Razor (band)

Last updated

Razor
Razor 14 (29083912276).jpg
Razor performing in 2016
Background information
Origin Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Genres
Years active1983–1992, 1996–present
LabelsVoice, Viper, Steamhammer, Fringe Product, Hypnotic
MembersDave Carlo
Bob Reid
Mike Campagnolo
Rider Johnson
Past membersJohn Scheffel
Stace "Sheepdog" McLaren
Mike "M-Bro" Embro
Rich Oosterbosch
Jon Armstrong
Adam Carlo
Rob Mills
Website razorband.com

Razor is a Canadian thrash metal band formed in 1983 at Guelph, Ontario. They are also recognized as the pioneers of Canadian thrash metal and have been referred to as one of the country's "Big Four", alongside Sacrifice, Voivod and Annihilator. [1]

Contents

History

Early years and split (1983–1992)

Razor was formed in 1983 by guitarist Dave Carlo. A secondary member named John Scheffel was in the band at the time as the vocalist and guitarist, but left in 1984. After failed efforts with two other vocalists, Carlo would eventually establish a line-up featuring vocalist Stace "Sheepdog" McLaren, bassist Mike Campagnolo and drummer Mike "M-Bro" Embro. The founding members, the guitarist and rhythm section, were former school-mates. [2] A 5-track demo was recorded in 1984 prior to the release of the Armed & Dangerous EP in May 1984 by Voice Records, which received underground acclaim. A pre-production demo album titled Escape the Fire was then recorded in December 1984, which would become the first full-length album Executioner's Song , released in April 1985 through Viper Records. It was followed up by Evil Invaders in October 1985. Razor performed in the United States and Canada with Slayer, Motörhead and Venom.

The third album Malicious Intent was released in April 1986. It suffered due to the build-up of internal conflicts within the band and the lack of an official release in the United States, which in turn led to their record company dropping the band. In 1987, the fourth album Custom Killing was released. Self-financed, the album met with poor commercial success and was in turn overlooked by fans, with the music moving to a more experimental approach than previous releases. Drummer Mike Embro and bassist Mike Campagnolo left the band shortly after the album's release and were replaced with Dave Carlo's brother Adam on bass and Rob Mills on drums. Razor returned to their roots with the fifth album Violent Restitution , which was released in 1988 by Steamhammer. It was well-received, being considered more aggressive and heavier than its predecessor.

Vocalist Stace McLaren's interest in the band declined which eventually led to his departure. He was replaced with SFH vocalist Bob Reid. The band then signed with Fringe Product and released Shotgun Justice in March 1990. They headlined smaller venues, performing with Sacrifice and Disciples of Power. Drummer Rob Mills was involved in an accident which made him unable to perform as a result. Adam Carlo left the band and was replaced with SFH bassist Jon Armstrong. The next album Open Hostility was released in 1991. Due to Mills' injury and inability to perform on the album, Dave Carlo used a drum machine to replicate his style. Mills later returned and Razor embarked on a tour in support of the album leading up to their final performance on October 2, 1992. Following the tour, the band split-up. A compilation called Exhumed was issued by Fringe Product during the band's absence. [3]

Reformation and recent years (1996–present)

Razor live in Toronto, 2009 Razor live in Toronto, 2009.jpg
Razor live in Toronto, 2009

In 1996, Razor became active again as a result of vocalist Bob Reid's idea of reforming the band. Both Reid and Carlo were joined by Armstrong and SFH drummer Rich Oosterbosch. The eighth studio album Decibels was released in 1997 by Hypnotic Records. Armstrong and Oosterbosch would no longer be in the band and was replaced by returning members Rob Mills and Adam Carlo (before being replaced by Mike Campagnolo).

Razor took part on The Gates of Hell tour in 2005, the Headbangers Open Air Festival in 2009 and the True Thrash Festival in Osaka in 2011. A DVD of this performance was released only in Japan in February 2012.

On April 19, 2012, Carlo was diagnosed with Stage 2 oral cancer, [4] but was successfully treated and resumed his guitar duties in 2015. The band performed at a charity event in 2014, the Maryland Deathfest in 2015 [5] and the California Deathfest in 2016. [6]

In 2014, drummer Rob Mills left the band and was replaced with Ripp'rd drummer Rider Johnson.

