It’s safe to say that Technical death metal has never really been short on mayhem, but Vitriol’s collapse has spiralled into something far more raw than any blastbeat. Just days after guitarist Keith Merrow, drummer Andy Vincenzetti, and bassist Brett Leier walked out mid tour, leaving Kyle Rasmussen, his partner, and their dog on the roadside, the story has cracked open even further.
Rasmussen returned fire with a two part video posted to Vitriol’s official Instagram, his face streaked with tears as he unpacked the blow up that detonated the tour. In the clip, he admits to anger issues and what he describes as ‘responsible irresponsibility’ involving ‘nose beers’, but places the blame for the band’s collapse squarely on the others.
He also alleges that Merrow once threatened to ‘stab him in the neck’ during a confrontation, and insists the group left them not at a Vermont servo, but outside an ice cream shop in upstate New York, where a state trooper allegedly helped eject him from the RV.
Merrow’s Response: ‘Kyle Sucks’
Merrow didn’t waste time replying, doubling down in a blunt Instagram story:
“Everyone who’s reading this – Me, Brett, and Andy left Vitriol because Kyle sucks…”
He goes on to describe Rasmussen screaming at crew members, calling him an abusive presence on the road, and claims this behaviour mirrors what drove 19 former members out the door. Merrow ended by confirming he, Brett, and Andy will continue making music together under a new name, backed by their trusted touring crew.
Rasmussen Launches GoFundMe
In the wake of being abandoned, Rasmussen launched a GoFundMe to get himself, his girlfriend Maggie, and their dog Ghost home to Portland.
“My name is Kyle, and I’m reaching out for help after an unexpected and difficult turn of events…”
Rasmussen says they’ve spent the last day relying on strangers while trying to secure food, shelter, and transport home. At the time of this publishing, the GoFundMe has raised $10,453 of a 2.5K target with 163 donations.
Whether this saga ends in accountability or another messy chapter for Vitriol remains to be seen. What’s clear is the band’s volatility has finally boiled over, and there’s no coming back from this one.
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