Chris Valagao

Chris Valagao
Also known as	The Heathen
Genres	Heavy metal, speed metal, thrash metal
Occupation	Singer
Years active	1992–present
Website	legionofflames.com

Chris "The Heathen" Valagao is a Canadian singer, best known as the frontman for speed/thrash metal band Zimmers Hole. Valagao is accomplished SPFX artist and pyrotechnician for film and television, director and producer of many music videos and a builder of custom motorcycles. He is of Portuguese and Norwegian heritage.

Background

Valagao is the founding frontman (along with Jed Simon and Byron Stroud from Strapping Young Lad and drummer Steve Wheeler) for Canadian speed/thrash metal band Zimmers Hole. He has recorded 3 albums with the band. During his career, Valagao has performed backing vocals on several of Devin Townsend's and Strapping Young Lad's albums. During that time he has built a strong friendship with Townsend.

In 2012, Valagao joined traditional heavy metal group West of Hell and released the debut album Spiral Empire. West of Hell followed up with a headlining tour across Canada and New Zealand in support for the album.

Nicknames

During his career, Valagao has adopted several "nicknames", most notably "The Heathen". Other nicknames include:

• "Dr. Heathen Hooch"
• "E.Val"
• "Lorde of Ass-Fire"

Discography

Valagao has performed on the following albums.

With Zimmers Hole

• Bound by Fire (1997)
• Legion of Flames (2001)
• When You Were Shouting at the Devil...We Were in League With Satan (2008)

With Strapping Young Lad

• Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing (1994)
• City (1997)
• Strapping Young Lad (2003)
• Alien (2005)
• The New Black (2006)

With Devin Townsend

• Ocean Machine: Biomech (1997)
• Infinity (1998)
• Physicist (2000)
• Synchestra (2006)

With Mechanism

• Inspired Horrific (2009)

With West of Hell

• Spiral Empire (2012)

With Memorain

• Evolution (2012)