Metallica is an American metal band that spearheaded the US thrash scene with the 1983–84 albums Kill ‘Em All and Ride the Lightning. They shot to fame with their 1986 Elektra release Master of Puppets and its 1988 two-record followup …And Justice for All. Members: Lars Ulrich (drums), James Hetfield (guitar, vocals), Hugh Tanner (guitar, […]
Megadeth are an American metal band from Los Angeles that Dave Mustaine formed in 1983 after his exit from Metallica. The group debuted with Killing Is My Business… And Business Is Good! on Combat in 1985 and began its Capitol run one year later with Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying? They carried that run through […]
Metal Church was an American metal band that formed in San Francisco in 1980, then reset in Aberdeen, Wash., one year later under guitarist and principal writer Kurdt Vanderhoof. The catalog begins with the 1981 demo Red Skies, followed by the 1984 Ground Zero debut Metal Church and the Elektra albums The Dark and Blessing […]
Slayer was an American metal band from Huntington Park, California, that formed in 1981 and fixed its classic lineup around bassist-vocalist Tom Araya, guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, and drummer Dave Lombardo. The band opened its catalog with Show No Mercy in 1983, followed by the Haunting the Chapel EP and the 1985 album […]
Flotsam and Jetsam are an American metal band from Scottsdale, Ariz., that released the album Doomsday for the Deceiver on Metal Blade in 1986, followed by No Place for Disgrace on Elektra in 1988 and a round of titles on MGM during the following decade. Members: Kelly David-Smith (drums, 1982-97), Jason Newsted (bass, 1982-86), Eric […]
Overkill is an American metal band from Old Bridge, N.J., that formed in 1980 and built its first run through the Megaforce and Atlantic albums Feel the Fire, Taking Over, Under the Influence, The Years of Decay, Horrorscope, I Hear Black, and W.F.O. between 1985 and 1994. The group continued on CMC, Metal-Is, Spitfire, Regain, […]
Whiplash was an American metal band that struck with the 1986 Roadracer release Power and Pain, followed by the 1987–89 titles Ticket to Mayhem and Insult to Injury. Members: Tony Portaro (guitar, vocals), Tony Scaglione (drums, 1983-87, 1996, 1998-99, 2010-11), Mike Orosz (vocals, 1984), Pat Burns (bass, 1984), Rob Harding (bass, 1984), Tony Bono (bass, 1985-93, 1998-99), Joe […]
Coroner was a Swiss heavy metal band that issued a 1986 cassette album on Rip Rec, followed by five albums on Noise International, including the 1987/88 titles R.I.P. and Punishment for Decadence. Members: Marquis Marky (drums, 1983-2014), Tommy Ritter (guitar, 1983-84), Phil Puzctai (bass, 1983-84), Pete Attinger (vocals, 1983-84), Oliver Amberg (guitar, vocals, 1984-85), Ron […]
Voïvod are a Québécois thrash-metal band that spread several cassette-only demos during the early 1980s, culminating with the 1984 album War and Pain on Metal Blade Records. On Noise International, they unleashed the 1986–89 albums Rrröööaaarrr, Killing Technology, Dimension Hatröss, and Nothingface. Members: Away [Michel Langevin] (drums), Piggy [Denis D’Amour] (guitar, 1982-2005), Blacky [Jean-Yves Thériault] […]
