Cacophony was an American heavy metal band formed in 1986 by guitarists Marty Friedman and Jason Becker, and signed to Shrapnel Records. They released two studio albums and remained active until 1989, after which both guitarists forged their own solo careers and joined other bands.
Neoclassical metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is heavily influenced by classical music and usually features very technical playing, consisting of elements borrowed from both classical and speed metal music. Deep Purple's Ritchie Blackmore and Jon Lord pioneered the subgenre by merging classical melodies and blues rock. Later, Yngwie Malmsteen became one of the most notable musicians in the subgenre, and contributed greatly to the development of the style in the 1980s. Other notable players in the genre are Randy Rhoads, John Petrucci, Michael Romeo, Jason Becker, Tony MacAlpine, Vinnie Moore, Alexi Laiho, Uli Jon Roth, Stéphan Forté, Wolf Hoffmann, Timo Tolkki, and Marty Friedman.
Michael “Mike” Varney is an American record producer and music publisher. He is the founder of the Shrapnel Label Group, which includes Shrapnel Records, Tone Center Records, and Blues Bureau International. He also owns 50% of Magna Carta Records, a New York–based label. Varney is often credited with popularizing the mid-1980s shred guitar boom, and has continuously specialized in producing musicians within the genres of instrumental rock, hard rock, jazz, jazz fusion, blues, blues-rock, progressive metal, and speed metal.
Kurdt Vanderhoof is an American guitarist, best known as the rhythm guitarist and founding member of the heavy metal band Metal Church.
Chastain is an American heavy metal music band, formed in 1984 by guitarist David T. Chastain and signed by Shrapnel Records.
Chris Duarte is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Duarte plays a style of Texas blues-rock that draws on elements of jazz, blues, and rock and roll. In his own words, his musical style is a combination of "rockin' blues" and "punk blues." He is signed to Shrapnel Records.
Second Heat is the second studio album by American heavy metal band Racer X, was released on February 11, 1987, through Shrapnel Records.
Sons of Butcher is a Canadian rock band consisting of three members, two of whom are brothers. Their music fuses vulgar absurdist comedy with rock music in a style that is described as "mock rock". Their band alter-egos are the focus of an animated television series developed by S&S Productions and aired on Canadian animation network Teletoon. Several of the band's songs were included in the soundtrack for the 2007 film Pigs, along with a cameo by Trevor Ziebarth.
Out of the Abyss is the seventh studio album by American heavy metal band Manilla Road. It was first issued in 1988 on Leviathan Records, then re-released in 2005 on Cult Metal Classics. Though the band had been constantly increasing the thrash metal influence to their music since their album Open the Gates, this album was its peak, being almost completely thrash metal.
Mystery of Illusion is the debut studio album by American heavy metal band Chastain, released in 1985 by Shrapnel Records.
Ruler of the Wasteland is the second studio album by the American heavy metal band Chastain, released in 1986 through Shrapnel Records. During the same year, David T. Chastain released also two other studio albums with his second band CJSS. It is the first album to feature Fifth Angel drummer Ken Mary, who replaced Fred Coury, after a suggestion by Shrapnel Records president and talent scout Mike Varney.
The 7th of Never is the third studio album by the American heavy metal band Chastain, released in 1987 through David T. Chastain's own record label Leviathan Records in the USA. In Europe the album was reissued by Massacre Records in 1995. The band members lived in different locations in the United States and recorded in different studios their parts, which were later mixed by Steve Fontano at Prairie Sun Studios in California.
The Voice of the Cult is the fourth studio album by heavy metal band Chastain, released in 1988 through Leviathan Records.
For Those Who Dare is the fifth studio album by the American heavy metal band Chastain, released in 1990 through Leviathan Records. New members David Harbour and John Luke Hebert were part of the band that played in Leather Leone solo album Shock Waves in 1989.
Sick Society is the sixth studio album by the American heavy metal band Chastain, released in 1995 through Leviathan Records. It is the first album after five years released by David T. Chastain under the name Chastain and the first to feature the singer Kate French, who replaced Leather Leone.
In Dementia is the seventh studio album by the American heavy metal band Chastain, released in 1997 through Leviathan Records. The album was re-issuued in Europe by Massacre Records.
In an Outrage is the eight studio album by the American heavy metal band Chastain, released in 2004 through Leviathan Records. The album was re-issuued in Europe by Massacre Records in 2006.
Paul David Harbour is an American bass guitar and guitar player, pianist and composer. He is recognised for his work with David T. Chastain, Michael Harris and Tony MacAlpine. He has played in the bands "Leather", "Chastain" and "King Diamond". He teaches bass guitar, guitar and piano.
Shock Waves is the first solo studio album by the American singer Leather Leone, better known for being the front woman of the American heavy metal band Chastain from 1984 to 1991. The album was released in 1989 through David T. Chastain's own label Leviathan Records.
Catherine Anne Leone, known professionally as Leather Leone, is an American metal vocalist, best known for fronting the groups Rude Girl and Chastain in the 1980s. She released one solo album, Shock Waves, in 1989, before taking a twenty-year break from the music scene. In 2011 she began performing again in The Sledge/Leather Project, which released a debut heavy metal album, Imagine Me Alive, in 2012.
