Ross Dolan of Immolation: The Sound and The Story (Short)

More stories at www.fret12.com
f there ever was a musical style that can be linked to the ‘Survival of the Fittest’ credo it would have to be Death Metal. A style that has remained virtually the same since it’s awakening in the early to mid-1980’s, still flourishes with virtually no mainstream recognition or support. If history has proven anything, the bands that are the most dedicated to their craft always seem to find a way to rise above. Forming in Yonkers, New York in 1988, Immolation has been fighting the good fight for some 29 years and their latest [and 10th overall] album, ‘Atonement’ (Nuclear Blast), shows them at the top of their game. Finding a collection of songs with a darker onslaught of maelstrom tempos and melodic yet sickly, dissonant orchestration will prove challenging. Finding a band with a more realistic grasp on their almost 30 year journey might be impossible.
Fret Twelve welcomes Immolation Co-Founder/Bassist/Vocalist Ross Dolan to ‘The Sound and the Story.’

[@6Sam6Hughes6]

Ross “You Know” Dolan.

[@johannesbijker2197]

He is family of Jon Nodveidt you know.

[@alexalexson1849]

You know, i might have not noticed if you never said anything but now its all i can focus on, you know lol

[@PatrickSilent]

I know.

[@brianhunt4335]

My brain did not realize how often he says you know until I read your comment lol. love this guy though, you know?

[@chrisk7873]

If you once hear that "you know" you can unhear

[@wertcon]

The real thing - no posers, no trends and hard work. Dissonant masters.

[@wowno5763]

People who unironically call people posers are giant dorks.

[@milesmorales3268]

@@wowno5763 look at Wow no jr.. gonna cry?

[@wowno5763]

@@milesmorales3268 is this your whole schtick?

[@milesmorales3268]

@@wowno5763 I'm going to put some dirt in your eye.

[@wowno5763]

@@milesmorales3268 ahh, i see.

[@BlixTheGoblin]

Ive never seen a guitar player with such a fucking majestic presence on stage as Robert Vigna. All his little mannerisms with his body and his guitar upstroke, its perfect. Certainly one of the best and most consistent death metal bands of all time...

[@Dobbie03]

Rob is amazing, I am no guitar player but the way he plays is just mind blowing.

[@VaginaBerzurker666]

I love the way he throws his guitar neck around on string bends and pinch harmonics... He's an absolute badass

[@DK-ii5sc]

Totally!!! He is by far my favorite guitar player to watch. And his riffs are so deadly!!

[@fabiodewitt9140]

Yes, he knows.

[@sirfistaslit]

Ross is the man. The two times i got to see immolation live, he was always so happy to talk with the fans. He must have shook my hand 6 times, the both times i got to talk to him. My favorite death metal vocalist 🤘🤘

[@smcordy]

Yes, he works the merch table and talks to fans. Love that!

[@alieninvasiontunes]

Immolation have been my favourite DM band since I was 17... I'm now 47, and they still are!

[@TheReturnOED]

Amazing band with a distinctive band sound, how many bands can say they have a sound in Death Metal? A few, and Immolation is one of them.

[@mmaking8664]

Nile and Obituary are the other ones

[@isaacdissonance3967]

MMA king gorguts.ulcerate.portal.pyrrhon

[@oshikiri.nikko-desu02]

Gorguts, Ulcerate, Demilich, Blood Incantation, Cosmic Atrophy, Drakkar, Howls of Ebb, Emptiness, Chthe'ilist, just to name a few more.

[@ogskywalker5669]

morbid angel? cryptopsy, incantation, sarcafago, cannibal corpse,

[@yvesheinrich5013]

Atheist, Cynic, Bolt Thrower, Hooded Menace, Ceremonium, Obscura, Mithras, Carcass, Flourishing.

[@nephrenqayin254]

Ross Dolan is truly a monster in vocals..you know..truly awesome...you know what I'm saying? Heheheheh. Much respect to Ross Dolan, this guy is one of my favorite vocals out there.......you know?

[@alexiatheconjurer]

Y O U K N O W

[@yvesheinrich5013]

New York Death Metal - you can't ask for more.

[@williamkoscielniak820]

Immolation are one of my top three death metal bands ever along with At The Gates and Morbid Angel. They have never gotten the recognition they deserve for some reason and I don't think they ever will. They routinely blow far more famous bands out of the water.

[@JJJ111JJJ]

Coincidentally my top 3 death metal albums would probably be Here in After, Blessed are the Sick and The Red in the Sky is Ours.

