Bay Area metal collective Nefarious has officially ushered in a new era with the announcement of a major lineup change. The band—boasting a pedigree that includes Rick Hunolt (Exodus, DieHumane) and Doug Piercy (Heathen, Anvil Chorus) on guitars, Tom Gears (Blind Illusion, Ancient Mariner) on bass, and Will Carroll (Death Angel) on drums—has revealed Sean Rivera as their new lead vocalist.
Rivera steps in to replace Katon W. De Pena of Hirax, who performed on the group’s debut album, Addicted To Power. To mark the transition, the band has released a new version of their song “Day After”, now featuring Rivera‘s vocal performance.
According to the band, the decision to bring in Rivera was driven by a need for a frontman who could be physically present for the creative process, contrasting with the logistical challenges of their previous arrangement.
“We wanted someone who could be in the room with us — creating, rehearsing, and ready to play,” Piercy stated. “It’s hard to get tight as a band when they can’t rehearse on the regular. The Bay Area has always thrived on that energy, and now we’ve got it. Long-distance situations can get complicated when there’s simply no communication.”
Hunolt was equally enthusiastic about the new addition, praising Rivera‘s diverse musical skillset.
“Sean Rivera has brought Nefarious to the next level. The metal gods gave us a true musical wizard,” Hunolt said. “Not only is he an amazing singer, and absolute stellar musician (guitar, keyboards), but he is an amazing human to work with and I can’t wait for you all to hear this man sing. C’ya on the road in ’26 .. Lfgoooooo!”
For Rivera, joining a group composed of such seasoned veterans was both a thrill and a challenge.
“When Doug and Rick reached out to me and asked if I wanted to try out for Nefarious on vocals, I was excited and nervous,” Rivera commented. “Everyone in the band are fantastic players and have such seasoned musical histories, and stepping into that felt really significant to me. After listening to the album I thought the songs were great and knew it was a project I wanted to be a part of. Thankfully, everyone liked what my vocals added and I was really stoked when they asked me to join. They’re all really great people and have been super supportive with the whole process of learning the songs and becoming a part of the band. I feel really fortunate to be given this opportunity and I’m really excited for all we can accomplish together on the road ahead!”
Fans won’t have to wait long to see the new lineup in action. Nefarious will make their live debut with Rivera at the DNA Lounge in San Francisco on Saturday, January 3, 2026. Looking further ahead, the band has confirmed a European tour for August and September 2026, which will kick off at the prestigious Alcatraz festival in Belgium.
