In the mid- to late-1980s there was a brief period of time when punk/hardcore fusion was quite popular, although it didn’t last very long. The innovator of this style was the band Bad Religion, who mixed punk with heavy metal / hard rock. This style is known as crossover (or sometimes fusions) music. The following bands are an example of this style with their mix of punk and heavy metal/hard rock.
Bad Religion:
Bad Religion is a punk rock band from Los Angeles, California that formed in 1980 and has had many lineup changes over the years (currently only one original member remains). Their membership has included Greg Graffin (vocals), Brett Gurewitz (lead guitar), Jay Bentley (bass), Greg Hetson (rhythm guitar), Brooks Wackerman (drums) and Brian Baker (rhythm guitar). Their self-titled debut album was released in 1981 on Epitaph Records, followed by How Could Hell Be Any Worse? in 1982. In 1983 they released into the unknown on the same label.
In 1985 they released Suffer on vinyl on Epitaph Records and then reissued it the following year on cassette and CD on the same label. In 1987 they released the back to the known EP on vinyl, cassette and CD on Epitaph Records. Suffer, into the unknown and back to the known were all later released together as a single LP in 1989, titled 80–85.
In 1990 they released Against the Grain on vinyl, cassette and CD on Epitaph Records. In 1994 they released Stranger Than Fiction on vinyl, cassette and CD on Epitaph Records. In 1997 they released No Control (Live) on vinyl, cassette and CD on Epitaph Records.
In 2000 they reissued Suffer with bonus tracks in 2000 which was again reissued in 2001 and then again in 2004 with even more bonus tracks added. This album was also included as part of a three-CD box set called Retrospective: 1980–1984 as part of Epitaph’s 25th anniversary celebration in 2003.
In 2003 they released the album The Empire Strikes First with seven of Bad Religion’s first line-up on vinyl, cassette and CD on Epitaph Records. In 2004 they released the album New Maps of Hell with six of Bad Religion’s latest line-up on vinyl, cassette and CD on Epitaph Records.
D.O.A.:
D.O.A. is a punk rock band from Vancouver, British Columbia who formed in 1978 and have had several lineup changes over the years with original members Joe Keithley (guitar), Chuck Biscuits (drums) and Dave Gregg (bass) remaining the longest and most consistent members. Their membership has also included Randy Rampage (vocals), Dimwit (vocals), Andy Dixon (guitar), Brian Roy Goble (bass) and Sandy Miranda(drums). They are largely credited for helping to found the hardcore punk movement in North America.
In 1980 they released their self-titled debut album on vinyl on Sudden Death Records, followed by Something Better Change in 1981 on vinyl on Sudden Death Records, reissued on cassette and CD on Stiff Records in 1982 and then reissued again as a CD in 1991 by Pusmort Records with three bonus tracks added. In 1983 they released Live at the Target Gallery with seven of D.O.A’s recent line-up on vinyl, cassette and CD both of which were released by Pusmort Records, followed by Hard Rain Falling in 1984 which was released by Pusmort Records on vinyl, cassette and CD.
In 1987 they released War on 45 on vinyl, cassette and CD both of which were released by Pusmort Records. In 1988 they released Live at the Roxy with D.O.A’s recent line-up on vinyl, cassette and CD all of which were released by Pusmort Records. In 1989 they released The Black Spot on vinyl, cassette and CD all of which were released by Pusmort Records, followed by D.O.A.: The Third World Strikes Back in 1990 on vinyl, cassette and CD both of which were released by Pusmort Records.
In 1994 they reissued their self-titled debut album as a 2LP set with different cover art on Alternative Tentacles Records (also reissued as a single LP), followed in 1995 by War on 45: The Best of D.O.A. 1983–1988 which was also reissued in 1996 as the same album but with an altered title to War on 45: The Best of D.O.A. 1983–1989 both of which were also reissued again in 1998 as a 2CD set with bonus tracks added called Retrospective ’83 to ’89 both of which were released by Alternative Tentacles Records.
Suicidal Tendencies:
Suicidal Tendencies is a crossover thrash band from Venice, California that formed in 1980 and have had many lineup changes over the years with only leader Mike Muir remaining as the sole original member (Dave Lombardo (drums), Robert Trujillo (bass), Louiche Mayorga(guitar) and Amery Smith(drums) are also original members). Their membership has also included Grant Estes(drums), Amery Smith(drums), Carlos “Egos” Egertson(guitar), Mike Clark (bass) and Rocky George(guitar).
Suicidal Tendencies released their self-titled debut album in 1983 on vinyl, cassette and CD on Frontier Records. In 1985 they released Join the Army on vinyl, cassette and CD on Frontier Records. In 1987 they released How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can’t Even Smile Today? on vinyl, cassette and CD on Frontier Records (released as a single LP in 1989 with the same cover art on Blackout Records with two bonus tracks added). In 1989 they released Controlled by Hatred/Feel Like Shit…Déjà Vu on vinyl, cassette and CD on Frontier Records.
In 1990 they released Lights…Camera…Revolution! on vinyl, cassette and CD on Frontier Records (released as a single LP in 1991 with the same cover art on Blackout Records with two bonus tracks added). In 1992 they reissued their self-titled debut album as a 2LP set with different cover art on Blackout Records, followed by Freedumb in 1993 which was also reissued again in 1994 as a single LP with the same cover art and title but an altered track list.
