Biography
Power Trip formed in Dallas, Texas, as a crossover thrash metal outfit whose tightly fused style drew equally from hardcore punk, speed metal, and death metal. That approach took shape under the influence of Cro-Mags, Vio-Lence, Nuclear Assault, and Leeway, attracting listeners from every corner of the extreme-music world.
The group started as a five-piece in 2008, with Chris Whetzel on bass, Marcus on drums, Riley Gale handling vocals, and guitarists Blake “Rossover” Ibanez and Nicky Stewart. Five demos appeared that same year. Marcus departed in 2009; veteran Chris Ulsh, previously of Hatred Surge, Mammoth Grinder, and the Impalers, eventually took over behind the kit. The revised lineup issued the four-song EP Armageddon Blues and began playing shows, first across Texas, then through the Southwest and California, and eventually nationwide. An informal crew of volunteers often rode along in the same van, managing equipment, the merchandise table, and box-office duties.
Following nearly a year of continuous touring, the band paused; Ibanez briefly attended school before the members reconvened to cut a self-titled three-song EP that surfaced in 2011. Further road work followed, including a 2012 appearance at the Pitchfork Music Festival. In 2013 Power Trip signed with Southern Lord and performed a showcase at SXSW. They tracked their first full-length with producer and engineer Arthur Rizk; Manifest Decimation arrived in June of that year, its artwork created by Paolo Girardi.
November 2016 brought the single “Firing Squad,” setting the stage for the February 2017 release of the follow-up album Nightmare Logic. Vocalist Riley Gale died on August 24, 2020, at the age of 35.
The group started as a five-piece in 2008, with Chris Whetzel on bass, Marcus on drums, Riley Gale handling vocals, and guitarists Blake “Rossover” Ibanez and Nicky Stewart. Five demos appeared that same year. Marcus departed in 2009; veteran Chris Ulsh, previously of Hatred Surge, Mammoth Grinder, and the Impalers, eventually took over behind the kit. The revised lineup issued the four-song EP Armageddon Blues and began playing shows, first across Texas, then through the Southwest and California, and eventually nationwide. An informal crew of volunteers often rode along in the same van, managing equipment, the merchandise table, and box-office duties.
Following nearly a year of continuous touring, the band paused; Ibanez briefly attended school before the members reconvened to cut a self-titled three-song EP that surfaced in 2011. Further road work followed, including a 2012 appearance at the Pitchfork Music Festival. In 2013 Power Trip signed with Southern Lord and performed a showcase at SXSW. They tracked their first full-length with producer and engineer Arthur Rizk; Manifest Decimation arrived in June of that year, its artwork created by Paolo Girardi.
November 2016 brought the single “Firing Squad,” setting the stage for the February 2017 release of the follow-up album Nightmare Logic. Vocalist Riley Gale died on August 24, 2020, at the age of 35.
Albums
Singles
Live
