Brain Drill
{{Short description|American technical death metal band}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Brain Drill
| image =
| caption =
| image_size =
| origin = Santa Cruz, California
| genre = Technical death metal, grindcore
| years_active = 2005–2019
| label = Metal Blade
| associated_acts = The Faceless, Vile, Vital Remains, Rings of Saturn, Six Feet Under
| website =
| current_members = Dylan Ruskin
Alex Bent
Travis Morgan
| past_members = Marco Pitruzzella
Andre Cornejo
Jeff Hughell
Joe Bondra
Ron Casey
Ivan Munguia
Steve Rathjen
}}
Brain Drill was an American technical death metal band formed in 2005 from Ben Lomond, California founded by guitarist and songwriter Dylan Ruskin. They released 2 albums while signed to Metal Blade Records and self-released their final third album titled Boundless Obscenity.
History
= Formation and ''The Parasites'' (2005–2006) =
Brain Drill was founded in 2005; originally meant to be a side project{{cite web|url=http://www.metalblade.com/english/artists/braindrill/bio.php|title=Brain Drill – Biography|publisher=Metal Blade Records|accessdate=2008-11-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609093641/http://www.metalblade.com/english/artists/braindrill/bio.php|archive-date=2012-06-09|url-status=dead}} by guitarist Dylan Ruskin after parting from his main band Burn at the Stake.{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p1020558|pure_url=yes}}|title=Brain Drill > Biography|last=Jeffries|first=David|publisher=Allmusic|accessdate=2008-11-13}} Ruskin began searching for a drummer, eventually finding and hiring on as a session drummer Marco Pitruzella (former drummer of death metal groups, Vile, Vital Remains, The Faceless, and other extreme metal bands). After a few months of jam sessions, vocalist Steve Rathjen joined the band. The trio entered Castle Ultimate Studios with producer Zack Ohren and recorded their six-track EP, dubbed The Parasites, during March and May 2006. Soon after the recording, Rathjen left the band and was replaced by former Dead Syndicate singer, Andre Cornejo. Former Vile bassist Jeff Hughell was added to the band as the new and permanent member. Rathjen then returned to Brain Drill as vocalist again.
= ''Apocalyptic Feasting'' (2007–2009) =
In a 2007 interview, Cannibal Corpse's bassist, Alex Webster recommended Brain Drill to Metal Blade Records, who signed the band later that year.{{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=78470|title=Brain Drill signs with Metal Blade Records|date=2007-08-09|publisher=Blabbermouth.net|accessdate=2008-11-13|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071217225605/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=78470|archivedate=2007-12-17}} The group again entered at Castle Ultimate Studios with producer Zack Ohren; this time to work on their debut full-length, recorded during August 2007. Brain Drill's follow-up to their 2006 EP, Apocalyptic Feasting, was released on February 5, 2008 by Metal Blade.{{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=86704|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120910064253/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=86704|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-09-10|title=Brain Drill: Apocalyptic Feasting European release date announced|date=2007-12-13|publisher=Blabbermouth.net|accessdate=2008-11-13}}
Shortly after the release of Apocalyptic Feasting, both members Marco Pitruzzella and Jeff Hughell left the band due to touring complications. Based on a statement from Dylan Ruskin that was posted on the group's Myspace profile, it appeared that Brain Drill had split up.{{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=93297|title=Brain Drill Calls It Quits|date=2008-03-20|publisher=Blabbermouth.net|accessdate=2008-11-14|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080324201736/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=93297|archivedate=2008-03-24}} Soon after, the rumors were denied,{{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=94445|title=Brain Drill to Carry on Despite Breakup Rumors|date=2008-04-08|publisher=Blabbermouth.net|accessdate=2008-11-14|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080412044356/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=94445|archivedate=2008-04-12}} and the band started looking for a new drummer and bassist.{{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=98072|title=Brain Drill Still Looking for New Drummer|date=2008-05-30|publisher=Blabbermouth.net|accessdate=2008-11-14|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080602004201/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=98072|archivedate=2008-06-02}}
=''Quantum Catastrophe'', ''Boundless Obscenity'' and breakup (2009–2019)=
Brain Drill entered Castle Ultimate studios with Zack Ohren in December 2009 to record their second album through Metal Blade Records. It was titled Quantum Catastrophe and was released on May 11, 2010. "Monumental Failure" premiered as streaming media prior to the album's release.{{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=135078|title=BRAIN DRILL: New Song Posted Online|date=2010-02-13|publisher=Blabbermouth.net|accessdate=2011-03-16|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606063107/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=135078|archivedate=2011-06-06}} A new song, "Beyond Bludgeoned", was released from the new record as the date grew nearer. A music video was later created for the song and is featured on Comcast on-demand.
