Fearless Iranians from Hell

Last updated
Fearless Iranians from Hell
Origin San Antonio, Texas, United States
Genres Hardcore punk, thrash metal
Years active1983-1990
LabelsBoner
Past membersAmir Mamori Matthew McChesney

Fearless Iranians from Hell were a band from San Antonio, Texas. Founded in 1983, their sound was initially hardcore/punk and later changed to crossover/thrash metal.

The band was formed in 1983 by members of the group Marching Plague, who donned ski masks, posing as terrorists. Photographer John Cohen related that the original lineup only played three or four shows before the lineup started changing. [1] Ras Matthew (born Matthew McChesney) was 16 when he sang for the group in the 1980s. He left the band, later becoming a Rastafarian and playing with the reggae group Buffalo Soldier. [2]

Fearless Iranians from Hell signed to the Boner Records label. Their first release in 1986 was their self-titled 7" Fearless Iranians from Hell. The EP includes the songs "Blow Up the Embassy" and "Iranian Klan". "Blow Up The Embassy" has been covered by Birth A.D. and Ghoul. [3] Their first full album, Die for Allah, was released in 1987. The album was also released under the Big Takeover label in Germany. Its cover featured an image of Ayatollah Khomeini. The song "Chant" from the album included lyrics in Azerbaijani. [4] They released Holy War in 1988. Their third album, Foolish Americans, was released in 1990. A CD compilation Foolish Americans / Holy War / Die For Allah came out the same year and was re-released in 2002.

Fearless Iranians from Hell refused to do interviews. While most understood the band's anti-American sentiment to be sarcastic, the band members did once contact a lawyer over a website that was offering a bounty on the lives of the band members. The message delivered by FIFH was one that depicts a nation of Islamic radicals who are united in their fervor to see destruction in the west.

At least one musician from the band went on to join the Butthole Surfers. [4] Their music is included in New York's ARChive of Contemporary Music. [5]

Discography

Related Research Articles

Boner Records is an American independent record label in Berkeley, California, owned by Tom Flynn. It has released recordings by Fang, Verbal Abuse, MDC, Boneless Ones, Duh, Steel Pole Bath Tub, Melvins, The Warlock Pinchers, Hell's Kitchen, and Superconductor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dirty Rotten Imbeciles</span> American crossover thrash band

Dirty Rotten Imbeciles is an American crossover thrash band that formed in Houston in 1982 and would later relocate to San Francisco. The band is currently composed of two of its founding members, lead vocalist Kurt Brecht and guitarist Spike Cassidy, as well as bassist Greg Orr and drummer Rob Rampy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forbidden (band)</span> American thrash metal band

Forbidden is an American thrash metal band from the San Francisco Bay Area, California. Formed in 1985 as Forbidden Evil, but would change their name in 1987. Since their formation, Forbidden have broken up and reformed twice with numerous line-up changes. After breaking up for the first time in 1997, Forbidden reunited once again in 2007, went into an indefinite hiatus in 2012, but reformed in 2023. The current line-up of the band is Norman Skinner (vocals), Craig Locicero (guitar), Matt Camacho (bass), Steve Smyth (guitar) and Chris Kontos (drums).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Discharge (band)</span> English punk band

Discharge are an English hardcore punk band formed in 1977 in Stoke-on-Trent, England. The band is known for influencing several sub-genres of extreme music and their songs have been covered by some of the biggest names in heavy metal and other genres. The musical sub-genre of D-beat is named after Discharge and the band's distinctive drumbeat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sodom (band)</span> German thrash metal band

Sodom is a German thrash metal band from Gelsenkirchen, formed in 1981. They have gone through many lineup changes, leaving bassist/vocalist Tom Angelripper as the only constant member. The band is currently composed of Angelripper, guitarists Frank "Blackfire" Gosdzik and Yorck Segatz, and drummer Toni Merkel. Along with Kreator, Destruction and Tankard, Sodom has been referred to as one of the "Big Four" of Teutonic thrash metal. Sodom heavily influenced the German black metal scene. In addition, the band is regarded as a pioneer of early death metal. Mike McPadden wrote that the most Venom-blackened of German "Three Kings", Sodom further merged thrash and death metal into a "wicked and decadent sound".

<i>Haunting the Chapel</i> 1984 EP by Slayer

Haunting the Chapel is an extended play (EP) released by American thrash metal band Slayer in 1984 through Metal Blade and Enigma Records. Slayer's debut album Show No Mercy became Metal Blade's highest-selling, leading to producer Brian Slagel wanting to release an EP. Recorded in Hollywood, the recording process proved difficult when recording drums in a studio without carpet, although it resulted in drummer Dave Lombardo meeting Gene Hoglan who was to become an influence in his drumming style and speed. It was during the recording of this session that Lombardo first had the double bass added to his kit. Hoglan, working for Slayer at the time, sat at the kit and played a double bass for the first time. Lombardo was impressed and although Hoglan never gave him lessons, he did give him tips regarding the use of the double kick drum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">T.S.O.L.</span> American punk rock band

T.S.O.L. is an American punk rock band formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California. Although most commonly associated with hardcore punk, T.S.O.L.'s music has varied on each release, including such styles as deathrock, art punk, horror punk, other varieties of punk music, and hard rock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hirax</span> American thrash metal band

Hirax is an American thrash metal band from Cypress, California. Starting in 1984 under the leadership of vocalist Katon W. De Pena, the band played in Los Angeles and San Francisco with several of their thrash metal peers such as Metallica, Exodus, and Slayer. The band was an early example of thrash metal, speed metal and crossover thrash, yet inspired by cross-genre influences including blues vocalist Sam Cooke, who De Pena once cited as "the greatest vocalist [De Pena] has ever heard."

