Former Primal Members Won't Give Up And Launch A New Project | Final Decree Makes A Comeback
Primal came to an end some time ago, and all signs point to the band having severed the artistic ties that bound them to Alberto Zamarbide. However, none of that is stopping former members Glenn Rogers, Cesar Ceregatti, and Jorge Iacobellis from already planning something new—and that new project already has a name: Final Decree.
To tell the truth, Final Decree isn’t a new name on the Metal scene. It dates back several years as a solo project by Glenn Rogers, who told us about its origins: “I started the band in 2011 after I left Hirax”, he explained, “I wanted to have a name that I owned. In the other bands Deliverance, Hirax, Primal they were bands I joined so the name mainly we’re the singers concept. So when things don’t work out or the band breaks up they get to keep the name and find other musicians and continue. So that leaves everyone to become Ex members of”, explains the guitarist, who also points out that since Final Decree is his own name and project, things are different for him. “With Final Decree the style will be what I always do. I write the way I write. I don’t really change it for anyone. So you can expect the mix of Melodic and Thrash I am known for.”
Indeed, Final Decree has a history, and in fact, we can find the only single released under that name: the track “Dark Before Dawn”, released in 2021 in Europe. Following that and the events surrounding Primal, Glenn Rogers decided it was a good time to get the band back on track. Together with his old Primal bandmates—bassist Cesar Ceregatti and well-known drummer Jorge Iacobellis—plus Sammy DeJohn on vocals, they decided to start writing and recording new material again.
What’s important is that Final Decree brings a wealth of experience to the table. In addition to Glenn Rogers’s accumulated experience, there’s that of bassist Cesar Ceregatti—who not only worked with Primal but also with Steel Vengeance—and Jorge Iacobellis, one of Argentina’s legendary drummers, whose resume includes stints with bands such as Todos Tus Muertos, Velocet, Hirax, Silversteel, Insecticide, Bloodlust, and many others. Joining them is Sammy DeJohn, who, in addition to being the vocalist for Ruthless, has a history with Scarred, Blood Alliance, Damen Smash, among others. In other words, all of them are seasoned veterans in the field.
“Bringing back Final Decree was something I felt I had to do”, Rogers acknowledges, “…With Beto moving on with his solo band we felt it was time to reform the band. Then Sammy DeJohn has some time off with Ruthless so he reached out to me about doing a record. We wanted to keep the core of the band together because we all live close to each other. With Beto he is in Miami which makes it hard to plan anything”, he told us.
In short, Final Decree features Glenn Rogers himself on guitar, Cesar Ceregatti on bass, Jorge Iacobellis on drums, and Sammy DeJohn on vocals. With this lineup, Final Decree plans to release new material soon, and in fact, Rogers himself confirmed this: “We have been working on songs. I have demoed 4 so far. We plan to do 8 or 10 for this record”, he revealed, and he also gave us a small hint about the direction Final Decree—which features Sammy DeJohn (vocalist for Ruthless) in its ranks—might take: “I think we my be a heavier sounding with Sammy DeJohn because he comes from the same place”, he told us.
Glenn Rogers has extensive experience in the Metal and Thrash scene. His career includes stints as a guitarist for Deliverance, Hirax, Vengeance Rising, Viking, Onde Dead, Heretic, and others. His recent time with Primal doesn’t seem to have discouraged him—quite the opposite—and he’s back in action with Final Decree, a project he revived to move forward with his longtime bandmates. His style, much more focused on Thrash/Speed Metal, can be heard precisely on “Dark Before The Dawn”, his only single to date along with the song “Mirror Mirror,” which was also recorded by Primal at the time in a version different from the original.
On the horizon—and as a goal for Final Decree—is the recording and release of an album, and in that regard, Glenn Rogers told us: “We plan to record this record and release it in 2027 or early 2028”, he said, but the band also seems eager to get out and play live. “We will look to book shows and hopefully return to the road and support it”, he acknowledged, while also expressing nostalgia for Argentina, a place he’s visited several times with Primal. “I personally want to return to Argentina and meet up with all our friends”, he told us.
Final Decree is back in action; they’re working on their new material, and we’re eagerly awaiting the result. In the meantime, “Dark Before The Dawn” offers a glimpse into the band’s style and a good excuse to figure out what direction Final Decree’s new material might take, so we’ve included the aforementioned track below, along with the original version of “Mirror Mirror,” which was later recorded by Primal as well, though in a different version. We’re also including the band’s social media links here so you can follow them and stay up to date on their latest news…
https://www.facebook.com/glennrogersguitarist
https://www.instagram.com/final_decree
