Death metal band Vitriol split mid-tour and leave frontman stranded at petrol station for “cowardly and weak outbursts of misplaced anger”

Death metal band Vitriol have split up mid-tour, citing their frontman’s “cowardly and weak outbursts of misplaced anger”.

The Portland group were out on their 2025 North American tour, which saw them debut a new line-up comprising founding member, guitarist and lead singer Kyle Rasmussen, Keith Merrow (guitar), Brett Leier (bass) and Andy Vincenzetti (drums).

This followed former drummer Matt Kilner’s departure from Vitriol this summer. In September 2024, bassist, co-vocalist and co-founder Adam Roethlisberger quit the band mid-tour.

Writing on Instagram Stories yesterday (Monday November 24), Merrow shared details on Vitriol’s sudden break-up, and the circumstances that had led to them parting ways with Rasmussen.

“He fucked around and found out,” he wrote in all caps. “Sorry Vitriol fans. We had to abandon him at a gas station in Vermont. Myself, Andy, Brett, and Matt will not take Kyle’s cowardly and weak outbursts of misplaced anger.”

He continued: “We gave everything we had, and now have left you with nothing. Mass exodus.”

Merrow went on to say that having to make the announcement was “the darkest day of my music career to date”.

Later, a follow-up post captured the “fuckin brutally depressing 25-hour drive home” from the tour with Vincenzetti.

The latter shared his own statement online, writing: “Onwards and Upwards. Played some sick deathmetal and got to meet even sicker people.”

Merrow has since responded to Rasmussen’s lengthy two-part video message about the situation (see above), saying: “Everyone who’s reading this – Me, Brett, and Andy left Vitriol because Kyle sucks. That’s it.

“It doesn’t require an absolutely psychotic 2 part video series to explain.

“He irrationally screamed at the whole crew at the top of his lungs on multiple occasions. We simply won’t tolerate it, just like all the other 19 people who left this failed band. What more needs to be said? It’s the same shit as every other victim of his abuse.”

He later wrote: “I’ve received so many messages in the past 24 hours from you guys. We really appreciate your kind words.

“The silver lining in this situation is that I met Brett and Andy. We’re continuing together as a band under a different name because we love each other. The amazing bambino crew will be joining us as sound engineers.”

Per Lambgoat, Rasmussen’s video messages saw him take accountability, but dispute some claims from his bandmates. He detailed a confrontation with Merrow – saying the latter had entered his private space, triggering Rasmussen’s anger issues.

“Brett just shouts, ‘You can’t talk to us like that’,” he explained. “I said, ‘Talk to you guys like that? I yelled at Keith’. I was like, ‘What about the physical invasion and not respecting when I asked him to leave the space when he was being hostile?’”

He told his followers: “I see my therapist every single week, even on tour.”

The singer said: “I feel like [my bandmates] must feel a responsibility to make their actions sound as reasonable as possible by inflating the offences of my actions.”

He also admitted to occasional cocaine use when on tour, claiming that all members took part. The vocalist said a 30-hour intoxicated period had preceded the incident that resulted in the split.

Rasmussen has launched a GoFundMe page to get himself, his girlfriend and their dog home, saying that they “were left stranded at a remote gas station in upstate New York”.

“After a disagreement with a band member, we suddenly found ourselves as far from home as we could possibly be, with very little money and no way to feed ourselves or secure transportation to get back to Portland, Oregon,” he added.

“[…] The uncertainty and stress have been overwhelming, but I’m determined to do whatever it takes to get us back to safety.”