ABOUT MIKE LEPOND'S SILENT ASSASSINS
Mike LePond’s Silent Assassins is the heavy metal project led by Mike LePond, known worldwide as one of the foremost bass virtuosos in heavy metal and a long-standing member of progressive metal giants Symphony X. Formed in 2014, Silent Assassins was born from LePond’s lifelong devotion to the raw power of classic heavy metal – fast, aggressive, riff-driven and unapologetically heavy – and a desire to reconnect with the music that first inspired him.
Growing up in Newark, New Jersey, LePond was drawn to the bass guitar after discovering bands such as Judas Priest, Saxon and Manowar, before witnessing Kiss live and committing fully to a life in metal. Since joining Symphony X in 1999, he has earned a reputation as one of modern metal’s most skilled and authoritative bass players, yet the urge to recreate the impact of hearing blistering heavy metal for the first time never faded. With Silent Assassins, LePond channels that mission directly, pushing back against what he sees as a dilution of metal’s grit and danger, and championing the true power of the riff.
That mission reaches its fiercest expression on Whore Of Babylon, the project’s third studio album and latest release via Silver Lining Music. Forging a union between classic heavy metal and ancient history, the album is a no-holds-barred statement of intent, moving from the scintillating fury of ‘Dracul Son’ to the baroque mystery of the title track. Written and produced by LePond between tours with Symphony X, and recorded at guitarist Michael Romeo’s home studio, Whore Of Babylon delivers traditional metal at full force, driven by powerful storytelling, relentless musicianship and a band united by a shared love of the genre.
BAND MEMBERS
- Mike LePond – Bass, rhythm & acoustic guitars, backing vocals
- Alan Tecchio – Lead vocals
- Lance Barnewold – Lead guitars
- Rod Rivera – Lead guitars