Michael Romeo formed Symphony X in New Jersey in 1994. The original lineup of the group also included Thomas Miller (bass guitar), Rod Tyler (vocals), Jason Rullo (drums), and Michael Pinnella (keyboards). They released their self-titled debut late that same year. The next year they put out the follow-up The Damnation Game. 1995 also saw Tyler... [+] Read More

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Denmark's Artillery were one of the many quality European thrash metal bands which never seemed to catch a break. Formed in 1982 in the Copenhagen suburb of Taastrup by brothers Michael (guitar) and Morten Stytzer (bass), Artillery's demos quickly became a hot item on the heavy metal underground tape trading circuit thanks to their frenzied,... [+] Read More

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Vocalist John Walker, bassist Ian Buchanan, and drummer Carl Stokes started Cancer in the late '80s as a brutal, simplistic death metal trio. Debuting with the amateurish To the Gory End, their lineup got a shot in the arm when ex-Obituary guitarist James Murphy signed on in 1992 for their technically impressive Death Shall Rise album. Although... [+] Read More

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From their modest beginnings as roadies for avant-garde Swiss metal legends Celtic Frost, the members of Coroner carved out one of the most unique careers in the European thrash metal scene. The trio was originally pegged as a conventional thrash band, but their jaw-dropping musicianship and increasingly complex, almost prog rock compositions... [+] Read More

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One of the first punk/metal fusion bands, Corrosion of Conformity (C.O.C. for short) were formed in North Carolina by guitarist Woody Weatherman during the early '80s. In their early years, C.O.C. became known for their aggressive sound, intelligent political lyrics, and willingness to break away from both hardcore and metal conventions. In the... [+] Read More

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Gothenburg, Sweden-based death metal outfit Dissection was formed in 1989 by singer/guitarist Jon Nödtveidt and bassist Peter Palmdahl; with the addition of drummer Ole Öhman the following spring, the group recorded its first demo, "The Grief Prophecy." Following the 1991 Corpsegrinder single, "Into Infinite Obscurity," Dissection recorded a... [+] Read More

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Conceived during the late '80s when death metal did everything it could to gain credibility as a substantial niche, Entombed instantly championed the eerie variation of brutal heavy metal, giving it credibility before quickly abandoning the style in the early '90s. In their post-death metal years, the band retained the niche genre's most... [+] Read More

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After he left Metallica in 1983, guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine formed the thrash metal quartet Megadeth. Though Megadeth followed the basic blueprint of Metallica's relentless attack, Mustaine's group distinguished themselves from his earlier band by lessening the progressive rock influences, adding an emphasis on instrumental skills,... [+] Read More

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MORDRED has been reinvented many times over the last 24 years with a host of different musicians and two distinctive styles, Thrash/Death Metal and Thrash/Funk Metal.
The band was formed in San Francisco in 1984 by Steve Scates, Alex Gerould, Art Liboon, Josh Juska and Brian Douglas Gilbert "Heavy Metal Drummer" - Lee Altus (Angel Witch,... [+] Read More

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Motörhead's overwhelmingly loud and fast style of heavy metal was one of the most groundbreaking styles the genre had to offer in the late '70s. Though the group's leader, Lemmy Kilminster, had his roots in the hard-rocking space rock band Hawkwind, Motörhead didn't bother with his old group's progressive tendencies, choosing to amplify the... [+] Read More

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Nuclear Assault were among thrash metal's most socially aware groups, making room for serious subject matter (and occasional goofs) in their careening speed metal riffing. They also remained closer to the world of hardcore than most of their peers, and at their late-'80s peak released some of the most uncompromising (albeit, interesting) thrash... [+] Read More

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Reaper - vocals
Doomhammer - guitar
Horus - bass
Iron Tyrant - drums

The German band OLD was formed in 2003 by Reaper (vocals), Doomhammer (guitar/drums) and Horus (bass guitar). The band was born to be a dedication to the old school Black Metal sound of the 80s and early 90s, bands like Celtic Frost/Hellhammer,... [+] Read More

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Like the extreme music they created, San Francisco's Possessed seemed cursed by dark and evil forces throughout their troubled career. Formed by guitarist Mike Torrao and drummer Mike Sus in 1983, the group would lose first singer Barry Fisk to suicide before even graduating out of their garage band status. They persisted though, and after... [+] Read More

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Slayer was one of the most distinctive, influential, and extreme thrash metal bands of the 1980s. Their graphic lyrics deal with everything from death and dismemberment to war and the horrors of hell. Their full-throttle velocity, wildly chaotic guitar solos, and powerful musical chops paint an effectively chilling sonic background for their... [+] Read More

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Slayer was one of the most distinctive, influential, and extreme thrash metal bands of the 1980s. Their graphic lyrics deal with everything from death and dismemberment to war and the horrors of hell. Their full-throttle velocity, wildly chaotic guitar solos, and powerful musical chops paint an effectively chilling sonic background for their... [+] Read More

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German thrash metal band made up of Angel Ripper (bass/vocals), Aggressor (guitar/vocals), and Witchhunter (drums). They were heavily influenced by thrash/speed metal bands like Motorhead, Venom, and Mercyful Fate, exploring the darkest subject matter possible. Aggressor quit the group before their first full-length album was released and was... [+] Read More

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German thrash metal band made up of Angel Ripper (bass/vocals), Aggressor (guitar/vocals), and Witchhunter (drums). They were heavily influenced by thrash/speed metal bands like Motorhead, Venom, and Mercyful Fate, exploring the darkest subject matter possible. Aggressor quit the group before their first full-length album was released and was... [+] Read More

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One of the crucial links in the musical chain linking hardcore punk with speed metal, the Stormtroopers of Death -- known more commonly as S.O.D. -- were actually intended to be a one-off novelty side project, done as a lark during a gap in Anthrax's recording and touring schedule in 1985. Guitarist Scott Ian and drummer Charlie Benante were... [+] Read More

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One of the crucial links in the musical chain linking hardcore punk with speed metal, the Stormtroopers of Death -- known more commonly as S.O.D. -- were actually intended to be a one-off novelty side project, done as a lark during a gap in Anthrax's recording and touring schedule in 1985. Guitarist Scott Ian and drummer Charlie Benante were... [+] Read More

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Fusing hardcore punk and heavy metal into a furiously thrashing hybrid, Seattle's the Accused invariably described to their style as "splattercore," a reference to their chief lyrical inspirations -- horror films and comic-book violence. It was a far cry from the political leanings of vocalist/bandleader Blaine Cook's previous band, the Fartz,... [+] Read More

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