Band Biography: From the dark recesses of an asbestos filled warehouse, crawling through the ashes of obscurity Rictus Grin forged metal music as you would a sword. Wielding brutally heavy songs under a dull red glow of raunchy pleasure and morbid curiosity Rictus Grin slowly but steadily gained respect of their heavy metal peers. Throngs of listeners thrashed in the dark and dusky halls of the warehouse and the mobs grew in size to over 300 strong, moshing to the bludgeoning weapons of madness that spilled forth from Rictus Grins' warped minds. Rictus Grin was driven to seek out new venues to house the chaos and soon became one of the most influential Midwestern bands. Lineup changes through the years created a plethora of morphing musical styles and talent, but the fascination with death and destruction remained a common theme as sinister nightmares and gruesome scenarios were brought to light. Bent on upholding integrity and unity amongst their metal brethren, Rictus Grin created an annual Doomsday Music Festival and encouraged other bands to value the scene by setting an austere example. Having recorded 5 albums-selling 1000 copies of the 2003 release "Taste the Steel" and performing with an impressive list of metal icons, Rictus Grin is bent on touring and ruthlessly pursuing a fully immersed metal lifestyle. With current members Dave Moran on bass, Jeff Lamers on drums and Larry Weeks on guitar/vocals their onslaught of metal is heavier and far more disturbing than ever before. They have unified in an honorable menacing force determined to continue living the dream. Major Accomplishments: Originators of Annual Doomsday Showcase 2000-2005 Regional band of the week on WJJO Madison 1/2005 Opened for Metal Church and 3 Inches of Blood Local Support for Ministry and Thrill Kill Kult Showcased for Columbia and Epic Records w/Xtreme Music Group Peformed at Summerfest 2K4 Opening for Damage Plan Performed with Morbid Angel, Suffocation and Satyricon Performed with Iced Earth and Exodus Peformed with King Diamond and Anthrax Performed with Meshuggah and Strapping Young Lad Featured on AFB Indie Site Roster 2004 & 2005 Headlined Tony's Annual Birthday Bash 2004 Setup and Performed at Allenton (1000 in attendance) Performed at Summerfest 2K2 with Judas Priest Press: "If your taste is geared towards the metal edge, maybe all the smile you need can be found in Rictus Grin"-Brian Barney; Shepherd Express "This was actually one of the best live shows I've ever seen, tons of energy, great music and sound, and they had great crowd feedback."-Cthulhu; Lunar Hypnosis "Their gothic metal is heavier than six feet of dirt bearing down, offering enough eardrum-destroying intensity to wake the dead. Tight guitar harmonization, beefy bass, and guttural vocals are carried by explosively churning drums to create tough rock and tempo changes that will throw a metronome off course."-Brian Barney; Shepherd Express Rictus Grin Has Performed With: Motorhead, Ministry, Thrill Kill Kult, King Diamond, Suffocation, Satyricon, Exodus, Iced Earth, Children of Bodom, Anthrax, Mudvayne, Judas Priest, Strapping Young Lad, Damageplan, Metal Church, 3 Inches of Blood, Meshuggah, Trauma Concept, Nocturne, Single Bullet Theory, Novembers Doom, Entombed, Evergray, Strychnine, Lamb of God, Beyond Therapy, Forest Fire, Katella, Muzzy Luctin, D.O.T.A.C., Underthrat, Onus, Abstraction, Dumah, Spud Monkey, Floating Face Down, Nailwounds, L.O.W., Fade, White Knuckle Trip, 9MM Solution, Roast, Bastard Sun, Putrid Pile, Snooky, Carbellion, MAI, Hollow Complex, Shallow Ground, BC3, Destiss, Dark Shift, Decapitado, Straightline, For this I Have Fallen, and many more!