Music of Washington (state) - Heavy Metal

Heavy Metal

Some notable heavy metal bands that emerged in the Seattle area in the 1980s, were bands such as Metal Church, Queensrÿche, Watchmen, Nightshade, TKO, Q5, Reverend, Serpent's Knight, Taist Of Iron, Nevermore, Bitter End, Terrorist, Forced Entry, Sanctuary, Byrd, Waxwing, Rottweiller, Mistrust, Faustus, Braindead, Culprit, Coven, Death Squad, Re-Active, Cyperus, N.M.E., Hammerhead, Bloodgood, Thrash Forward Myth, R.I.P., Panic, Heir Apparent and Fifth Angel. Metal Church had initially got the name while Kurdt Vanderhoof started in the San Francisco scene, but moved back home to Seattle and changed the members of the band, and was one of the most well known metal bands from the 1980s especially because of their albums Metal Church (1984), The Dark (1986), Blessing in Disguise (1989) and The Human Factor (1991); they resurfaced in 2004 with The Weight of the World. Queensrÿche is better known for being between the heavy metal and glam metal scene, with strong influence of progressive rock, that can be seen in their albums Operation: Mindcrime (1987) and Empire (1991). Going to the mid-end of the '80s, Seattle had their thrash metal bands, such as The Accused (a crossover thrash band), Bitter End, Coven, Forced Entry,Terrorist a power trio featuring Andy Massey on guitar James Dean on bass and Vence LaRose drums formerly of Mace... NME and R.I.P.. Also of particular note are Seattle's Slaughter Haus 5, Tacoma Bands Sword of Judgement, Hammer Head, Kil-D-Kor, Koz of Konfuzion, Diamond Lie featuring Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains, as well as Olympia bands Cyperus and Death Squad. Two of the best known Seattle metal bands from the 80s were Sanctuary and Rottweiler. Sanctuary who after two albums and some years revamping, two original members (bass and vocals) and a short term Sanctuary replacement guitarist (along with some new blood) reformed and became known as Nevermore. Rottweiler was an up and coming band who had a multi-album fall through prior to signing. The lead singer then joined Iron Cross who had a local following. More recent underground metal bands include Aemaeth, Blood & Thunder, Beyond Mortis, Sword of Judgement, Midnight Idols, Fallen Angels, DEATHBEAT, H.M.P, Big Business, Drown Mary, Evilsmith, Vigilance, Skelator, Ceremonial Castings, Inquisition, Torture Box, Infester, Dead Soul Funeral, Inquinok, Pure Hatred, Riot & Rhythm, Tasty Lixxx, Deathmocracy, Wolves in the Throne Room, Violent Hallucinations, Future Disorder, Edge of Oblivion, and new comers to the Seattle metal scene Sausage Slapper whose racy and humorous lyrics on top of a brutal metal style, have garnered quite a local following for such a new band.