Municipal Waste: Richmond's Crossover Thrash Titans

Hailing from Richmond, Virginia, Municipal Waste exploded onto the scene in 2000, igniting a firestorm of crossover thrash fury. Since their inaugural gig at a New Year's Eve keg party (a fittingly chaotic start!), the band has carved a legendary path. Their sound, a potent blend of D.R.I., Suicidal Tendencies, Corrosion of Conformity (Animosity era), Nuclear Assault, and Attitude Adjustment, has cemented their place as crossover thrash royalty.

Over their career, Municipal Waste have unleashed seven studio albums, three EPs, and four splits, consistently delivering high-octane energy and infectious riffs. While the lineup has seen some changes, vocalist Tony Foresta and rhythm guitarist Ryan Waste remain the steadfast core, providing unwavering consistency to the band's chaotic brilliance. Currently, they're joined by bassist Philip "Land Phil" Hall, drummer Dave Witte, and lead guitarist Nick "Nikropolis" Poulos, forming a formidable unit. Their early years included extensive touring throughout the US and Mexico, and the release of multiple split albums (notably a 7" with Bad Acid Trip and a 12" with Crucial Unit), as well as contributions to various compilations, solidifying their presence in the underground. Municipal Waste aren't just a band; they're a testament to the enduring power of crossover thrash.

Hailing from Lowell, Massachusetts, My Fictions exploded onto the post-hardcore scene. Their journey began in 2011 with the I Want Nothing EP, released on Flannel Gurl Records. Quickly gaining traction, they signed with Topshelf Records in 2012, dropping the Always Trapped EP that same year. Further solidifying their presence, a 2013 split with The Saddest Landscape, When You Are Close, I Am Gone, also via Topshelf, showcased their evolving sound. The band culminated this early period with their highly anticipated debut full-length album, Stranger Songs, released by Topshelf Records in 2014.

Napalm Death: The Unrelenting Grindcore Pioneers

Napalm Death, hailing from Meriden, England, are widely considered the godfathers of grindcore. Formed in 1981, the band has undergone numerous lineup changes, though the core of bassist Shane Embury, guitarist Mitch Harris, drummer Danny Herrera, and vocalist Mark "Barney" Greenway has remained remarkably consistent since 1992's Utopia Banished.

Napalm Death's relentless sonic assault is a furious blend of crust punk, death metal, and sheer noise. Their signature sound is defined by distorted, down-tuned guitars, a grinding overdrive bass, blistering blast beats, and vocals that range from incomprehensible growls to piercing shrieks. They're renowned for their incredibly short songs, often clocking in under a minute, and their politically charged lyrics.

Their 1987 debut album, Scum, released on Earache Records, became a landmark release in the global metal scene, solidifying their influence and legacy. In fact, their song "You Suffer," according to Guinness World Records, is the shortest song ever recorded, clocking in at a mere 1.316 seconds.

By their third album, Harmony Corruption (1990), Napalm Death leaned further into death metal, exploring longer song structures and more complex arrangements. Despite the shift in style, the band's core sonic assault remained undiluted.

As of 2003, Nielsen SoundScan recognized Napalm Death as the seventh best-selling death metal band in the United States. Their early albums, Scum and From Enslavement to Obliteration (1988), have collectively sold over 400,000 copies worldwide, according to former vocalist Lee Dorrian.

Napalm Death's influence is undeniable. Their relentless energy and uncompromising sound have inspired countless bands across the metal spectrum. Their legacy continues to grow with each new release, cementing their place as a cornerstone of extreme music.

Hailing from Kitee, Finland, Nightwish exploded onto the symphonic metal scene in 1996. Founded by keyboardist and primary songwriter Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and vocalist Tarja Turunen, the band quickly added drummer Jukka Nevalainen and bassist Sami Vänskä after their 1997 debut, Angels Fall First. Marko Hietala joined in 2001, taking over bass duties and contributing male vocals, a role previously handled by Holopainen or guest artists.

