 | | In an era of homogenized metal bands and superficial glam rockers, self-described "hellbilly head-bangers," the Agony Column, sliced through prevalent clichés like a hot knife through butter; their quirky musical fusion of thrash metal and Southern rock conspiring with a penchant for wry humor and self-mockery (all virtually unheard of in a metal scene suffocated by its own self-importance) to honor the "weird" reputation of their hometown of Austin, Texas. |
 | | Like thousands of hopefuls, Pennsylvania's Anvil Bitch jumped on the speed metal bandwagon in the wake of Metallica's breakout success. |
 | | Although many associate hard rock from Los Angeles in the early '80s as all glossed up and pop-based (Mötley Crüe, Ratt, Quiet Riot, etc. |
 | | Artch was a heavy metal band from Norway formed in 1982 and featuring singer Espen Hoss(replaced after his accidental death by Eirikur Hauksson), guitarist Cato Olsen, guitarist Geir Nilssen, bassist Bernt A. |
 | | Initially known as Heresy, Tucson, AZ's Atrophy was formed in 1986 and featured vocalist Brian Zimmerman, guitarists Chris Lykins and Rick Skowron, bassist James Gulotta, and drummer Tim Kelly. |
 | | Arguably the only band in history to feature identical twins for a rhythm section, Blessed Death were New Jersey thrashers featuring vocalist Larry Portelli, guitarists Jeff Anderson and Nick Fiorentino, bassist Kevin Powelson, and drummer Chris Powelson. |
 | | One of countless speed metal bands to emerge from the thrash-friendly state of New Jersey during the 1980s, Bayonne's Blood Feast were formed as Blood Lust in 1985, and actually submitted a few songs from their "Suicidal Mission" demo to New Renaissance Records' Thrash Metal Attack and Speed Metal Hell, Vol. |
 | | Heavy and powerful thrash band from Corpus Christi, TX, which originated in the mid-'80s and gained a contract through their sizeable following in the underground. |
 | | Freaky punk/metal from Los Angeles with a lot of theatrics, musically and on stage.................. |
 | | Los Angeles heavy metal band Hellion was founded in 1982 by vocalist Ann Boleyn -- a willful and charismatic character whose singing abilities, it's generally agreed, were actually somewhat inferior to her drive as an entrepreneur, and talent for self-promotion. |
 | | This NYC-based quintet tours the club circuit, filling the dance floors with their rocking blend of Cajun, zydeco, blues and rock&roll. |
 | | The Mentors were one of the pioneers of the underground shock rock movement that would open the door for artists like G. |
 | | Formed in 1983, Hallows Eve was a thrash metal band hailing from Atlanta, GA, whose first brush with notoriety came via the inclusion of their song "Metal Merchants" in the Metal Massacre, Vol. |
 | | Never all that successful to begin with, New Haven, CT heavy metal group Obsession have gradually faded even further into hazy memory, as a backdrop to the wider exposure achieved by their singer, Mike Vescera, after he moved on to work with several higher profile bands. |
 | | The preeminent metal band of the early to mid-'90s, Pantera put to rest any and all remnants of the '80s metal scene, almost single-handedly demolishing any notion that hair metal, speed metal, power metal, et al. |
 | | Up-and-coming Minneapolis metal outfit. Their one album, Gardens of Machinery, didn't have a bad crunch for beginners. |
 | | English band formed in 1986, with Martin Walkyier (vocals), Andy Sneap (guitar), Frazer Craske (bass), and Simon Negus (drums). |
 | | Led by bassist/vocalist Phil Rind, this Phoenix-based band also includes Wiley Arnett, Jason Rainey, and Greg Hall. |
 | | Sanctuary, formed in Seattle in 1985, was a pet discovery of Megadeth guitarist Dave Mustaine. He helped get the band signed to CBS/Epic Records, produced their first album, and took them on the road with Megadeth. |
 | | Like numerous bands signed by California's Shrapnel label, Las Vegas-based Apocrypha were short on songs but long on showy guitar playing. |
