{"id":67972,"date":"2025-12-22T22:47:08","date_gmt":"2025-12-22T22:47:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/67972\/"},"modified":"2025-12-22T22:47:08","modified_gmt":"2025-12-22T22:47:08","slug":"wilkes-barre-metal-trio-the-virgos-sign-to-record-label-as-pennsylvanias-heaviest-band","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/67972\/","title":{"rendered":"Wilkes-Barre metal trio The Virgos sign to record label as ‘Pennsylvania’s heaviest band’"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n\t\t\t\u00a0Added on 12\/22\/2025
\n\t\t\t\u00a0NEPA Scene Staff<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\u00a0Doug’s Board Room<\/a> , Kingston<\/a> , metal<\/a> , Olyphant<\/a> , Wilkes-Barre<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Wilkes-Barre<\/p>\n

From a press release<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Declaring themselves \u201cthe heaviest band in Pennsylvania,\u201d The Virgos<\/a> are ushering in a new age of \u201ctrue heavy metal.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2017, after 10 years of setting the standard for hardcore and metal with Bad Seed, Harm\u2019s Way, and Nails, vocalist\/guitarist Andy Saba met his spiritual sister in sound, vocalist\/bassist Danni Crockett (Rosary Guild<\/a>). A shared love of off-roading, firearms, anti-imperialism, and the discography of Bathory gave root to a philosophy and a purpose. The two found another kindred spirit in drummer Eli Gerrity, who joined their pursuit because he truly just wants to rock.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe decided it was time to let the apocalyptically loud horses of metal run free again and shine a light on every color of the dark rainbow of metal,\u201d Saba said, utterly sick and tired of all the posers out there.<\/p>\n

Channeling thick Sabbathian rhythms, Crowbar\u2019s skull-splitting sludge, Manowar\u2019s majesty, and the hypnotic ass-shaking grooves of Queens of the Stone Age, the Wilkes-Barre power trio unleashed their third and finest full-length album, \u201cLord Have Mercy,\u201d<\/a> on Aug. 22, delivering 38 minutes of headbanging fury.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018Lord Have Mercy\u2019 is a triumph in multiple heavy musical styles,\u201d Swim into the Sound wrote in a recent review.<\/p>\n

\u201cFans of everything from melodic hardcore to goth rock to stoner metal will be able to find something to love here.\u201d<\/p>\n

While familiar to lovers of Heaven and Hell, Into Glory Ride, Type O Negative, Corrosion of Conformity, and Lucio Fulci, the album\u2019s full-throttled blast of psychedelic pyrotechnics and hallucinogenic worship music was recorded by Joe Loftus at JL Studios<\/a> in Olyphant, then mixed by producer and engineer Taylor Young at The Pit in Los Angeles, sounding unlike anything else coming out of Northeastern Pennsylvania and beyond.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe theme of \u2018Lord Have Mercy\u2019 is that we missed out on the future,\u201d Saba shared.<\/p>\n

\u201cUtopia isn\u2019t happening. We\u2019re going backwards now. Superstition, devilry, war, plagues, revolution\u2026 it\u2019s the Dark Ages again, so let\u2019s get with the times. Medieval times call for medieval responses. If you want to understand the headspace I was in while writing this album, watch Fulci\u2019s 1983 movie \u2018Conquest\u2019<\/a> several dozen times. It\u2019s all in there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Following a run of singles from 2021-2023, the triumvirate vowed to release a new album every year, starting with 2023\u2019s \u201cPennsylvania Death Trip.\u201d<\/a> They kept their promise with a live record, \u201cRoad to Noxen,\u201d<\/a> in 2024, followed by \u201cLord Have Mercy.\u201d<\/p>\n

That record\u2019s heavy, hard, and horny single \u201cYes,\u201d which has a music video directed by Kyle Barber that just premiered two weeks ago, attracted international record label Season of Mist<\/a>, who signed the group and re-released their discography on all major streaming platforms ahead of their forthcoming fourth album. Known for being an innovative and wide spectrum label that explores and develops new artists and bands, Season of Mist represents well-known acts such as Heilung, Rotting Christ, and Cryptopsy, as well as rising stars like Eihwar, Sylvaine, and TEMIC.<\/p>\n

After opening for Superheaven and White Reaper in Maryland, New Jersey, and New York this month, The Virgos are ready for a hometown gig that will also serve as a \u201cLord Have Mercy\u201d vinyl release at Doug\u2019s Board Room<\/a> (310 Market St., Kingston) on Saturday, Dec. 27 at 6 p.m. with Planning for Burial<\/a>, If Kansas Had Trees<\/a>, Powers That Be, and 1800bitch<\/a>. Admission is $10 at the door.<\/p>\n

They are also set to headline \u201cA Night of Evil and Speed\u201d at Songbyrd Music House<\/a> (540 Penn St. NE, Washington, D.C.) on Friday, Jan. 9 at 8 p.m. with Funeral Dancer, Troncale, and Ninth Realm. Tickets, which are $19.32, are on sale now via DICE<\/a>. More 2026 dates will be announced soon.<\/p>\n

Photo by Kyle Barber<\/p>\n

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