[@ButcherYourMom]

at the gates? they suck balls....

[@zlodrim9284]

Immolation aren't the most popular band out there, but anyone who knows their shit knows what a behemoth of a band they are. Same goes for Incantation.

[@abscessedcadaver8221]

@@ButcherYourMom Agreed, the entire melodeath subgenre sucks tbh

[@RedgraveGilver]

@@abscessedcadaver8221 Give Intestine Baalism a try.

[@wladimirfroes3220]

Best growl vocals!!!

[@tiriana2]

Idea for drinking game - every time Ross Dolan says "you know" you drink a shot.

[@Nashman230]

Ross Dolan: "You know." Peter Tagtgren: "I don't know"

[@PatrickSilent]

A great way to die of alcohol poisoning.

[@davidryder2162]

You’d be dead by alcohol poisoning in 5 minutes lol

[@PatrickSilent]

@@davidryder2162 Or sooner, you know?

[@burstingbass961]

I bet you all would end up drunk...

[@lucat.o2035]

ross is a cool dude

[@PatrickSilent]

I know.

[@thefullmoongamer]

Immolation is underrated, the quality of their work is amazing!

[@Hell-Awaits]

Underrated? By whom? In the death metal community they are highly praised and regarded as one of the founding bands of the genre.

[@robertomedina4655]

Ross and Bob are the coolest, level headed dudes in Death Metal. Had the pleasure of meeting them on several occassions (at shows) and are always a class act every time. Been a big fan since their 2-song demo in 1988 (when in high school). They stay true to their "guns" with every release and every album is brutal as hell! What more can you ask for from a Death Metal band? They will always be my sentimental favorite! Stay brutal!

[@Jmgoregrind]

Yeah, they are two super cool dudes. Met bob and Ross several times at shows and they are the most humble, down to earth guys who love hanging out with fans.

[@froggore52]

So Vigna writes the entirety of the music himself? That dude is impressive as hell.

[@PatrickSilent]

He's pretty talented, you know?

[@AlexHevari]

@@PatrickSilent For me Bob Vigna is one of the most underrated guitarists around...

[@PatrickSilent]

@@AlexHevari One of all time death metal greats. And metal in general too.

[@lazymathew1263]

He my uncle lol he’s really good

[@judewesley3365]

One of the best guitarists in metal ever

[@Garbrel80]

_Close To A World Below_ is the album that made me an Immolation fan and I still think they've yet to top it. I miss Alex Hernandez on the kit. Dude was a beast.

[@kylegoodman5196]

Alex was great on Failures for Gods and Close to a World Below, he wasn't the most technically proficient drummer in the way Steve was but he was great at blast beats. There was definitely a rawness in his drumming that they don't have with Steve, but then again Steve enables them to play much more intricate and well arranged pieces of music than Alex could.

[@greer776611]

one of the few death metal bands that have it all- great band

[@SmewthePew]

Boy do i remember buying records based on the cover. I bought here in after as a kid from Colombia house mail order.

[@eugeneshevchenko7426]

Suffocation, Immolation, Incantation - thats how i started

[@KeymoEmbryo]

if the band name doesn't end in "-tion" it's not True DEATH METAL :P

[@gouortenklif6861]

@@KeymoEmbryo Don't miss Imprecation.

[@LeachimSagrav333]

Got to see imprecation back in the early 90's. Played at a local club in Corpus Christi. They kicked ass!

[@yvesheinrich5013]

Mortician

[@shawnsmith8558]

basically NYC death metal?

[@Keepler22b]

One of my favorite vocalists! what a cool guy xD I love Immolation

[@EdmundKempersDartboard]

immolation. Straight Outta... Yonkers...

[@louisryan2738]

Ross was such a huge influence for me thank you bro \m/

[@fernandotrue]

One of my favorite death metal vocalist, you know, and "Failures for Gods" one of my top 5 albums, you know, and "Fall from a High Place" one of my top 3 best song ever. You know!.

[@hearsegod8909]

I have been listening to them since the early 90s...and thats exactly what got me listening...album cover art....them were the days! Seen them live multiple times. Good humble guys.

[@alejandrorozas6761]

Ross and Bob are so great dudes. It was amazing to know them. Immolation, so great live band. Respects from Chile.

[@craigmacdonald4126]

Such rad fellas and an insane live performance!!!!

[@rememberbeginning]

Your work is incredible Ross! Timeless music...thank you

[@ThreeEyedJuan]

No other band had as unique a sound signature as Immolation, some legendary ones had distinct sounds but was copied\influenced in other bands. Noone was like Immolation and noone ever could copy them. One of my all-time favorites.

