Veil of Maya is an American metalcore band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 2004. The group consists of guitarist Marc Okubo, drummer Sam Applebaum, bassist Danny Hauser and vocalist Lukas Magyar. They are currently signed to Sumerian Records and have released seven studio albums. Their seventh studio album, Mother, was released on May 12, 2023.

Veil of Maya
Veil of Maya performing in 2018
Veil of Maya performing in 2018
Background information
OriginChicago, Illinois, U.S.
Genres
Years active2004–2024 (on hiatus)
Labels
Members
  • Marc Okubo
  • Sam Applebaum
  • Danny Hauser
  • Lukas Magyar
Past members
  • Timothy Marshall
  • Scott Okarma
  • Bryan Ruppell
  • Adam Clemans
  • Kristopher Higler
  • Matthew C. Pantelis
  • Brandon Butler

History

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Formation and demo (2004–2006)

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Veil of Maya formed in 2004 in Chicago, Illinois after melodic death metal band Insurrection broke up, which led members Marc (lead guitar), Sam (drums) and Kris (bassist) to start up the new project.[1] Guitarist Timothy Marshall and vocalist Adam Clemans joined shortly thereafter.

After recording a self-released demo in 2005, guitarist Scott Okarma briefly joined the group, participating in local shows and early touring. At this point, Veil of Maya were a six-piece band with three guitarists, but this only lasted for a few months before both Marshall and Okarma left the band. Bryan Ruppell replaced them both on rhythm guitar thus reverting their lineup back to five members.

All Things Set Aside and The Common Man's Collapse (2006–2009)

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With this five member line-up (although rhythm guitarist Bryan Ruppell did not perform on the album), the band recorded, self-produced, and released their debut full-length album All Things Set Aside through Corrosive Recordings on November 7, 2006.

In early 2007 Ruppell left the band and the rest of the members decided not to search for a new rhythm guitarist, thus leaving Veil of Maya as a four-piece. In September 2007, vocalist Clemans also left the group, leading Veil of Maya to enlist the help of then 20-year-old Brandon Butler, former vocalist of the Indiana metal band Iscariot.

In January 2008, after heightened exposure from interviews and successful tours, Veil of Maya signed with Sumerian Records.[2] Sumerian manager Shawn Keith and founder Ash Avildsen were both reportedly very ecstatic about the partnership. Veil of Maya's second album, The Common Man's Collapse was recorded with Butler in 2008 and released the same year. Shortly after the album release, the band parted ways their original bassist Kristopher "Kris" Higler in 2009, and was replaced by Matthew C. Pantelis, formerly of Born of Osiris.

Id and Eclipse (2010–2012)

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After their second album's release, the following several months held extensive touring before the writing and recording for the group's third full-length, Id began. Id was released on April 6, 2010, and reached number 107 on the Billboard 200.[3] The band worked again with producer Michael Keene from The Faceless for this album, who previously produced The Common Man's Collapse. The album's name was derived from the main character of the PlayStation game Xenogears;[citation needed] the album itself also holds several concepts and references to other topics in popular culture, especially television shows.[4][5]

After the release of Id, Pantelis as well left the band, which led to Danny Hauser replacing him in 2010; the band's current bassist. On January 13, 2012, Sumerian Records released a teaser for Veil of Maya's next album, Eclipse. On January 17, the single "Vicious Circles" was released onto the iTunes Store. Eclipse was then released on February 28, 2012[6] and was produced and co-written by Periphery guitarist Misha Mansoor.[7]

On November 11, 2013 the band released a digital-only single, "Subject Zero", with a lyric video uploaded on YouTube two weeks earlier, on September 30, 2013.[8]

Recording of new album and Butler's departure (2013–2014)

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Veil of Maya announced in 2014 that they had finished writing the follow-up to Eclipse and were recording with Taylor Larson. However, progress was stopped as long-time vocalist Brandon Butler left the band, citing creative differences with his bandmates.[9][10] Butler moved on to join a band named Lost Origins, which features former members of I Declare War.[11]

Magyar's arrival and Matriarch (2014–2016)

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At Knotfest 2014, Veil of Maya were seen performing with a new vocalist, who is well known in the local music scene of the state of Wisconsin, on January 1, 2015 it was announced that Arms of Empire vocalist Lukas Magyar joined the band replacing the departed Butler.[12] At the same time, the band released a new single, "Phoenix".[13]

