About

CESTUS is a heavy metal band founded in Athens, AL in 1983 by Robert Garrett (Guitar\Vocals), Gary Craig (Bass Guitar), and Ken McClung (Drums).   

In addition to playing live concerts across the region, the band recorded a full-length album in August 1984, but band members went their separate ways later in the year and the recording was never released. 

The individual members remained in contact over 30 plus years and reconvened in December of 2018 to record songs leftover from the 1984 sessions. CESTUS was back in the studio in April 2019 and again in 2020 to work with renowned recording engineer Jeremy Stephens at Clearwave Studio in Decatur, AL, this time to record newly written material. In the Fall of 2020, they released the digital, nine song EP CESTUS.  

Recently, the band added rhythm guitarist Rob Cox to fill out the live CESTUS sound. The band continues to write and record new music in their own unique style. 

CLASSIC HARD ROCK EXCELLENCE

 In an era where much of modern rock has lost its edge and authenticity, CESTUS emerges as a powerful reminder of what made hard rock and metal so electrifying in the first place. This band isn't just playing music—they're channeling the raw energy and craftsmanship that defined the genre's golden age in the 1980s, while bringing their own contemporary polish and precision to every note. From the opening moments of their first track, it's immediately clear that CESTUS possesses something special: genuine talent backed by serious technical ability. These aren't musicians simply going through the motions or relying on studio tricks. This is a band that understands the fundamentals of great hard rock—crushing riffs, soaring melodies, and the kind of tight, cohesive musicianship that can only come from players who truly know their instruments. The Sound: Polished Yet Powerful What immediately strikes you about CESTUS is their remarkably polished sound. The production quality is exceptional, allowing each instrument to breathe and occupy its own space in the mix without ever feeling sterile or overproduced. The guitars bite with precision, the rhythm section thunders with authority, and every element comes together in a way that feels both professional and passionate. The guitar work deserves special mention. The riffs are tight, memorable, and delivered with the kind of conviction that gets your head nodding involuntarily. Whether they're laying down heavy, groove-oriented rhythms or launching into face-melting leads, the guitarists demonstrate not only technical proficiency but also an innate sense of what makes a riff stick in your memory long after the song ends. The lead guitar work is particularly impressive—clean, articulate, and melodic, with every note ringing out with crystal clarity. A Vocalist Who Delivers Any great rock band lives or dies by its vocalist, and CESTUS has found themselves a frontman who can truly command.

VCTM IX - Arizona