Veil of Maya

History

Formation and demo (2004–2006)

Veil of Maya formed in 2004 in Chicago, Illinois after the breakup of melodic death metal band Insurrection, which led members Marc Okubo (lead guitar), Sam Applebaum (drums), and Kristopher Higler (bassist) to start a new project. Guitarist Timothy Marshall and vocalist Adam Clemans joined shortly thereafter.

After recording a self-released demo in 2005, guitarist Scott Okarma briefly joined the group, participating in local shows and early touring. At this point, Veil of Maya were a six-piece band with three guitarists, but this only lasted for a few months before both Marshall and Okarma left the band. Bryan Ruppell replaced them both on rhythm guitar thus reverting their lineup back to five members.

''All Things Set Aside'' and ''The Common Man's Collapse'' (2006–2009)

With this five member line-up, the band recorded, self-produced, and released their debut full-length album All Things Set Aside through Corrosive Recordings on November 7, 2006.

In early 2007 Ruppell left the band and the rest of the members decided not to search for a new rhythm guitarist, leaving Veil of Maya as a four-piece. In September 2007, vocalist Clemans also left the group, leading Veil of Maya to enlist the help of then 20-year-old Brandon Butler, former vocalist of the Indiana metal band Iscariot.

In January 2008, after heightened exposure from interviews and successful tours, Veil of Maya signed with Sumerian Records. Veil of Maya's second album, The Common Man's Collapse was recorded with Butler in 2008 and released the same year. Shortly after the album release, original bassist Kristopher "Kris" Higler left the band, and was replaced by Matthew C. Pantelis, formerly of Born of Osiris.

''Id'' and ''Eclipse'' (2010–2012)

After their second album's release, the following several months held extensive touring before the writing and recording for the group's third full-length, Id began. Id was released on April 6, 2010, and reached number 107 on the Billboard 200. The band worked again with producer Michael Keene from The Faceless for this album, who previously produced The Common Man's Collapse. The album itself holds several concepts and references to popular culture, especially television shows.

After the release of Id, Pantelis also left the band, which led to Danny Hauser replacing him in 2010. On January 13, 2012, Sumerian Records released a teaser for Veil of Maya's next album, Eclipse. On January 17, the single "Vicious Circles" was released on the iTunes Store. Eclipse was then released on February 28, 2012 and was produced and co-written by Periphery guitarist Misha Mansoor.

On November 11, 2013 the band released a digital-only single, "Subject Zero", with a lyric video uploaded on YouTube two weeks earlier, on September 30, 2013.

Recording of new album and Butler's departure (2013–2014)

Veil of Maya announced in 2014 that they had finished writing the follow-up to Eclipse and were recording with Taylor Larson. However, progress was stopped as long-time vocalist Brandon Butler left the band, citing creative differences with his bandmates. Butler moved on to join a band named Lost Origins, which features former members of I Declare War.

Magyar's arrival and ''Matriarch'' (2014–2016)

In 2014, Veil of Maya performed at Knotfest with new vocalist Lukas Magyar, who later officially joined the band on January 1, 2015. At the same time, the band released a new single, "Phoenix".

Shortly after the announcement, the band went on the "Slow Your Troll and Know Your Role" tour with Upon a Burning Body, Volumes, Gideon and The Last Ten Seconds of Life. They also took part in the Ashes to Ashes European Tour with Chelsea Grin, Oceans Ate Alaska and Black Tongue (Black Tongue pulled out within the first few shows due to an injury sustained by frontman Alex Teyen).

On March 23, 2015, Veil of Maya officially announced the release of a new album, Matriarch, and released a new single, "Mikasa". The album was released on May 12, 2015, through Sumerian Records. It was the band's first release with Magyar, and represents somewhat of a departure from the style of previous releases, focused less on technicality and more on clean singing, replacing growling with hardcore-style screaming.

''False Idol'', ''Mother'' and hiatus (2017–present)

On September 13, 2017, the band released a music video "Overthrow" on YouTube, and announced the album False Idol for October 20, 2017. The music video for the band's second single "Doublespeak" was added to YouTube on October 3, 2017. On September 12, 2019, they released the single "Members Only" off a future unknown album. On May 3, 2020, the band released a music video for the single "Outsider" and an animated music video for their single "Viscera" on February 27, 2021, from the presumed unannounced album. On October 6, 2021, their single "Outrun" was uploaded to YouTube as a music video.

On April 20, 2022, the band released the first single, "Synthwave Vegan". On February 8, 2023, the band unveiled the second single "Godhead" and its corresponding music video. On March 7, 2023, the band premiered the third single "Red Fur" with a music video. At the same time, they officially announced that their upcoming seventh studio album, Mother, is set for release on May 12, 2023 while also revealed the album cover and the track list. On April 12, one month before the album release, the band published the fourth single "Mother, Pt. 4" along with a music video. The music video for "Disco Kill Party" was released May 12, 2023, coinciding with the album release.

On September 19, 2024, the band announced they would be going on hiatus to "reassess our future".

On December 29, 2025, Lukas announced he had left the band to focus on his new project, SIFYN.

Musical style

Veil of Maya's early work is generally considered deathcore. Their third and fourth albums Id (2010) and Eclipse (2012) blended the genre with metalcore and djent. Their later work, beginning with the album Matriarch, discarded their deathcore roots and continued their metalcore and djent direction, even being labelled progressive metalcore.

