Razor (CA)

About

Razor are one of those bands that quietly shaped a whole scene without getting the mainstream credit they deserved. Formed in Guelph, Ontario in 1983, they are widely regarded as pioneers of Canadian thrash metal and are counted among the country's Big Four alongside Sacrifice, Voivod, and Annihilator. Their early records moved fast and hit hard, with 1985's Executioner's Song arriving after underground buzz from the Armed and Dangerous EP, and 1988's Violent Restitution still standing as their most commercially successful release. After splitting in 1992 and a brief reformation in the late nineties, Razor went relatively quiet for years. Guitarist Dave Carlo dealt with a stage 2 oral cancer diagnosis in 2012 before returning to the band in 2015. They kept performing at metal festivals and, in 2022, finally dropped Cycle of Contempt, their ninth studio album and first new material in 25 years. It showed the band had no interest in softening up.