While initially popular in Finland, Nightwish’s international breakthrough came with Oceanborn (1998), Wishmaster (2000), and Century Child (2002). Their 2004 masterpiece, Once, sold over a million copies, catapulting them to US success. The album spawned the hit single "Wish I Had an Angel," receiving significant MTV airplay and featuring on three major US film soundtracks. Once also yielded three more singles, two music videos, and a re-recorded "Sleeping Sun" for the 2005 compilation Highest Hopes: The Best of Nightwish. However, this period ended with Turunen`s departure in October 2005.

Anette Olzon stepped in as vocalist in May 2007, leading to the release of Dark Passion Play that September. This sixth album solidified Nightwish`s global status, selling nearly two million copies.

Hailing from Douglasville, Georgia, Norma Jean (formerly Luti-Kriss) are a metalcore powerhouse that's defied expectations since their 1997 formation. While boasting a prolific career with nine studio albums and a 2006 Grammy nomination for Best Recording Package ( O' God, the Aftermath), the band has undergone extensive lineup changes, resulting in a completely refreshed roster from their initial lineup. Their name, a nod to Marilyn Monroe's real name, perfectly encapsulates their transformative nature.

Initially known as Luti-Kriss, the band's early sound, showcased on the 1999 split EP with Travail and the 2000 5ep, leaned heavily into aggressive nu-metal and rap metal. This aggressive sound was far removed from the band's later stylistic explorations. The original lineup, featuring Josh Scogin (vocals), Scottie Henry and Chris Day (guitars), Josh Swofford (bass), Mick Bailey (turntables), and Daniel Davison (drums), solidified for their debut album, Throwing Myself, though even this era saw shifts, with bassist Swofford replaced by Josh Doolittle and turntable player Bailey exiting during the album's production. This early chapter laid the groundwork for a band that would continuously reinvent itself.

For over a decade, Nuisance has been a leading force in Midwest metal. This acclaimed band boasts a formidable touring history, sharing stages with iconic acts such as Slipknot, Falling in Reverse, In This Moment, and even Vanilla Ice. Guided by management including Kurt Smith (Tears for Fears) and Sid Wilson (Slipknot) at different stages of their career, Nuisance has toured extensively, including multiple appearances at the prestigious South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas. Their impressive resume includes numerous performances at virtually every major venue in their home state, notably over a dozen shows at First Avenue`s MainStage. Musically, Nuisance crafts a potent blend of Nu Metal, drawing comparisons to a hypothetical offspring of Korn, Deftones, Rage Against the Machine, and Slipknot.

Obituary: Death Metal Titans from Florida

Hailing from Tampa, Florida, Obituary emerged in 1984, initially under the name Executioner, and quickly established themselves as a cornerstone of the death metal genre. Their impact on the scene is undeniable, cementing their place as one of the genre’s most enduring and successful acts. Over their career, they've unleashed eleven studio albums, maintaining a relentless touring schedule with only a brief five-year hiatus from 1998 to 2003.

The band's current lineup features the Tardy brothers – John on guttural vocals and Donald on drums – alongside rhythm guitarist Trevor Peres, bassist Terry Butler, and lead guitarist Ken Andrews. While the band has seen lineup changes throughout its history, the Tardy brothers and Peres remain the constants, their unwavering commitment a testament to Obituary's longevity.

Obituary's signature sound is built on a foundation of crushing, groove-laden guitar and drum riffs, perfectly complemented by John Tardy's iconic, earth-shattering growl. This potent combination established a distinctive death metal sound that continues to resonate with fans worldwide.

Early Years (1984-1990): From Executioner to Xecutioner to Obituary

Formed in Seffner, Florida as Executioner in 1984, a name change to Xecutioner followed quickly after discovering another band using the same name. The original lineup comprised John Tardy (vocals), Donald Tardy (drums), Trevor Peres (rhythm guitar), Jerome Grable (bass), and Jerry Tidwell (lead guitar). Influenced by bands like Savatage and Nasty Savage, as well as their contemporaries in the burgeoning Florida death metal scene (Death and Morbid Angel), the band honed their craft, releasing demos between 1985 and 1987 (the 1985 demo as Executioner, and the subsequent demos as Xecutioner).