Members

Current

• Marc Okubo – lead guitar (2004–2024); rhythm guitar (2007–2024); programming (2014–2024)
• Sam Applebaum – drums (2004–2024)
• Danny Hauser – bass (2010–2024)

Former

• Kristopher Higler – bass (2004–2009)
• Adam Clemans – vocals (2004–2007)
• Timothy Marshall – rhythm guitar (2004–2006)
• Scott Okarma – guitars (2006)
• Bryan Ruppell – rhythm guitar (2006–2007)
• Brandon Butler – vocals (2007–2014)
• Matthew C. Pantelis – bass (2009–2010)
• Lukas Magyar – vocals (2014–2024)

Timeline

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PlotData= width:11 bar:Clemans from:01/01/2004 till:26/09/2007 color:vocal bar:Butler from:26/09/2007 till:26/09/2014 color:vocal bar:Magyar from:24/10/2014 till:19/09/2024 color:vocal bar:Okubo from:01/01/2004 till:19/09/2024 color:Lguitar bar:Okubo from:01/01/2007 till:19/09/2024 color:Rguitar width:3 bar:Okubo from:01/01/2014 till:19/09/2024 color:prog width:7 bar:Marshall from:01/01/2004 till:01/06/2006 color:Rguitar bar:Okarma from:01/01/2006 till:01/06/2006 color:Rguitar bar:Okarma from:01/01/2006 till:01/06/2006 color:Lguitar width:3 bar:Ruppel from:01/06/2006 till:01/01/2007 color:Rguitar bar:Highler from:01/01/2004 till:01/01/2009 color:bass bar:Pantelis from:01/01/2009 till:07/05/2010 color:bass bar:Hauser from:07/05/2010 till:19/09/2024 color:bass bar:Applebaum from:01/01/2004 till:19/09/2024 color:drums

Discography

Studio albums

Singles

Videography

References

References

1. Chopik, Ivan. "Marc Okubo Interview - Veil Of Maya (2012)". Guitar Messenger.
2. (2015). "Veil of Maya: Biography".
3. (2015). "Veil of Maya: Chart History".
4. "VEIL OF MAYA New Song based on LOST". Metal Injection.
5. (12 February 2010). "A METALSUCKS WORLD PREMIERE: VEIL OF MAYA'S "NAMASTE"". [[MetalSucks]].
6. "Veil Of Maya Finishes New Album - in Metal News ( Metal Underground.com )".
7. "Veil of Maya – Eclipse – Heavy Blog Is Heavy".
8. Axl Rosenberg. (October 31, 2013). "Veil of Maya Study "Subject Zero" - MetalSucks".
9. "Veil Of Maya Part Ways With Vocalist Brandon Butler".
10. Childers, Chad. (September 29, 2014). "Ex-Veil of Maya Frontman Brandon Butler Comments on Split".
11. (February 23, 2015). "Ex-Veil Of Maya Frontman Brandon Butler Joins Lost Origins (Ex-I Declare War)". The PRP.
12. (3 January 2015). "Veil of Maya recruit Arms Of Empire singer". Metal Hammer.
13. (January 2, 2015). "Veil of Maya Announce New Vocalist + Unleash New Song". Loudwire.
14. (11 February 2015). "BLACK TONGUE Vocalist Fell From Moving Tour Bus After Mistaking Exit For A Bathroom". Metal Injection.
15. "Veil has Risen". Sumerian Records.
16. (February 7, 2023). "Veil Of Maya Premiere "Godhead" Music Video". ThePRP.
17. (March 7, 2023). "Veil Of Maya Debut "Red Fur" Music Video, New Album "[m]other" Due In May". ThePRP.
18. (April 11, 2023). "Veil Of Maya Debut "Mother Pt. 4" Music Video". ThePRP.
19. (May 12, 2023). "Veil Of Maya Premiere "Disco Kill Party" Music Video".
20. (September 19, 2024). "VEIL OF MAYA To 'Go On Hiatus': 'We Will Be Back'". [[Blabbermouth.net]].
21. (2025-12-30). "Lukas Magyar issues statement on departure from VEIL OF MAYA".
22. Heaney, Gregory. ["Id] - Veil of Maya | AllMusic".
23. Jonathan Barkan. (19 June 2010). "Album Review: Veil of Maya '[id]'". [[Bloody Disgusting]].
24. Bradley Zorgdrager. (March 23, 2015). "Veil of Maya Announce First Album with New Singer, Share Video". [[Exclaim.ca]].
25. Lawson, Dom. (May 12, 2023). "VEIL OF MAYA [m]other".
26. Duser, Natasha Van. (May 28, 2015). "Album Review: Veil Of Maya – "Matriarch"".
27. Brown, Andrew. (May 13, 2020). "VEIL OF MAYA Premieres Wild New Song and Music Video "Outsider"".
28. Alves, Fernando. (March 9, 2023). "Veil of Maya's [M]other".
29. Hadusek, Jon. (March 8, 2023). "Veil of Maya Announce New Album, Unleash Tech-Metal Banger "Red Fur": Stream".
30. Keenan, Hesher. (March 8, 2023). "Veil Of Maya Unveil Their Next Album [m]other with Single "Red Fur"".
31. "Veil of Maya – Chart history".
32. "Veil of Maya – Chart history".
33. "Veil of Maya – Chart history".
34. "Veil of Maya – Chart history".
35. "Veil of Maya – Chart history".