Dutch Metal band VENGEANCE, based in Waalwijk, North Brabant, was snapped up by CBS Records after company A&R men witnessed their debut gig in 1983. The group had formed earlier that year following guitarist Anthony Arjen Lucassen's departure from the ranks of BODINE. Lucassen was joined in the first incarnation of VENGEANCE by vocalist Leon Goewie, second guitarist Oscar Hollmann, bassist Jan Bijlsma and drummer Matt Oligschlager.

The group released their self-titled debut album in July 1984, folllowing it up with the quite stunning 'We Have Ways To Make You Rock' album in April 1986. This second album found new drummer John Snels in the band. An EP issued that September, 'Only The Wind', featured the title track and three live tracks recorded at the Countdown Cafe.

Hollmann had departed by the third album, 1987's more groove laden, John Sonneveld produced 'Take It Or Leave It', and was superseded by Peter Verschurren. Follow up EPs included 'Rock 'n' Roll Shower', hosting another track, 'Death Ride To Glory', from the Countdown Cafe show, and 'If Lovin' You Is Wrong'.

The band had added another guitarist, Jan Somers, prior to recording 'Arabia' in 1988. Although successful in mainland Europe, VENGEANCE limited themselves to a couple of club dates in Britain to promote 'Arabia' in 1989 and Leon Goewie left in 1990 to be replaced with British vocalist IAN PARRY, formerly a member of AIRRACE.

Parry's work with VENGEANCE didn't pass unnoticed as the compilation album, 'The Last Teardrops 1984-1992', featured six songs recorded with the singer. 1994's Japanese only 'The Last Of The Fallen Heroes' also included some of the material recorded with Parry. It was during 1994 that the group eventually called it a day and Ian went on to release three solo albums, whilst Leon Goewie, the man he replaced, turned up fronting German outfit CORACKO. By 1995 this group had evolved into STONEWASHED.

After leaving VENGEANCE Arjen Lucassen was to join ACCEPT as second guitarist for their comeback 'Objection Overruled' world tour but these plans were shelved. The man went solo and released an operatic Rock album in 1995, 'The Final Experiment', going under the project title of AYREON. The album featured guest vocals from KINGDOM COME's Lenny Wolf. AYREON would go on to achieve considerable success in Europe with successive albums.

During 1997 a resurrected VENGEANCE offered the world a brand new album, 'Back From Flight 19', (a reference to the squadron of US planes that had disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle) that saw a return to the ranks for Goewie alongside Somers and Verschuren, complemented with new faces Barend Courbois on bass guitar, Roland Bakker on keyboards and drummer Paul Thissen.

VENGEANCE bass player Jan Bijlsma would aid his former colleague IAN PARRY on his ambitious CONSORTIUM PROJECT album of 2001. Guitarist Peer Verschuren formed up part of Norwegian AOR maestro ERIK NORLANDER's touring band in 2003. Both Courbois and Thissen featured in the live ANAND line-up of 2003.

Sadly, former VENGEANCE drummer Paul Thissen, died in his sleep on January 14th 2006. He was just 32 years old.

VENGEANCE made a comeback in 2006, the 'Back In The Ring' album emerging on MTM Music in June. The band was fronted by original vocalist Leon Goewie alongside Barend Courbois on bass, from BISS and PERFECT STRANGERS, Hans In'T Zandt on drums, of CHINAWHITE, Peter "Slash" Bourbon on guitar plus Michael Voss handling guitar and keyboards, an industry veteran of MAD MAX, SILVER and CASANOVA. The record included guest studio performances from STREAM OF PASSION, AYREON guitarist and VENGEANCE founding member Arjen Lucassen, ex-ACCEPT guitarist Wolf Hoffmann, former WARLOCK drummer Michael Eurich and PRIMAL FEAR's Mat Sinner.

September and October European tour dates were conducted as support to AXEL RUDI PELL. The group also put in spot guest slots to Y&T and UFO. VENGEANCE were to partner up with CHINCHILLA and SINNER for European dates in March 2007. However, CHINCHILLA withdrew in acrimonious circumstances followed shortly afterwards by an announcement Mat Sinner had injured his arm, postponing the tour.