In July 2016, vocalist Steve Rathjen and drummer Ron Casey left the band and were then later replaced by Travis Morgan and Alex Bent respectively. Brain Drill then entered Castle Ultimate Studios and self-released their third album titled Boundless Obscenity on July 2, 2016.
On September 10, 2019, it was announced the band had broken up.{{cite web|title=Brain Drill Have Broken Up (Again)|url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2019/09/10/brain-drill-have-broken-up-again/|publisher=MetalSucks|accessdate=September 10, 2019|date=September 10, 2019}}
= ''Post-Brain Drill (2019 - present)'' =
In May 2024, Dylan Ruskin released the first single for his new project, Stellae Ignotus.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZmcVaS5DOc |title=Stellae Ignotus - Ascension to the Cosmos |date=2024-05-17 |last=Dylan Ruskin |access-date=2024-06-20 |via=YouTube}} The song is instrumental, with more focus on melody and synthesizers than Brain Drill had, but still demonstrating the same level of musicianship.
Members
;Final lineup
- Dylan Ruskin – guitars {{small|(2005–2019)}}, bass {{small|(2005–2006, 2016–2019)}}
- Alex Bent – drums {{small|(2015–2019)}}
- Travis Morgan – vocals {{small|(2016–2019)}}
;Former members
- Marco Pitruzzella – drums {{small|(2005–2008)}}
- Steve Rathjen – vocals {{small|(2005–2006, 2006–2016)}}
- Andre Cornejo – vocals {{small|(2006)}}
- Jeff Hughell – bass {{small|(2006–2008)}}
- Ivan Munguia – bass {{small|(2008–2016)}}
- Joe Bondra – drums {{small|(2008–2009)}}
- Ron Casey – drums {{small|(2009–2015)}}
Timeline
{{#tag:timeline|
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id:vocals value:red legend:Vocals
id:guitar value:green legend:Guitars
id:bass value:blue legend:Bass
id:drums value:orange legend:Drums,_percussion
id:studio value:black legend:Studio_albums
id:EPs value:gray(0.5) legend:EPs
LineData=
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at:02/04/2008 color:black layer:back
at:05/06/2010 color:black layer:back
at:07/02/2016 color:black layer:back
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bar:Steve text:"Steve Rathjen"
bar:Andre text:"Andre Cornejo"
bar:Travis text:"Travis Morgan"
bar:Dylan text:"Dylan Ruskin"
bar:Jeff text:"Jeff Hughell"
bar:Ivan text:"Ivan Munguia"
bar:Marco text:"Marco Pitruzzella"
bar:Joe text:"Joe Bondra"
bar:Ron text:"Ron Casey"
bar:Alex text:"Alex Bent"
PlotData =
width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(11,-4)
bar:Steve from:01/01/2005 till:08/20/2006 color:vocals
bar:Andre from:08/20/2006 till:11/06/2006 color:vocals
bar:Steve from:11/06/2006 till:06/04/2016 color:vocals
bar:Travis from:06/04/2016 till:end color:vocals
bar:Dylan from:01/01/2005 till:end color:guitar
bar:Dylan from:01/01/2005 till:06/01/2006 color:bass width:3
bar:Dylan from:06/04/2016 till:end color:bass width:3
bar:Jeff from:06/01/2006 till:03/20/2008 color:bass
bar:Ivan from:03/20/2008 till:06/04/2016 color:bass
bar:Marco from:01/01/2005 till:03/20/2008 color:drums
bar:Joe from:03/20/2008 till:04/01/2009 color:drums
bar:Ron from:04/01/2009 till:11/28/2015 color:drums
bar:Alex from:11/28/2015 till:end color:drums
}}
Discography
;Studio albums
- Apocalyptic Feasting (2008)
- Quantum Catastrophe (2010)
- Boundless Obscenity (2016)
;EPs
- The Parasites (2006)
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20120609093641/http://www.metalblade.com/english/artists/braindrill/bio.php Brain Drill at Metal Blade Records]
- {{Facebook|braindrill666|Brain Drill}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Death metal musical groups from California
Category:Musical groups established in 2005
Category:American technical death metal musical groups
Category:American grindcore musical groups
Category:Metal Blade Records artists