Deathwish

Although they only managed to release two albums in their short career in the ‘80s, DEATHWISH still managed to help influence not only the vibrant thrash scene of the time, but also the burgeoning death metal movement that would soon take over the underground. The English combo’s 1986 Sword of Justice demo became a staple on tape trading lists throughout the globe, and their At the Edge of Damnation debut album the next year garnered the group rave reviews and set up what seemed to be a bright future for the speedsters.

In 1988 DEATHWISH unleashed their sophomore album, a menacing slab of vinyl entitled Demon Preacher. Packed with biting lyrics and one machete-sharp riff after the other, the 9-song collection should have propelled DEATHWISH to the commercial league bands like Overkill, Kreator and Exodus were running in, but a series of setbacks ultimately killed off any chance of that happening.