Khaotika and Wormreich: One year later

Bands with local ties carry on a year after a fatal van crash.

Khaotika and Lariyah Hayes (center) reemerged last fall.
Photo credit: Jeri Warren

On April 6, 2015, a tragic http://clatl.com/cribnotes/archives/2015/04/07/local-metal-musicians-involved-in-fatal-van-crash" rel="external">van accident on Interstate 85 in Jackson County left three black-metal musicians dead, and reshaped the lives of their surviving Khaotika and Wormreich bandmates. Both bands have soldiered on, playing shows and putting the finishing touches on new releases months after physically and emotionally recovering from the crash.

Khaotika is fronted by Atlanta-based model and artist Lariyah Hayes. She was among the eight injured, suffering a concussion, broken ribs, a pierced and collapsed lung, and right arm injuries that required reconstructive surgery. With no health insurance and an infant at home, Hayes’ recovery was both expensive and frustrating. “There was so much hate and frustration, for me, because my little daughter was five weeks old,” Hayes says. “I couldn’t take care of her for three months. I always needed someone to help hold her and change her nonstop.”

Despite a rash of injuries and the death of drummer Nicholas Crisostomo, the surviving members of Khaotika reemerged last fall. A new lineup including New Mexico based drummer Marco “Strom” Fimbres cemented its rebirth with the Nov. 11 release of its The Flame Unleashed CD.

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Memories from the accident still linger, as lead guitarist Sergio Jose Quesada awaits trial on three counts of first degree homicide by vehicle for his role in the accident. While Quesada’s place in the band and freedom is in limbo, the rest of the group is planning to relocate to Atlanta before plotting its next move.

Wormreich has also bounced back in the face of heartbreak. The group continues playing live and has three releases on tap featuring songs written before the accident, including a split 12-inch with the third band on the Khaotika tour, Kult ov Azazel.

Wormreich founder and Huntsville, Ala. resident Chris “Vulk” Pyle lost two bandmates in the crash —guitarist and keyboardist Ian McKinney and Marietta-based bassist Paul Truesdell. “Having Paul with us on this tour was, in itself, an awesome experience,” Pyle says. “From what I understand this was his first time touring with a band, which unfortunately adds to the sense of tragedy. He was incredibly positive and upbeat pretty much all of the time, and was definitely very dynamic and added a lot of energy to the group, both onstage and in general. Paul was to become our full-time bassist after the tour had been completed.”

The early March addition of bassist Bailey Allender (Armed Chaos) adds another Atlanta tie to a band that already featured legendary local guitarist Steve “Skullator” Shoemaker (Hallows Eve).

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Since returning to the live stage, Shoemaker has performed in a wheelchair. It’s a powerful visual reminder of each survivor’s resolve as they continue practicing their art on the heels of tragedy. According to Pyle, the thought of quitting never occurred to him or the other survivors. “I don’t think there was ever really a thought that this would all end, and that is in no way meant to make us seem tough or anything ridiculous like that,” Pyle says. “We can’t really see ourselves doing anything else.”