of the new group was to combine the style and influences of thrash and death core to create something unique, while never sticking to the norm of either genre.

The next piece of the puzzle was to find a lead guitarist and a bassist. Damian had prior worked with guitarist Rick Chaves in A Morbid Curiosity and even though Rick had other projects in the works, he agreed to join. Bassist Maggie Perkes, former Alchemia bandmate of Damian’s, saw a live video the newly formed group had posted on Facebook and sent a message to Damian. “Hey, what are YOU guys up to? Still need a bass player?” or something like that lead to Maggie joining the group. And with that the lineup was complete and ready to start rocking the fuck out.

The name change was thought of on the fly. It occurred to us that A Subtle Art of Murder was uncomfortably close to Thy Art Is Murder. Several iterations of names were tossed around and the group eventually landed on Eye of Balor, an homage to Irish mythological tyrant king Balor, a giant with a large eye that wreaks destruction when the eye is opened. He has been interpreted as a personification of drought, blight, and the scorching sun.

“Blood” and “Grinder” were the first songs written. They started as purely instrumental tracks named during the creation process. After spending years as a roadie, Sean was newish to writing song lyrics and wanted to have a basic concept for his first song – that of a subjugated empire rising up to take back a kingdom – eventually became the track “Blood.” Influenced by the heavier riffs of the instrumental version of “Grinder,” Sean looked more toward a darker atmosphere for the tone of the lyrics and hence the story of a serial killer who feeds his victims to a meat grinder – a rather morbid and dark subject indeed – became the second track composed by the group. “Noose of Doubt,” “Pride,” “Gun Control,” “The Calling,” and “Oathbreaker,” quickly followed.

Wanting to finalize and go into full album production, we reached out to Zack Ohren of Castle Ultimate Studios in Oakland, CA who has worked with bands such as Machinehead and All Shall Perish to name just a couple. About a week in the studio produced our first LP titled “Imp of the Perverse,” a title inspired by the lyrics of “The Calling” which describe the urging of that little voice in our heads to do exactly the wrong thing in a given situation for the sole reason that it is possible for wrong to be done, leading an otherwise decent person into mischief.

Soon after finishing the LP, Rick dropped the load on us that he was announcing his departure due to family obligations and prior projects picking up steam. Joe Murchek stepped up and quickly filled the hole in the lineup left by Rick.

EYE OF BALOR on Facebook