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 | | Hoping to follow in the footsteps of the Scorpions before them, German metal/hard rock band Axxis was formed in 1988 by Bernhard Weiss (vocals, guitar), Walter Pietsch (guitar, vocals), Werner Kleinhans (bass), and Richard Michalski (drums). |
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 | | Not to be confused with the Child's Play that recorded an LP titled This Is Skoolies in 1979, this Child's Play is a long-haired hard rock/heavy metal unit that enjoyed a small following on the Baltimore rock circuit in the 1980s and '90s. |
 | | A Cincinnati, Ohio foursome whose existence paralleled that of the better known heavy metal band Chastain, CJSS was formed by guitarist David T. |
 | | Although they remain obscure to this day, the Nashville, TN, alt-metal trio Clockhammer was picked by many as a strong contender for breakthrough success during their original run together in the early '90s. |
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 | | Yet another minor-league thrash band unable to replicate its regional success on the national or international stage, Seattle, Washington's Coven featured vocalist Jay Clark, guitarists Paul Hash and Dean Babbitt, bassist Gary Peebles, and drummer Neal Babbitt. |
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 | | Chicago's Cyclone Temple was born from the remnants of speed metal also-rans Znowhite: essentially guitarist Greg Fulton (a. |
 | | This Chicago, Illinois-based heavy metal band featured Desi Rexx (vocals, guitar), Billy Dior (drums), S. |
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 | | An acronym for "Dead Brain Cells," D.B.C. was a minor Canadian thrash band of the late '80s featuring Phil Dakin (bass/vocals), Eddie Shahini (guitar), Gerry Ouellette (guitar), and Jeff St. |
 | | A hard rock group from the USA formed in the late 80s, Dead Ringer featured Charlie Huhn (vocals), Jay Johnson (guitar), Joe Bouchard (b. |
 | | A prototypical example of '80s Teutonic thrash, Deathrow followed in the footsteps of countrymen like Destruction, Sodom, and Iron Angel, only with far more modest commercial results. |
 | | Formed in Los Angeles, California, USA, in the late 80s, Beau Nasty typified the region’s fascination with all things bombastic and overwrought. |
 | | Heavily influenced by Def Leppard and Bon Jovi, Beggars & Thieves were among the countless pop-metal/hard rock hair bands that were formed on the East Coast in the late ‘80s. |
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 | | After the demise of the seminal Los Angeles punk band Vagina Dentata, bassist Tim Ferris and drummer-turned-singer Gary Jacoby decided to form a new band to express their off-the-wall personalities. |
 | | Throughout their career, Cerebral Fix were one of the more consistent and critically acclaimed U.K. thrash bands, but they weren't a very groundbreaking one (no British thrash bands really were, save perhaps Sabbat), and so their legacy is now largely overlooked, if it is remembered at all. |
 | | ASAP stood for Adrian Smith and Project. Smith was a guitarist in Iron Maiden. The band also featured guitarists Andy Barnett and Dave Colwell, bassist Robin Clayton, keyboard player Richard Young, and drummer Zak Starkey (son of Ringo Starr. |
 | | Formed in 1986, in Brookfield, WI, Acrophet was an American thrash metal band remembered by experts in the field for their impressive musical chops, if not for contributing much of anything new to the genre during their short career. |
 | | This pop metal outfit was heavily influenced by Bon Jovi and Europe. Their sex-symbol vocalist, Adam Brenner (ex-TKO), persuaded guitarist Jimmy Crespo (ex-Flame; Aerosmith), drummer Sandy Slavin (ex-Riot) and bass player Phil Feit to join forces and record Fatal Attraction in 1985. |
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 | | One of Holland's premiere heavy rock bands of the early '80s (alongside the likes of Vandenberg and Picture), Highway Chile was formed in 1981 and consisted of vocalist Armand Vander Stigchel, guitarists Peter Barnouw and Ben Blaauw, bassist Eric Finck, and drummer Ernst Van Ee. |
