KILL DEVIL HILL‘s lyric video for the band’s fourth single in nearly a decade, “Playing With Fire”, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band’s upcoming third album, which will be made available later in the year via the Ohio-based Legend Recordings. The label, which was founded by artist manager Chris Bianchi, has partnered with Ingrooves/Universal to release the LP worldwide.
“Playing With Fire” follows the release of “Blood In The Water”, which arrived in February, “You Can’t Kill Me California”, which came out in April, and “Before The Devil Knows”, which was made available in June.
KILL DEVIL HILL was established in 2011 by former BLACK SABBATH and DIO drummer Vinny Appice and PANTERA bassist Rex Brown. After going through a few member changes, KILL DEVIL HILL‘s present lineup consists of Johnny Kelly (TYPE O NEGATIVE) on drums, Mark Zavon on guitar, Dewey Bragg on vocals and Matt Snell (ex-FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH) on bass.
Zavon commented: “It’s been a while since our last release, but we’ve been working hard writing and recording songs for this third record for a long time behind the scenes, and are really looking forward to sharing the finished product with our fans. We are proud to have partnered with Chris Bianchi and Legend Recordings for this release and are looking forward to working with them and Ingrooves to bring these songs to our fans worldwide. It’s definitely some of our strongest material, and I can’t wait to get out in front of an audience and play it live.”
2023 will see KILL DEVIL HILL hit the road for select festival appearances and additional tour dates.
Shortly after he left KILL DEVIL HILL in early 2014, Vinny said that the band’s inability to gain significant traction with its music was a major factor in his decision. However, more recently, Vinny has suggested that he exited the group because he “couldn’t deal with” the fact that some of his bandmates were consistently tardy for KILL DEVIL HILL activities by an hour and a half or even longer.
Asked to respond to Appice‘s comments and address the fact that the drummer’s explanation for why he left the band appears to have evolved over time, Mark told “J-Bunny’s Music Hub”: “Well, both [of his stated reasons] are true. And he’s right. And there was [tardiness]. Dewey, our singer, at the time, was kind of going through some hard times and some personal difficulties, and he did have a hard time showing up sometimes. And even when we were on tour, he was — I don’t know, man — just having a little bit of trouble. He’s a totally changed man now, and now he’s the first guy, anywhere we go, he’s the one telling us, ‘Hey, man, we’re gonna be late for soundcheck.’ But in those days, yeah, it was a little harder to wrangle him. So Vinny was right. And Vinny, he doesn’t really put up with that. He’s a name guy — he’s got a history and a reputation. He’s a pro. He’s a star. So you can’t blame the guy for that. I certainly didn’t. I was the first one there [for rehearsals and live shows], ’cause I was stoked to play with those guys. Are you kidding me? Vinny Appice and Rex Brown in a room, and I get to play guitar?”
He continued: “So, anyway, I wish it could have kept going, but sometimes things don’t work out, and everything happens for a reason. So I try not to question it. We’ve got great guys in the band now, and everything happens for a reason. So I’m looking forward to putting out this new record and people hearing what we can do without those guys in the band.”
Vinny, who had previously played with BLACK SABBATH, DIO and HEAVEN & HELL, left KILL DEVIL HILL in March 2014.
KILL DEVIL HILL released its sophomore album, “Revolution Rise”, in October 2013 via Century Media Records.