Kill Devil Hill: The American Heavy Metal Supergroup

Kill Devil Hill is a powerful American heavy metal band formed as a supergroup of seasoned rock veterans. The band emerged from Los Angeles, California, delivering a potent blend of groove-laden riffs and thunderous rhythms that quickly captured the attention of the hard rock world.

Early career

Kill Devil Hill officially came together in 2011, uniting musicians with impressive pedigrees from iconic bands. The founding lineup featured vocalist Dewey Bragg (formerly of Pissing Razors), legendary drummer Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath, Dio), bassist Rex Brown (Pantera, Down), and guitarist Mark Zavon.

This collective experience created immediate buzz, leading to a deal with the independent label SPV/Steamhammer. The band's name was inspired by the original name for the town of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, site of the Wright brothers' first flight, symbolizing a powerful new beginning.

Breakthrough

The band's self-titled debut album, Kill Devil Hill, was released in 2012 and served as their powerful introduction. The album was produced by Warren Riker and debuted at position No. 21 on the Billboard Top Hard Rock Albums chart, a strong showing for a new project.

Its success was built on a foundation of crushing, mid-tempo heaviness and Bragg's distinctive vocal delivery, establishing the band's signature sound within the modern metal landscape.

Key tracks

War Machine — This crushing opening track from their debut album immediately set the tone with its massive, Sabbathy riffs and established the band's heavyweight credentials.

Voodoo Doll — A standout single that showcased the band's ability to blend haunting melodies with a relentless, grooving rhythm section, becoming a fan favorite.

Strange — This track highlighted the band's dynamic range, featuring a more atmospheric and melodic approach while maintaining their foundational heaviness.

Hole in the Sky — A cover of the classic Black Sabbath song, this recording paid direct homage to Appice's legacy while fitting seamlessly into the band's own setlist.

The band followed their debut with the 2013 album Revolution Rise, which continued their exploration of groove-oriented metal. Personnel changes followed, with Rex Brown departing and bassist Jason "Dubb" Frank stepping in, but the core heavy sound remained intact.

Kill Devil Hill has toured extensively, sharing stages with acts like Hardcore Superstar and appearing at major European festivals, solidifying their reputation as a formidable live act rooted in classic metal power.

Down shares the same Southern-tinged, sludge-heavy groove metal approach, particularly through Rex Brown's foundational bass work.

Black Sabbath is a clear tonal and rhythmic influence, especially through Vinny Appice's iconic drumming style and the band's doom-laden riffs.

Hellyeah operates in a similar space as a modern metal supergroup, blending aggressive vocals with a hard-hitting, accessible rock groove.

Five Finger Death Punch parallels Kill Devil Hill's formula of combining anthemic, melodic vocals with crushing, radio-friendly heavy metal instrumentation.

Kill Devil Hill's music maintains a strong presence on rock radio formats, particularly on stations dedicated to modern hard rock and classic heavy metal. Their songs are staples on channels that champion powerful riffs and veteran musicianship, from terrestrial classic rock FM stations to dedicated online metal streams.

Listeners can experience the formidable sound of Kill Devil Hill on radio stations featured across our network. Tune in to discover their catalog of heavy metal anthems through the various rock and metal stations available on onairium.com.