Shortly after the announcement, the band headed out on the "Slow Your Troll and Know Your Role" tour with Upon a Burning Body, Volumes, Gideon and The Last Ten Seconds of Life. They also took part in the Ashes to Ashes European Tour with Chelsea Grin, Oceans Ate Alaska and Black Tongue (Black Tongue pulled out within the first few shows due to an injury sustained by frontman Alex Teyen).[14]

On March 23, 2015, Veil of Maya officially announced the release of a new album, Matriarch, and released a new single, "Mikasa". The album was released on May 12, 2015 through Sumerian Records.[15] It is the band's first release with Magyar, and represents somewhat of a departure from the style of the band's previous releases: it is less focused on technicality and is their first work to incorporate clean singing and replaces growling with hardcore-style screaming.

False Idol , Mother and hiatus (2017–present)

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On September 13, 2017, the band released a music video "Overthrow" on YouTube, and announced the album False Idol for October 20, 2017. The music video for the band's second single "Doublespeak" was added to YouTube on October 3, 2017. On September 12, 2019, they released the single "Members Only" off a future unknown album. On May 3, 2020, the band released a music video for the single "Outsider" and an animated music video for their single "Viscera" on February 27, 2021, from the presumed unannounced album. On October 6, 2021, their single "Outrun" was uploaded to YouTube as a music video.

On April 20, 2022, the band released the first single, "Synthwave Vegan". On February 8, 2023, the band unveiled the second single "Godhead" and its corresponding music video.[16] On March 7, 2023, the band premiered the third single "Red Fur" with a music video. At the same time, they officially announced that their upcoming seventh studio album, Mother, is set for release on May 12, 2023 while also revealed the album cover and the track list.[17] On April 12, one month before the album release, the band published the fourth single "Mother, Pt. 4" along with a music video.[18] The music video for "Disco Kill Party" was released May 12, 2023, coinciding with the album release.[19]

On September 19, 2024, the band announced they would be going on hiatus to "reassess our future".[20]

Musical style

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Veil of Maya's early work is generally considered deathcore.[21][22][23] Their third and fourth albums Id and Eclipse blended the genre with metalcore and djent.[21][23][24] Their later work, beginning with the album Matriarch, discarded their deathcore roots and continued their metalcore and djent direction, even being labelled progressive metalcore.[25][26][27][28][29]

Members

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Timeline

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Discography

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Studio albums

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List of studio albums, with selected details and chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
[30]
US Heat
[31]
US Indie
[32]
US Hard Rock
[33]
US Rock
[34]
All Things Set Aside
  • Release date: November 7, 2006
  • Label: Corrosive
The Common Man's Collapse
  • Release date: April 1, 2008
  • Label: Sumerian
Id
  • Release date: April 6, 2010
  • Label: Sumerian
107 1 16 7 33
Eclipse
  • Release date: February 28, 2012
  • Label: Sumerian
76 7 3 19
Matriarch
  • Release date: May 12, 2015
  • Label: Sumerian
58 3 2 5
False Idol
  • Release date: October 20, 2017
  • Label: Sumerian
67 5 3 8
Mother
  • Release date: May 12, 2023
  • Label: Sumerian

Singles

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List of singles
Title Year Album
"Vicious Circles" 2012 Eclipse
"Subject Zero" 2013 Non-album single
"Phoenix" 2015 Matriarch
"Mikasa"
"Teleute"
"Overthrow" 2017 False Idol
"Doublespeak"
"Members Only" 2019 Non-album singles
"Outsider" 2020
"Viscera" 2021
"Outrun"
"Synthwave Vegan" 2022 Mother
"Godhead" 2023
"Red Fur"
"Mother, Pt. 4"

Videography

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Title Year Director Album
"It's Not Safe to Swim Today" 2009 Andrew Palaski The Common Man's Collapse
"Unbreakable" 2010 Raul Gonzo Id
"20/200 // Divide Paths" 2013 Unknown Eclipse
"Mikasa" 2015 Ramon Boutviseth Matriarch
"Aeris"
"Overthrow" 2017 Erez Bader / West Webb False Idol
"Doublespeak"
"Whistleblower"
"Outsider" 2020 Orie McGinness Non-album singles
"Viscera" 2021 Marco Pavone
"Outrun" Unknown
"Synthwave Vegan" 2022 Eric DiCarlo Mother
"Godhead" 2023 Bryan Caudill
"Red Fur"
"Mother, Pt. 4"
"Disco Kill Party" Bryan Caudill / Tommy Hayden