[@martins.1837]

The First Album for me was what got me into Death Metal was "Failures for Gods" !!!...It's even Tattooed on my Arm. IMMOLATION RULES. !!!

[@didiervancampo9384]

You Will all be fooled!!! When he reveales himself!

[@josephmoore5967]

Been a fan since album one. Have always managed to miss them live, for reasons of money, time or both. That said, the man, despite his niceness and approachability as a person, has the voice of a human flamethrower. One of the THE BEST harsh, yet totally understandable voices, no mean feat in DM. Their topics DO get tired after some 10 albums of anti-Christian ethos. But the MUSIC??! DUDE. Bob Vigna's riffs sound like a record left to warp in the sun. NEVER heard such a serious incorporation of pinch harmonics as songwriting, and it fucking WORKS. And they've always been blessed with great drummers, guys who used the WHOLE kit and unique patterns. Just, great band. You know (Christ, I counted it 6 times in 3 lines and 15 sec's LOL)

[@SarahAParis]

My favorite Death Metal band, since their inception. Your music, videos and concerts are amazing!! I particularly love Ross's growl..that blows me away still, even though I've been listening to Immolation for years.

[@dave66x6]

Ross you know Dolan

[@michaelpritchett9856]

That's why it's beneficial to have multiple music projects as a musician.

[@abelcrespo5871]

crazy to know that I grew up and currently still live where immolation is from, I was always a fan of the band and just recently I found out where they were from, blew my mind

[@mikedegrazia]

Yeah right! I never even heard of them till like last month. Why the fuck didnt they play around here... I love these guys now.

[@noahblazier7648]

So cool that Ross and Will Rahmer were good friends, just a nice little tidbit imo

[@benishmael9451]

(Ross surprisingly) What?!

[@xdeathmetalbassistx]

I don't know, please explain :(

[@TrevyTrev-andTheFunkyPets]

Yeah, what’s that about?

[@chadkelham5034]

That ending never fails to have me lmao, you know?

[@dogsworldeducacioncaninaen9612]

A legend

[@elmengh]

great interview!!

[@62IsAMagicNumber]

This is the best lineup Immolation has ever had!

[@mattbowden1981]

I met Ross Dolan at a merch booth and he was super nice and polite.

[@TheLarryburns84]

yes, Ross, i do know.

[@mantelmann13]

"What?" Nice ending. :)

[@xxLonniExx]

Immolation top 5 albums are just top tiers ❤❤

[@DaleEarnhardt_]

So much respect

[@AmishMutantPower]

My best singer of all times!!! And the most unique band of the History 💪😃

[@arhaanchettri95]

Yes, Ross, I know, and every fan knows that you guys are a treasure.

[@camiloth9953]

Increible que se haya influenciado por Steve Harris, un gran bajista de todos los tiempos

[@silafuyang8675]

Immolation is the living proof that Death Metal is alive. Legendary!

[@ricardogreen4349]

Very informative and cool video. One of the best endings to a video I've ever seen! Hahahahaha! 🤘🤘🤘

[@gerdeanmaartenslouw5886]

Is there an Immolation song with the title track "You Know" that I may not know of...?

[@D0N_Nadie]

There is one called, The devil I know

[@gb9884]

Ya know the devil

[@kkkkkk-ys3xq]

Nice guy

[@jorgemarinhoferreira9981]

35 years of existence and they have yet to release a bad or even mediocre album. Top notch death metal

[@deimos2k6]

Saw them onstage back in 2000. It was more then 20 years ago... Always the same personalities, really into their music. Love these guys.

[@crackedbrainOG]

Been a fan since the beginning. They have always had a different but really cool sound.

[@chuckrowland8362]

First time was Flint mich....like 92? amazing show..I bought a copy of every drawing Vince Locke had ..also saw exploding zombies at that show..what a treat..

[@PabloRodriguez-no6zg]

Ross Dolan looks and sounds like Paul Rudd

[@Marienwerder]

Great material.

[@nanzyalnizlikg4360]

5_years_winter paul rudd

[@plebflayer666]

I gotta say, way back in the tape trading days, when i got a vhs performance of dawn of possession show, those drums were so organic, like nothing i ever heard (live) it kept me as a fan throughout all these years. Of course their compositions became crazier and complex to follow but still, their drums from that was really crazy for me.

[@toxictrace6775]

Hahaha! killer end \m/

[@xdeathmetalbassistx]

I want to know :(

[@toxictrace6775]

@@xdeathmetalbassistx Erm... Sorry man, what do you want to know?!