Opeth, the seminal Swedish progressive metal band from Stockholm, emerged in 1990. Their sound is a masterful blend of progressive metal, death metal (particularly prominent in their early work), folk, blues, classical, and jazz influences. This eclectic mix is woven into epic compositions characterized by acoustic guitar passages, Mellotron textures, harsh death growls, and dramatic dynamic shifts.

The band`s history is marked by significant personnel changes; every original member has since departed. However, Mikael Åkerfeldt, the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter, has remained the creative force since the departure of founder David Isberg in 1992. Initially, Opeth played live shows sparingly, but following their 2001 breakthrough album Blackwater Park, they embarked on numerous world tours, cementing their status as a major live act.

Opeth boasts an extensive discography: fourteen studio albums, four live DVDs, four live albums (three paired with DVDs), and two box sets. Their debut, Orchid, dropped in 1995. The band achieved significant international chart success with Ghost Reveries (2005), cracking the Top Ten in Sweden and charting in numerous other countries. Their subsequent album, Watershed (2008), debuted at number one in Finland and reached a respectable #23 on the US Billboard 200. Their impact on progressive metal and the wider metal scene remains undeniable.

Pain of Truth, a hardcore punk band from Long Island, New York, exploded onto the scene in 2020. Emerging from the ashes of Michael Smith's previous band, Hangman, Pain of Truth quickly built a reputation for their raw energy and collaborative spirit. Formed in the crucible of the COVID-19 lockdowns, Smith, initially a solo project, laid down the groundwork with the No Blame… Just Facts demo in July 2020. He then assembled a formidable lineup: himself on vocals, Chris Rini on drums, Nik Hansen and Ridge Rhine on guitars, and Zach Stachura on bass.

Their sound is defined not only by their aggressive hardcore punk foundation but also by their innovative use of guest vocalists. Notable hardcore heavyweights such as Freddy Cricien, Scott Vogel, and Justice Tripp have graced their recordings, adding layers of intensity and influence. This collaborative approach cemented their place in the scene. The band's hard work culminated in their debut album, Not Through Blood, released September 8th, 2023, following a split EP and solidifying their status as a force to be reckoned with.

Smith's journey to hardcore punk began with witnessing his older brothers, Chris and Danny's band, Backtrack, live. This ignited his passion, leading him through various bands – Stand Your Ground (guitar), Numbskull (vocals), and finally Hangman (guitar). Hangman's 2019 debut, One By One, proved short-lived due to the pandemic, but the experience fueled Smith's drive to create Pain of Truth. The lockdown became a breeding ground for the band’s raw, intense sound, transforming isolation into a creative catalyst.

Hailing from Austin, Texas, Portrayal of Guilt emerged in 2017, a potent force in the American black metal scene. The band's genesis lies in the fusion of two distinct Austin hardcore scenes: guitarist/vocalist Matt King and drummer James Beveridge, veterans of the hardcore outfit Illustrations, joined forces with bassist Blake Given of the screamo band Lyed.

Their self-titled 7" EP, dropped in May 2017, immediately announced their arrival, propelling them onto extensive US and European tours alongside heavy hitters like Centuries, Majority Rule, Planning for Burial, Street Sects, and Slow Fire Pistol. The critical acclaim continued with their March 2018 split EP with industrial hardcore act Street Sects – a collaboration forged on the road – further solidifying their reputation. Deathwish Inc. also reissued their self-titled 7" that same month.

Building momentum, they released a single-sided 5" single, "Chamber of Misery (Pt. 1)," in July 2018, a precursor to their debut full-length. This cleverly orchestrated campaign, launched just before a US tour with French post-hardcore mainstays Birds in Row, culminated in the September 2018 announcement of their debut album, Let Pain Be Your Guide, alongside the premiere of the single "A Burden." The album’s sonic assault was further previewed with the October release of "Your War," a track featuring guest vocals from Dylan Walker of Full of Hell.