The ninth studio album Cycle of Contempt was released on September 23, 2022, marking the first album in 25 years. [7] [8] [9]

Members

Timeline

Razor (band)

Discography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cryptopsy</span> Canadian death metal band

Cryptopsy is a Canadian death metal band from Montreal, formed in 1988.

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

Possessed is an American death metal band, originally formed in 1983. Noted for their fast style of playing and Jeff Becerra's growled vocals, they are often called the first band in the death metal genre, and paved the way for the 1980s Bay Area thrash metal scene, along with Metallica, Exodus, Testament and Death Angel. The band is also notable for featuring future Primus member Larry LaLonde, who was the guitarist for Possessed from 1984 to 1987.

Fleshcrawl is a German death metal band formed in Illertissen, Bavaria, in 1987. Their most recent album, Into the Catacombs of Flesh, was released in 2019 under Apostasy Records.

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

Annihilator is a Canadian thrash metal band founded in Ottawa in 1984 by Jeff Waters. Waters is the band's sole constant member and has acted as its guitarist, bandleader, writer, producer, engineer, and occasional bassist and vocalist. Annihilator has released 17 studio albums and has undergone many line-up changes, with Waters regularly assembling touring or session musicians to perform with him. Along with Sacrifice, Voivod and Razor, Annihilator is known as one of the "Big Four" of Canadian thrash metal. They are also considered to be part of the "second wave" of thrash metal bands from the late 1980s and early 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exciter (band)</span> Canadian speed metal band

Exciter is a Canadian speed metal band from Ottawa, Ontario, formed in 1978. Named after a song by Judas Priest, they are considered to be one of the first speed metal bands and a seminal influence of the thrash metal genre. The band was heavily influenced by a variety of music styles, including Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Deep Purple, Scorpions, Iron Maiden, Motörhead, Rush, Jethro Tull and Grand Funk Railroad. Despite many changes in personnel, as well as two break-ups, Exciter has managed to keep a small but dedicated following over the years.

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

Lȧȧz Rockit was an American thrash metal band formed in San Francisco, California, in 1981. They are most notable for their association with the Bay Area thrash metal scene of the 1980s, and they are considered to be a member of the region's so-called "big six", along with Exodus, Testament, Death Angel, Forbidden and Vio-lence.

<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.

<i>Shotgun Justice</i> 1990 studio album by Razor

Shotgun Justice is the sixth studio album by Canadian speed/thrash metal band Razor. Released in 1990 on Fringe Product, it is the final album to feature Adam Carlo on bass, Rob Mills on drums and their first with vocalist Bob Reid. Music videos were made for "Shotgun Justice" and "American Luck". This album is dedicated to the memory of Mark "Hamilton Headcaver" Brzezicki.

<i>Armed & Dangerous</i> (Razor album) 1984 EP by Razor

Armed And Dangerous is the debut EP release by Canadian speed/thrash metal band Razor, released in 1984. The EP was limited to 1,200 copies on vinyl and is very rare. This album is dedicated to the memory of Paul Chapman (1964–1983).

<i>Executioners Song</i> (album) 1985 studio album by Razor

Executioner's Song is the debut studio album by Canadian speed/thrash metal band Razor, released in 1985. The majority of the tracks were originally in pre-production in December 1984 and were released as a demo tape titled Escape the Fire.

<i>Evil Invaders</i> 1985 studio album by Razor

Evil Invaders is the second album released in 1985 by Canadian speed/thrash metal band Razor. The album's art, depicting an evil cyborg of living tissue over a metal endoskeleton, is reminiscent of the title character from the science fiction action film The Terminator, released one year prior. A music video was made for the track "Evil Invaders".

<i>Violent Restitution</i> 1988 studio album by Razor

Violent Restitution is the fifth full-length album from the Canadian speed/thrash metal band Razor, released in 1988. It is the first album to feature Rob Mills on drums and Dave Carlo's brother Adam on bass and the last one to feature Stace "Sheepdog" McLaren on vocals. The album is dedicated to late actor Charles Bronson.