[@spreadtheinvection948]

*My intro to Immolation was catching them in a show with Dark Funeral, Cannibal Corpse & Black Anvil.*

[@aaronredding7050]

Hahahahaha the end is brilliant!

[@brandonbeard8638]

You know who he really reminds me of? You know who Nathan Explosion is?? You know if Nathan Explosion played bass he would be this guy. Ya know

[@krzysztofchmara794]

Nathan looks like a crossover of Ross Dolan and Corpsegrinder hahah

[@helenamunoz4500]

ROSS DOLAN parece una persona maravillosa y sencilla!! LONG LIVE IMMOLATION!!! \m/

[@marcoshaydar2749]

Letal brutal amazing band Greetings from colombia

[@IamMichaellucifer13]

Great band, seeing them at Blue Jay Bowl in Menasha Wisconsin, With Incantation and Goraphobia way back in the day, my 1st experience with this band, very awesome show.

[@jefo2405]

Been one of my top bands since the first few notes of Into everlasting fire.

[@annoyingmajor7231]

To me Ross is just as cool as John Tardy, Glen Benton, Corpsegrinder, Chuck Schuldiner., Steve Tucker/David Vincent, Piotr Wiwczarek... and very few others. Really unique. Great frontmen in the genre. Shred shit dude I,,I_

[@TheManglerPolishDeathMetal]

Great vocalist !

[@tiaancloete5133]

For some reason i see a resemblance to Paul Mazurkiewicz

[@jeanfrancoisrondeau6444]

They both say you know a lot

[@danielsanguino7856]

lmao you fuckers are killing me with the "you know" jokes XD

[@666100samael]

Its's the most extreme band ever, and Dawn of possession is a master piece

[@chrissmiddy9564]

This has to be out on DVD I wanna buy it of it is.

[@dangit6599]

I threw my burrito into the ground..it felt appropriate

[@gomebome]

that SLURP at 4:57

[@bobbydigital8111]

Yonkers represent!!!!!

[@mickeymojito]

Ross Dolan is the most New York guy of all time, pretty cool he has the most demonic growl ever.

[@Dobbie03]

God tier Death Metal.

[@xxLonniExx]

The ending is perfect 😂😂😂

[@helenamunoz4500]

Me lo repito!! ROSS MASTER FOREVER!! \m/ 😍😘

[@fredlivingston3766]

Meet Ross back in the 90's for dawn of possession tour cool asf the whole band real cool dude's

[@ianbueno4434]

Me gusta la parte donde dice You Know

[@TheGreatBaronOBeefDip]

Where is the rest of this?

[@davetorres3906]

The "you know" drink game

[@davidtorre7370]

Obviously a gentleman; and of course, true professional.

[@anidemolimacnauj]

How cool would be a conversation between Ross and Michael Romeo, you know?

[@DeanH92]

Is there a scientific study on why metal musicians say “You know” so much?

[@rumham2834]

Hey... At least it's not "like". lol

[@craigjames1082]

If I had to guess it's because a lot of musicians are shy or socially awkward and use a lot of filler words when speaking

[@reddeternity]

L O V E I T T !¥! I M M O L A T I O N !¥!

[@eageno]

I know I like this band...

[@Giganotabehemoth87]

John Cusack

[@carltonpolhemus2464]

🤘🏼🤘🏼

[@user-li2rf1hk7p]

imollYOUKNOW

[@TempleofAmon666]

Ross Dolan is probably the nicest guy in the scene. A close second is Jason netherton

[@maxer167]

yeah we know.

[@xdeathmetalbassistx]

I don't, please explain :(

[@maxer167]

@@xdeathmetalbassistx he repeates "you know"

[@xdeathmetalbassistx]

@@maxer167 thanks, the real mystery for me it's the ending

[@bootdownthedoor]

My god what a babe.

[@darktempest53]

Where's the full version?

[@KeymoEmbryo]

i been looking for it too lol

[@eventid22]

104 "YOU KNOW?" gives average 1 "you know?" every 6 second.

[@joemetaldrummer]

Where is the rest of the interview?

[@a.od-reszki4674]

YOU KNOW

[@metalhead4x448]

I was listening to shit like Maiden, Megadeth, Anthrax,etc but then starting seeing MTV videos from bands like Kreator, Sepultura, Napalm Death. Went to the store ended up buying Death (Spiritual Healing) and Napalm Death (Harmony Corruption. That got it started for me.