Spawned as an Austin, Texas punk-rock project in 2012 by guitarist Tony Lerma Jr and bassist Joshua Valdez, Vilamoura matured rapidly into a metalcore and post-hardcore vision with the inclusion of drummer Emilio Pla and vocalist Josh Huber in 2013, sporting alternative vocals, melodic choruses, and heavy distorted guitar rhythms over fast-paced percussion. Shortly after recruiting guitarist Mikah Shipman and vocalist Johnathan Sotomayor, establishing the primary lineup as a dual-vocal hexad by the end of 2013, the band officially branded as, “Vilamoura,” shortly before releasing their debut EP, “Buried Alive,” in 2015, following which, drummer Emilio Pla resigned from the group. The band premiered their first music video, “Vindictive,” in 2016 with Collapse Entertainment, and recruited drummer Jonathan Lester in time for the reveal of their second video release for their song, “We All Die,” entering into a six year hiatus following this title and reuniting in 2022 with the new addition of drummer Payton Holekamp. Vilamoura maintains four track releases to date and pulls inspiration heavily from artists in the vein of Bring Me the Horizon, Polyphia, and Bad Omens, combining pop and emo-influenced hooks with heavy metal and hard rock riffs and structure. The band’s name derives from Vilamoura St. in the Austin area, around which several of the founding members lived at the time of the group’s formation.
