Rival Plague

Guitarist Jon Santos, bassist Don Ago and drummer Nick Schneider had been jamming, writing and recording music for nearly a year in a garage in San Rafael, California, churning out riff-based instrumentals, but couldn’t seem to find the right singer to contribute lyrics and melodies to their unique mix of East Bay punk, ‘90s alt-rock and classic heavy metal. Their first singer, who helped start the band as a post-punk project, had to drop out after a freak car accident changed the course of her life. But then, after a summer of searching, one of Don’s former bandmates reached out and they auditioned vocalist Jamie Tamboury, whose powerful, near operatic voice fit the band’s hybrid hard rock style perfectly. Since solidifying their lineup, the group also solidified their identity as Rival Plague and have begun work on a debut album influenced by artists ranging from Rancid and Social Distortion to Judas Priest and the Smashing Pumpkins. Razor-sharp riffs, muscular backbeats and stratospheric singing define songs like “Killer,” “Pillager,” and “Thief,” and the band plans on bringing their powerhouse brand of rock to venues all over Northern California.