Defiance is an American thrash metal band from Oakland, California. They played a technical style of thrash originally evoking bands like Testament, though they would later move on to playing in their own unique, more progressive thrash style. After dissolving in 1995, they reformed in 2005 and released their fourth studio album The Prophecy in late 2009. They broke up once again in 2012, but announced yet another reunion in September 2019.

<i>Malicious Intent</i> (album) 1986 studio album by Razor

Malicious Intent is the third album released in 1986 by Canadian speed/thrash metal band Razor. The album contains more honed and intense screaming from frontman Stace McLaren and the tracks on it mostly contains lyrics about heroic fantasy and playing heavy metal. An exception to this might be "Tear Me to Pieces", with lyrics penned by McLaren about knife fighting. Malicious Intent is known for containing incredibly loud drum rides and overall poor production. The album itself is an overall turning point for Razor and shows them going from traditional heavy metal and speeding up to a more thrash metal-oriented sound.

<i>Open Hostility</i> 1991 studio album by Razor

Open Hostility is the seventh studio album by Canadian speed/thrash metal band Razor, released in 1991 by Fringe Product. Drummer Rob Mills was unable to participate on the album due to injuries sustained in an accident, so his parts were performed by guitarist Dave Carlo using a drum machine. Mills later returned for the filming of the "Sucker for Punishment" music video. Open Hostility is dedicated to the memory of Ray “Black Metal” Wallace.

<i>Custom Killing</i> 1987 studio album by Razor

Custom Killing is the fourth studio album by the Canadian speed/thrash metal band Razor. It was released in July 1987 by Toronto based label Fringe Product. It is more of an experimental approach and was fairly overlooked upon its release. It also features "Survival of the Fittest" and "Last Rites" which are the band's longest songs ever recorded. It is the final album to feature Mike Embro on drums and Mike Campagnolo on bass.

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

Sacrifice is a Canadian thrash metal band from Toronto, Ontario. The band was formed by guitarists Rob Urbinati and Joe Rico in 1983. Sacrifice played a prominent role in the 1980s underground metal scene in Toronto, and along with Voivod, Razor and Annihilator, they are considered one of the "Big Four" of Canadian thrash metal. The band released four studio albums before parting ways in 1993. After coming back together to play a reunion concert in 2006, they released their fifth studio album The Ones I Condemn on Brazilian label Marquee Records in 2009. Although the band faced numerous line-up changes, especially in their early days, founding guitarists Urbinati, Rico and bassist Scott Watts recorded every studio album and demo with drummer Gus Pynn on everything but the Apocalypse Inside demo and CD.

<i>Decibels</i> (album) 1997 studio album by Razor

Decibels is the eighth studio album by Canadian speed/thrash metal band Razor. This was the band's first album since 1991's Open Hostility and since their split in 1992, as well as the only album to feature drummer Rich Oosterbosch and the last with bassist Jon Armstrong.

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

Fallujah is an American technical death metal band from San Francisco, California, formed in 2007. Fallujah has toured with acts such as The Black Dahlia Murder, Carnifex, Thy Art Is Murder, Dying Fetus, Between the Buried and Me, and The Contortionist.

References

  1. ↑ "13 Canadian Metal Albums Everyone Should Own". Kerrang!. May 2, 2018. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Razor biography". metallian.com. August 26, 2022. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Razor history". metallian.com. August 26, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  4. ↑ "RAZOR Guitarist Diagnosed With Oral Cancer". Blabbermouth.net . June 14, 2012. Retrieved June 14, 2012.
  5. ↑ Kelly, Kim (May 26, 2015). "Maryland Deathfest 2015: Classic Thrash, Norwegian Black Metal, and One Hell of a Bangover". Vice . Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  6. ↑ Sperry-Fromm, Rob. "California Deathfest 2016 lineup". Brooklyn Vegan . Retrieved April 7, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Razor - Completing First Album In Almost 25 Years". Metal Storm. November 22, 2021. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  8. ↑ "RAZOR - New Album Title, Tracklisting Revealed". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. December 29, 2021. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  9. ↑ "RAZOR Announces First New Album In 25 Years, 'Cycle Of Contempt'". Blabbermouth.net . August 9, 2022. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.