U.S. Bombs are an American punk rock band, formed in 1993 in Orange County, California, by Duane Peters and Kerry Martinez. For much of the band's career, the U.S. Bombs consisted of Peters and Martinez, with bass guitarist Wade Walston and drummer Chip Hanna. They have also played with Jonny "Two Bags" Wickersham. The U.S. Bombs play '77 style punk, influenced by The Clash, Heartbreakers, Ramones, Flyboys, Chelsea, Stiff Little Fingers, Shane MacGowan & The Popes, Sham 69, the Flys, & the Ruts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wil Francis</span> American singer

William Roy "wiL" Francis is an American rock musician, record producer, author, and artist. He came to prominence as the lead vocalist and principal songwriter of the horror punk band Aiden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deceased (band)</span> American extreme metal band

Deceased is an American death/thrash metal band from Virginia. In 1990 they were the first band to sign with Relapse Records, and released four albums and a number of EPs before parting ways with the label in 2003. Their sound centers around themes of horror, with lyrics barked and sometimes narrated by vocalist and founder King Fowley.

Hell Within was an American metalcore band formed in Lowell, Massachusetts, in 1998. After recording two albums as Twytch, the band changed their name to Hell Within and released Asylum of the Human Predator through Lifeforce Records in 2005. After extensive touring across the United States and lineup changes, the band released Shadows of Vanity in 2007. Hell Within released God Grant Me Vengeance in 2010 and was previously signed to Thorp Records. They disbanded in 2011 and reunited for a one-off show in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Extrema (band)</span> Italian thrash/groove metal band

Extrema is an Italian thrash metal/groove metal band from Milan. They sing in English.

S.A. Slayer, originally known as Slayer, was an American heavy metal band formed in San Antonio, Texas, in 1981 by the former Blitzkrieg guitar duo Robert "Bob Dog" Catlin and Art Villarreal, bassist Don Van Stavern, drummer Dave McClain, and vocalist Chris Cronk. The latter was soon replaced by Steve Cooper and the band signed a record deal with local upstart label Rainforest Records and proceeded to record six songs for a proposed EP at B.O.S.S. Studios with producer/engineer duo Bob O'Neill and Rick Shrieves. The Prepare to Die EP was released in 1983 and "Slayer" became one of the top metal draws of the Texas scene. The band changed their name to S.A. Slayer following a cease and desist lawsuit from founder of Metal Blade Records, Brian Slagel, on behalf of thrash metal legends Slayer. However band member Don Van Stavern denies that the band received a cease and desist letter, while Brian Slagel, denies having sent a cease and desist letter.

Bonded by Blood is an American thrash metal band, named after Exodus' debut album Bonded by Blood. Like its labelmates Evile, Gama Bomb, and Municipal Waste, Bonded by Blood is part of the thrash metal revival movement. The band was founded in mid-2005 by vocalist Jose Barrales, who with the help of friends completed the band's original lineup with guitarist Alex Lee, guitarist Juan Juarez, bassist Ruben Dominguez, and drummer Carlos Regalado.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Incite (band)</span> American metal band

Incite is an American groove/thrash metal band from Phoenix, Arizona, formed in 2004. The band currently consists of Richie Cavalera (vocals), Christopher "EL" Elsten (bass), Lennon Lopez (drums) and Mike DeLeon (guitar). Frontman Richie Cavalera is best known as the stepson of Max Cavalera, formerly of Sepultura and currently a member of the bands Soulfly and Cavalera Conspiracy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Havok (band)</span> American thrash metal band

Havok is an American thrash metal band from Denver, Colorado, formed in 2004. As of 2021, their current lineup consists of frontman David Sanchez, drummer Pete Webber, lead guitarist Reece Scruggs and bassist Nick Schendzielos. They have gone through a number of personnel changes, with each album featuring a different lineup, and leaving Sanchez as the only remaining original member left in the band.

Larry Farkas is an American guitarist who primarily performs thrash metal. He was a member of Christian bands Vengeance Rising, Deliverance, Holy Soldier, and Once Dead, many of which he started.

Hatchet is an American thrash metal band from San Francisco, California, formed in January 2005 by guitarist and vocalist Julz Ramos, the band's only remaining original member. To date, they have released four studio albums, two demos and one EP, and are now notable for being part of the thrash metal revival movement in the late 2000s. Influenced by the new wave of British heavy metal and Bay Area thrash metal scenes of the 1980s, Hatchet's music has been described as "old-school thrash metal".

References

  1. Jones, Mark (January 2, 2008). "The Kids Were Alright". San Antonio Current. Archived from the original on May 24, 2008. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  2. "Dedicated buffalo soldier to march into wacky's". San Antonio Express-News. June 2, 2000.
  3. Holmes, Jacob (May 19, 2011). "Report: A night of thrash in San Antonio". San Antonio Examiner.
  4. 1 2 Robbins, Ira. "Fearless Iranians from Hell". Trouser Press. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  5. Gonzalez, David (May 8, 2009). "If It Rode the Airwaves, It's Probably Here". The New York Times.
  6. This EP includes rarities and demos.