Vestal Claret is an American occult metal duo based in Connecticut, United States. Formed in 2006 by Phil Swanson (vocals)"Metal Archives: Seamount." Metal Archives. June 6, 2008. Retrieved May 1, 2016."Metal Archives: Hour of 13." Metal Archives. November 11, 2007. Retrieved May 1, 2016."Metal Archives: Phil Swanson." Metal Archives. April 10, 2011. Retrieved May 1, 2016. and Simon Tuozzoli (bass, guitar),"Interview with Simon Tuozzoli of UP Recording and Vestal Claret." Alternative Control. July 17, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2016. the band has released two full-length albums, two EPs, and several splits and demos. Swanson's work with doom projects Hour of 13 and Seamount"Interviews: Seamount." Doom-Metal.com October 20, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2016. among others has helped Vestal Claret gain notoriety within the underground metal community."Metal Archives: Vestal Claret." Metal Archives. August 20, 2006. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
History Swanson and Tuozzoli wrote Vestal Claret's demo Two Stones in 2006, while Swanson was working on Upwards of Endtime's second album. The following year, they released a split with another one of Swanson's projects, German doom metal band Atlantean Kodex; the split was well-received and Vestal Claret was offered a recording contract with Sentinel Steel. This offer was later revoked because the music Vestal Claret planned to release was too different than the Two Stones demo material in the opinion of the record label. As a result, Swanson took lyrics he had written to Chad Davis and created Hour of 13's eponymous first album, put out by Shadow Kingdom. Swanson continued to sing for Hour of 13 from 2006–09, 2009–11, and 2011–13."Phil Swanson Leaves Hour of 13." The Obelisk. January 24, 2011. Retrieved May 1, 2016."Suffer the Written: A Conversation with Hour of 13." Steel For Brains. January 14, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2016."Phil Swanson Leaves Hour of 13." Terrorizer. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
In between Swanson and Tuozzoli's other musical endeavors, they continued writing Vestal Claret material and releasing it on various underground metal labels."Hour of 13: Substance Beyond Shock Value." Metal Squadron. November 7, 2011. Retrieved May 1, 2016."Release Review: Albatross/Vestal Claret – The Kissing Flies (Split)." Metal Recusants. December 15, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016. Their first full-length album, Bloodbath, was noted for its traditional doom influences and sophisticated lyrics."LP Review: Bloodbath by Vestal Claret." Heavy Planet. March 11, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2016. "Vestal Claret, Bloodbath: Sacrilege and Invocation." The Obelisk. May 2nd, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2016. This aesthetic continued in 2014's The Cult of Vestal Claret, (Cruz del Sur"Vestal Claret Signs With Cruz Del Sur." Blabbermouth. December 11, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2016.) a dark composition dealing with topics such as Satanism, sexual abuse, and ritual torture."Vestal Claret Stream The Stranger, from The Cult of Vestal Claret." The Obelisk. April 23, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2016."Album Review: Vestal Claret, The Cult of Vestal Claret.", New Noise Magazine. June 11, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2016. "Vestal Claret Brings Out the Fine Wine." Alternative Control. April 12, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2016."Sh*t That Comes Out Today: May 6, 2014." Metalsucks. May 6, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2016."THE WEEKLY INJECTION: New Releases From CRADLE OF FILTH, EPICA, and More Out Today – 5/6." Metal Injection. May 6, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2016. A music video was released for final track "The Stranger.""The Stranger." Cruz Del Sur Music Youtube Channel. May 30, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
Vestal Claret has worked with session drummers Jim Quinn (Upwards of Endtime, Atlantean Kodex), "Metal Archives: Jim Quinn." Metal Archives. May 12, 2011. Retrieved May 1, 2016. Michael Petrucci (Curse the Son), and Christopher Taylor Beaudette (Nightbitch, Entierro, Kingdom of Sorrow, Jasta live member). Tuozzoli and Swanson are currently writing a third and final Vestal Claret album. Additionally, they plan to release a full-length album of original material and an EP of covers under the band name Bestial Clitoris.
Discography Year Title Release Type Label 2006 Two Stones demo self-released 2007 Ritual and Rehearsal demo self-released 2007 The Hidden Folk / Two Stones split w/ Atlantean Kodex Metal Coven Records 2008 Worship EP Swaying Ball Music 2009 Lost Loved Ones EP NoVisible Scars 2011 "Virgin Blood" single Sarlacc Productions 2011 Bloodbath full-length Cyclopean Productions 2012 The Kissing Flies / Black Priest split w/ Albatross Roadcrew Records 2012 Vestal Claret / Ungod split NoVisible Scars 2013 Bloodbath full-length, rereleased Nine Records 2014 The Cult of Vestal Claret full-length Cruz del Sur Music 2016 Reborn cover EP Nine Records 2020 Vestal Claret full-length
References
External links Vestal Claret Facebook Page The Cult of Vestal Claret on bandcamp