Let's continue our journey amongst the bands that have been part of rock & metal music history encyclopedias.
The speed/power metal band Abattoir formed in 1982, in Los Angeles, California, USA.
In the August of 1983, in the same city, they perform at the renowned club Troubador.
In the same year they recorded their first demo and one of the two songs, the explosive Screams From The Grave, appeared on the compilation Metal Massacre Vol. IV. As a result the band reached a certain fame and popularity in the next couple of years, touring with names like Metallica, W.A.S.P. and Megadeth amongst others.
Here's the other song from the original demo, Vicious Attack:
The song gave the title to their first full-length album.
Despite the fact that Abattoir branded themself to be heavily influenced by Iron Maiden, Motorhead and Accept, the style of their first album is in fact faster and more violent.
Matters changed with the release of their second album The Only Safe Place, partly for the change of formation but mainly thanks to the record company, pushing for a more commercial approach to widen the audience and sell more copies. Production and mixing of the album were even completed without the approval of the band; hereafter the band split and all of the members pursued other projects.
The band has been inactive for over 10 years, from 1987 till 1998 but they're still active today.
I haven't been able to find any satisfying music videos of the band performing live, at least under the name of Abattoir, they're all poor in recorded sound quality. I've found instead this amazing performance of the band Anger As Art, playing Abattoir's trademark song Screams From The Grave, I've chosen this one in particular because all the musicians on that stage are former or current Abattoir members !!!
I've saved for last all of the dates, releases, band members, names and intertwinings:
Current lineup:
- Steve Gaines - Vocals (1984-1985, 1998-2005, 2008-2009, 2018-present), Bass (1998-2005)
- Mark 'The Shark' Caro - Guitars (1982-1987, 1998-2005, 2008-?, 2018-present)
- Dan Oliverio - Guitars (1985-1987, 2008-?, 2018-present)
- Eric Bryan - Bass (2018-present)
- Rob Alaniz - Drums (2008-?, 2018-present)
Past members:
- Mike Jagosz - Vocals (R.I.P. 2014)
- Mel Sanchez - Bass (1982-1987, 2008-?), Guitars (1998-2005)
- Ron Gonzales - Drums (1982-1983)
- Juan Garcia - Guitars (1982-1984, 2008-?)
- Chris Maleki - Vocals (1982-1983, 2008)
- Robert 'Danger' Wayne - Drums (1983-1985)
- Raul Preston - Vocals (1983-1984, 1983)
- John Cyriis - Vocals (1983)
- Rich Deathcamp - Vocals (1983)
- Danny Anaya - Drums (1985-1987)
- Mike Towers - Vocals (1986-1987)
- Phil Flores - Vocals (1987)
- Kevin MacShane - Drums (1998-2005)
- Tim Thomas - Guitars (2008-?)
- Mark Skaar - Vocals (2009-?)
Full Discography to date:
| Name | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Original Abattoir | Demo | 1983 |
| Screams From The Grave | Demo | 1983 |
| The Game Of Death/Stronger Than Evil | Single | 1984 |
| Vicious Attack | Album | 1985 |
| The Only Safe Place | Album | 1986 |
| Demo 1987 | Demo | 1987 |
| Demo 2000 | Demo | 2000 |
| No Sleep 'Til Kalamazoo | Live Album | 2001 |
| From the Ashes | Demo | 2004 |
If you're interested in the previous and first article, including a brief introduction, you can find it here: