Cowboys from Hell is the fifth studio album and major label debut by American heavy metal band Pantera, released on July 24, 1990, by Atco Records. It marked the first of many collaborations with producer Terry Date. This was also the album where Pantera fully abandoned the glam metal style of their previous albums in favor of a heavier sound. It has been recognized as one of the first ever groove metal albums.
Dirty Rotten Imbeciles is an American crossover thrash band that formed in Houston, Texas in 1982 and would later relocate to San Francisco, California. 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.
Destruction is a German thrash metal band formed in 1982. They have been credited as one of the "Big Four" of the German thrash metal scene, the others being Kreator, Sodom and Tankard. In addition to helping pioneer black metal, Destruction was part of the second wave of thrash metal in the mid-to-late 1980s, along with US bands Testament, Sacred Reich, Death Angel and Dark Angel. For most of the 1990s, the band was not signed to a record label and self-produced their albums until they signed a contract with Nuclear Blast in the early 2000s.
Arsis is an American death metal band from Virginia Beach, Virginia, formed in 2000. The band is currently signed to Nuclear Blast.
Psalm 9 is the debut studio album by American doom metal band Trouble, released by Metal Blade Records in March 1984. The album was originally released eponymously and later renamed to Psalm 9 after the release of the band's fourth studio album, which was their 1990 self-titled release. Along with Saint Vitus' self-titled debut album from the same year, Psalm 9 is considered by many critics to be one of the first doom metal releases.
Independent is the third studio album by American thrash metal band Sacred Reich, released in 1993 via Metal Blade and Hollywood Records. The album is considered to be a slight departure from the band's early thrash metal style heard on their previous releases, with the album featuring a groove metal sound. Independent was Sacred Reich's first full-length album with Dave McClain on drums.
Humanure is the second studio album by American deathgrind band Cattle Decapitation. It was released on July 13, 2004 through Metal Blade Records and has been noted for its iconic cover art, depicting a cow defecating what appears to be human body parts in a wasteland environment — the image has been compared to the artwork for Pink Floyd’s album Atom Heart Mother. Humanure generated some minor controversy around the time of release for its obscene imagery.
The American Way is the second studio album by American thrash metal band Sacred Reich, released on May 15, 1990, via Metal Blade Records. The video for "The American Way" was used in the 1992 film Encino Man. The album debuted at No. 153 on September 1, 1990, on the Billboard 200 charts, lasting for nine weeks. An enhanced remastered version released in 2009 contains pre-production demo recordings and a free patch. A second remastered version released that year contains the same songs plus "The American Way" promo video CD-ROM. The American Way is also Sacred Reich's final full-length studio album with drummer Greg Hall, who left the band in 1991.
Socialized Hate is the debut studio album by American thrash metal band, Atrophy. It was released on Roadrunner Records in 1988 and followed two successful demo cassettes produced by the band the previous year. It was followed up two years later by the band's second studio album, Violent By Nature (1990). The album was co-produced by prolific producer/engineer, Bill Metoyer, who became famous for his work on early Slayer albums and went on to produce many heavy metal albums released in the 1980s and 1990s, mainly on Metal Blade Records.
Violent by Nature is the second album from Arizona thrash metal band Atrophy, released in 1990 on Roadrunner Records. Like their previous album Socialized Hate, it was co-produced by prolific producer/engineer Bill Metoyer, and recorded in Los Angeles. The band followed up the album with tours of the US and Europe with the likes of Sacred Reich, Coroner and Forced Entry. However shortly after, Chris Lykins left the band to pursue a medical school course and the band split up after Roadrunner Records lost confidence in the band due to the departure of one of its leading songwriters; as such, Violent by Nature would be Atrophy's final album for 34 years, until the release of their third album Asylum in March 2024. The model for the artwork was Richie Bujinowski, who would later become Max Cavalera's adopted stepson and the frontman of Incite.
Surf Nicaragua is an EP from Arizona thrash metal band, Sacred Reich. It was released on October 4, 1988 on Metal Blade Records and follows the band's debut album, Ignorance, released the previous year.
Heal is the fourth studio album by American thrash metal band Sacred Reich, released February 27, 1996, via Metal Blade Records. It is the band's final full-length studio album to feature guitarist Jason Rainey, and was their last one for 23 years, until the release of Awakening in August 2019.
Still Ignorant is a live album by American thrash metal band Sacred Reich. It was released in November 1997 via Metal Blade Records and follows the band's fourth studio album, Heal, the previous year.
Evildead is an American thrash metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1986. The band was originally composed of members of two former bands, Agent Steel and Abattoir, including guitarist Juan Garcia, who is their only remaining original member. During their initial nine-year run, Evildead released two studio albums: Annihilation of Civilization (1989) and The Underworld (1991). Evildead suffered from extended inactivity due to lineup changes and problems with making a third album, which resulted in their breakup in 1995. After a reunion from 2008 to 2012, the band reformed once again in 2016, and have since released two more studio albums: United $tate$ of Anarchy (2020) and Toxic Grace (2024).
Carnivore is the debut studio album by American crossover thrash band Carnivore. It was released in 1985 through Roadrunner Records.
Thundersteel is the sixth studio album by the American heavy metal band Riot, released after coming back from a period of inactivity in the mid-1980s. It features a totally different line-up from that of the previous work, with guitarist Mark Reale being the only remaining member.
Love You to Pieces is the debut studio album by American heavy metal band Lizzy Borden, released in 1985 by Metal Blade Records. The album would produce the song "American Metal" which would later be added to the Metal Blade Records 20th Anniversary box set.
Awakening is the fifth studio album by American thrash metal band Sacred Reich, released through Metal Blade Records on August 23, 2019. This is the band's first full-length studio album since Heal (1996), marking the longest gap between Sacred Reich's studio albums, as well as their first release with rhythm guitarist Joey Radziwill, who replaced founding member Jason Rainey right before the recording sessions began.
Bill Metoyer is an American record producer who has recorded with Slayer, Deliverance, Hirax, Morbid Angel, Trouble and Tourniquet. He has worked at Metal Blade Records for several years as house producer and currently works as A&R. He also works with Alpha Omega Management as A&R as well. Metoyer formed Skull Seven Productions.
United States of Anarchy is the third studio album by the American thrash metal band Evildead, released on October 30, 2020. It is the band's first studio album since The Underworld (1991), marking the longest gap between two studio albums in the band's career. Nearly five years in the making, the album was produced by Bill Metoyer, and also sees four-fifths of the Annihilation of Civilization lineup reunited, with Karlos Medina replacing original bassist Mel Sanchez. Just like their previous two albums, the artwork for United States of Anarchy was designed by Ed Repka.
