Vektor

Biography

Vektor is an American technical thrash metal band from Tempe, Arizona, and based in Philadelphia since 2012. Their music deals with scientific, philosophical, futuristic, and astronomical topics.
In 2025, Zahra Huselid of Screen Rant included the band in the site's list of "10 Best Thrash Metal Bands Who Weren't The Big Four".

Formation and first albums (2002–2011)

The band was formed as Locrian in December 2002 by frontman/guitarist David DiSanto. A year later, they released their first demo, Nucleus. After reforming in 2004 as Vektor, they became popular in the Phoenix metal scene with a mix of technical thrash metal and speed metal with progressive influences. In 2006, Vektor released the demo Demolition, followed by the two-track demo Hunger for Violence (2007). After four years of local and regional performances opening for Testament, Hirax, Iced Earth and Municipal Waste, Vektor toured alongside label mates Exmortus to support Black Future in December 2009 through January 2010. The band toured the US in June–August 2010 on their own. Their first full-length album, Black Future×Black Future17 November 2009 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Black Future5:032Oblivion4:543Destroying the Cosmos6:474Forests of Legend10:175Hunger for Violence5:316Deoxyribonucleic Acid4:467Asteroid6:498Dark Nebula10:299Accelerating Universe13:31, was released on November 17, 2009, on Heavy Artillery Records. The band released its second album, Outer Isolation×Outer Isolation22 November 2011 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Cosmic Cortex10:232Echoless Chamber5:153Dying World5:194Tetrastructural Minds5:215Venus Project6:476Dark Creations, Dead Creators3:257Fast Paced Society6:458Outer Isolation8:28, on November 22, 2011, on the Heavy Artillery label. In 2012, the band signed with Earache Records after the label acquired Heavy Artillery's roster.

Touring, Terminal Redux, and hiatus (2012–2016)

In the summer of 2012, Vektor headlined a small tour, and, in November, opened on an extended tour with Napalm Death, Municipal Waste, and Exhumed. In January 2013, the band played the Earache Records Showcase in California.
The band played their first European show at Hellfest in June 2013. They embarked on their first full European headlining tour in November and December 2015 alongside Angelus Apatrida and Distillator, which included an appearance at Eindhoven Metal Meeting, and culminated in a show at the Camden Underworld in London. In early 2016, the band toured the US opening for Voivod. After relocating to Philadelphia and several years of touring, their third album, Terminal Redux×Terminal Redux6 May 2016 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Charging the Void9:132Cygnus Terminal8:153LCD (Liquid Crystal Disease)7:334Mountains Above the Sun1:225Ultimate Artificer5:046Pteropticon6:007Psychotropia7:398Pillars of Sand5:199Collapse9:2210Recharging the Void13:39, a 70-minute concept album, was released on May 6, 2016.
In December 2016, guitarist Erik Nelson, bassist Frank Chin, and drummer Blake Anderson left the band, thus putting the band into hiatus, stating that there was "no big story or drama," but "people and personalities simply change and drift apart and we've reached our limit." Controversy ensued in June 2019, when David DiSanto's wife Katy made domestic abuse allegations against him, with video and photos of the supposed incident. Although legal proceedings were pursued against DiSanto in family court, a Temporary Protection From Abuse Order was issued against DiSanto on June 11, 2019. Katy advocated for DiSanto to receive help for his alleged alcoholism. DiSanto released a counter response a few weeks later, in which he stated, "There’s a person who has destroyed this entire band and, (surprise!) it wasn’t me."

Reformation with new lineup and Transmissions of Chaos (2020–present)

In May 2020, DiSanto and Nelson reformed Vektor with drummer Mike Ohlson and bassist Stephen Coon, working on new material and preparing multiple tour dates in 2021. On December 16, 2020, Vektor released their first song in four years, "Activate×Activate16 December 2020 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Activate3:30", taken from the split EP with Cryptosis, Transmissions of Chaos×Transmissions of Chaos25 February 2021 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Activate3:322Dead by Dawn6:163Decypher3:544Prospect of Immortality6:21, released on February 25, 2021.
In September 2022, Vektor signed with Century Media Records and announced the recording of their fourth album. Two days later, Century Media dropped Vektor because of the past domestic violence allegations against DiSanto. DiSanto released a second statement, clarifying further details of the supposed incident. In January 2023, the music festival cruise 70000 Tons of Metal announced Vektor and dropped them a day later.
In October 2025, Vektor live-debuted the song "Skeptic's Eye" while on tour in Japan. The song marked the band's first released material since the announcement of their upcoming album.

Band members

Current members
David DiSanto – vocals, lead and rhythm guitar (2002–present)
Erik Nelson – lead and rhythm guitar (2004–2016, 2020–present)
Stephen Coon – bass guitar (2020–present)
Mike Ohlson – drums (2020–present)
Former members
Mike Tozzi – bass guitar (2006–2008)
Adam Anderson – drums (2004–2007)
Kian Ahmad – drums (2007)
Frank Chin – bass guitar (2008–2016)
Blake Anderson – drums (2007–2016)
Timeline

Studio albums

Black Future (2009)
Outer Isolation (2011)
Terminal Redux (2016)

Demos

Nucleus (as Locrian) (2004)
Demolition (2006)
Hunger for Violence/Accelerating Universe (2007)

Singles

"Scion AV Label Showcase – Earache Records" (2013)
"Ultimate Artificer×Ultimate Artificer13 November 2015 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Ultimate Artificer5:05" (2015)
"Charging the Void×Charging the Void7 March 2016 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Charging the Void9:12" (2016)
"Pillars of Sand×Pillars of Sand1 April 2016 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Pillars of Sand5:19" (2016)
"Activate×Activate16 December 2020 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Activate3:30" (2020)

EPs

Transmissions of Chaos (2021) (split with Cryptosis)