Two longtime friends, Tony Engel (lead vocals) and David Shankle (guitars), finally found the time to write music together after years of running into each other at shows. When the pandemic hit in 2020 and touring came to a halt, the opportunity they had long talked about suddenly became reality.
David Shankle, known for his time with the legendary Manowar from 1988 to 1995, later formed his own band, David Shankle Group, releasing three albums under the DSG banner. Tony Engel had spent nearly 15 years as a driving force behind Chicago’s own Veilside.
Following the passing of their friend and Veilside bassist Bob Hilton, Tony began to consider stepping away from music. Meanwhile, the pandemic had put David’s touring schedule on hold. With unexpected time on their hands, David reached out to Tony, and the two began writing music together—initially with no plans for a full album.
As the lockdowns continued, the project grew organically, eventually leading to the release of Destination: Aftermath in July 2021. The album was met with critical acclaim and was later named “Best of Chicago Metal 2021.”
Encouraged by the response, the duo decided to expand the project into a full band to support their second release, Icon of the Accursed. Joining Engel and Shankle are bassist Mick Lucid, drummer/percussionist Michael Ray, and rhythm guitarist/backing vocalist Jack Lazor.
With the lineup now complete, rehearsals are set to begin as the band prepares to bring the new material to the stage in support of their latest release.