by Ed RivadaviaFormed in 1996, from the remnants of numerous local bands, Concord, CA, death/black metal band Vile (not to be confused with the New York doom band with the same name) combine high velocity, crude guttural power, and no small amount of technical prowess for a brutalizing sound reminiscent of Suffocation and Nile. After warming up with two demos, vocalist Juan Urteaga, guitarists Colin Davis and Aaron Strong, bassist Jef Hughell, and drummer Mike Hampton (soon to be replaced by Tyson Jupin) unleashed their first album, Stench of the Deceased, in 1999, then signed with the Unique Leader label for their second, 2002's Depopulate. Urteaga and Strong have since departed and various replacements helped out with tours of the U.S. and Europe that took place in 2004.\r