References

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  1. ^ Chopik, Ivan. "Marc Okubo Interview - Veil Of Maya (2012)". Guitar Messenger. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  2. ^ "Veil of Maya: Biography". Billboard. 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  3. ^ "Veil of Maya: Chart History". Billboard. 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  4. ^ "VEIL OF MAYA New Song based on LOST". Metal Injection. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  5. ^ "A METALSUCKS WORLD PREMIERE: VEIL OF MAYA'S "NAMASTE"". MetalSucks. 12 February 2010. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  6. ^ "Veil Of Maya Finishes New Album - in Metal News ( Metal Underground.com )". www.metalunderground.com. Archived from the original on 13 January 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  7. ^ "Veil of Maya – Eclipse – Heavy Blog Is Heavy". Heavyblogisheavy.com. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  8. ^ Axl Rosenberg (October 31, 2013). "Veil of Maya Study "Subject Zero" - MetalSucks". Retrieved May 14, 2015.
  9. ^ "Veil Of Maya Part Ways With Vocalist Brandon Butler". Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  10. ^ Childers, Chad (September 29, 2014). "Ex-Veil of Maya Frontman Brandon Butler Comments on Split". Loudwire. Retrieved September 29, 2014.
  11. ^ "Ex-Veil Of Maya Frontman Brandon Butler Joins Lost Origins (Ex-I Declare War)". The PRP. February 23, 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  12. ^ "Veil of Maya recruit Arms Of Empire singer". Metal Hammer. 3 January 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  13. ^ "Veil of Maya Announce New Vocalist + Unleash New Song". Loudwire. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  14. ^ "BLACK TONGUE Vocalist Fell From Moving Tour Bus After Mistaking Exit For A Bathroom". Metal Injection. 11 February 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  15. ^ "Veil has Risen". veilhasrisen.com. Sumerian Records. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  16. ^ "Veil Of Maya Premiere "Godhead" Music Video". ThePRP. February 7, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  17. ^ "Veil Of Maya Debut "Red Fur" Music Video, New Album "[m]other" Due In May". ThePRP. March 7, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  18. ^ "Veil Of Maya Debut "Mother Pt. 4" Music Video". ThePRP. April 11, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  19. ^ "Veil Of Maya Premiere "Disco Kill Party" Music Video". ThePRP. May 12, 2023. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  20. ^ "VEIL OF MAYA To 'Go On Hiatus': 'We Will Be Back'". Blabbermouth.net. September 19, 2024. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  21. ^ a b Heaney, Gregory. "[Id] - Veil of Maya | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved March 25, 2012.
  22. ^ Jonathan Barkan (19 June 2010). "Album Review: Veil of Maya '[id]'". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  23. ^ a b Bradley Zorgdrager (March 23, 2015). "Veil of Maya Announce First Album with New Singer, Share Video". Exclaim.ca. Retrieved July 24, 2015. Chicago djenty deathcore band Veil of Maya have announced their fourth full-length for Sumerian Records.
  24. ^ Lawson, Dom (May 12, 2023). "VEIL OF MAYA [m]other". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  25. ^ Duser, Natasha Van (May 28, 2015). "Album Review: Veil Of Maya – "Matriarch"". New Noise Magazine. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
  26. ^ Brown, Andrew (May 13, 2020). "VEIL OF MAYA Premieres Wild New Song and Music Video "Outsider"". Gear Gods. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  27. ^ Alves, Fernando (March 9, 2023). "Veil of Maya's [M]other". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  28. ^ Hadusek, Jon (March 8, 2023). "Veil of Maya Announce New Album, Unleash Tech-Metal Banger "Red Fur": Stream". Consequence. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  29. ^ Keenan, Hesher (March 8, 2023). "Veil Of Maya Unveil Their Next Album [m]other with Single "Red Fur"". MetalSucks. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  30. ^ "Veil of Maya – Chart history". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 12, 2018. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  31. ^ "Veil of Maya – Chart history". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 12, 2018. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  32. ^ "Veil of Maya – Chart history". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 7, 2018. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  33. ^ "Veil of Maya – Chart history". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 7, 2018. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  34. ^ "Veil of Maya – Chart history". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 12, 2018. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
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