Top 10: Megaforce Records Releases

40 years ago, a young couple from New York put all their chips on the table for the music they loved, heavy metal. That couple was Jon and Marsha Zazula, and their gamble was Megaforce Records: the first American metal label. Up until this point, American bands essentially had two options: Get lucky and sign to a major label, or release it yourself via a small, fly by night, independent label. Most fell into the latter, only to be swallowed by obscurity. If it weren’t for the Zazulas, it’s very possible that the likes of Metallica, Anthrax, and Overkill among others would’ve met the same fate. Sure these bands had the chops and an unrelenting attitude, but what good was it without the proper distribution? Today, upon the sudden passing of Jon, we pay tribute to the Zazulas and their contribution to heavy metal with our Top 10 Megaforce Records Releases.

10. Exciter – Violence & Force (1984)

Alongside Anvil, Exciter were the godfathers of all things fast and furious in Canada. Their debut album, Heavy Metal Maniac, was released on June 14, 1983 via Shrapnel Records, just five short weeks before Metallica released Kill ‘Em All. One can only imagine how much more revered Heavy Metal Maniac would be among the masses had it been released on Megaforce. So must’ve Exciter themselves, who after seeing the debut releases from Metallica and Anthrax, signed to the label for album #2, Violence & Force. A rampant blitz of speed and precision, Violence & Force saw Exciter upping their intensity level tenfold. With such crazed cuts as “Destructor”, “Pounding Metal”, and the unforgettable title track, this was a headbanger’s dream come true.

9. King’s X – Gretchen Goes to Nebraska (1989)

Megaforce did far more than put thrash on the map. By the late 80s, they started highlighting hard rock acts such as former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley, Prophet, Icon, and one of the most unique bands in the genre’s history, King’s X. In a time when you were either glam or thrash, and nothing in between, Megaforce took a chance King’s X, fully knowing they fit into neither box. Their blend of hard rock, prog, psychedelia, soul, funk, and singer/songwriter defied all labels and conventions, and is best demonstrated on their second album, Gretchen Goes to Nebraska. Whether it be the groove-a-licious “Everybody Knows a Little Bit of Something”, delicately beautiful “Summerland”, foot stomping “Over My Head”, or anything in between, there isn’t a weak moment on Gretchen. Had the general public been more open minded, there’s no telling how big King’s X would’ve been.

8. S.O.D. – Speak English or Die (1985)

What do you get when one of your label’s biggest acts forms a side project that doubles down on their love for hardcore punk and outrageously offensive humor? You get S.O.D.! An abbreviation for Stormtroopers of Death, S.O.D. saw Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian and drummer Charlie Benante reunite with original Fistful of Metal bassist Dan Lilker for a band of absurd proportions. Rounding it all out was Anthrax roadie Billy Milano on vocals. Their debut album, Speak English or Die, aimed to bridge the gap between punks and metalheads, becoming one of the first proper crossover releases in the process. The lyrics to “United Forces” speak for itself: “Skinheads and bangers and punks stand as one.”

7. Overkill – Taking Over (1987)

If I wanted to, I could’ve easily made this list half Overkill releases. After all, they are my favorite thrash band, and the best albums they ever made were released through Megaforce. It was hard choosing which one(s) should make the cut, but I had to include the mighty Taking Over. This was the album where it all came together for the New Jersey “Wrecking Crew”. By now, they had shed the NWOBHM and power metal influences of their early releases and became a lean, mean, thrashing machine, destroying anyone and anything that stood in their way. Cuts like “Powersurge”, “In Union We Stand”, and “Deny the Cross” are mosh pit anthems to this day, guaranteed to get any denim and leather clad thrasher in a frenzy when played.

6. Anthrax – Spreading the Disease (1985)

A lot changed in a year for Anthrax. By 1985, they had replaced original Rob Halford inspired shrieker Neil Turbin with the Ronnie James Dio meets Steve Perry power vocals of Joey Belladona. Their music had also evolved as evidenced by their second album, Spreading the Disease. Gone were the high speed NWOBHM flavored headbangers. For this album, Anthrax doubled down on the hard hitting mosh riffs that’d make them a household name. Cuts like “A.I.R.”, “Lone Justice”, and “Gung-Ho” let Anthrax’s peers know there’s more to thrash than breakneck aggression. Over 35 years on and all of these songs are bound to get the pit started. This newfound toughness wasn’t the only development in Anthrax’s sound. They also incorporated elements of traditional metal and hard rock on “Medusa” (penned by Jon Zazula himself), “Armed and Dangerous” (the intro always reminded me of Priest meets Rush), and “Madhouse”, which earned them airtime on MTV. (Originally published in Top 10: Metal Albums of 1985)

5. Testament – The Legacy (1987)

Having singlehandedly kicked off the thrash revolution five years earlier, it only made sense for Megaforce to usher in the genre’s second wave in 1987. And no other second wave thrash band hit harder than Testament with their debut album, The Legacy. Unrelenting ferocity? Check. Mosh friendly hooks? Check. Soloing that borders on neoclassical? Check. Unhinged vocals? Check. Diabolical atmosphere? Check. Am I missing anything? From the opening aggression of “Over the Wall” to the neck snapping insanity of “Apocalyptic City”, The Legacy goes full force from beginning to end.

4. Metallica – Kill ‘Em All (1983)

Behold: The album that started it all. Sure, there were Megaforce releases before Metallica’s Kill ‘Em All (i.e. Manowar’s Into Glory Ride), but this was the one that put both parties on the map, and for good reason. Kill ‘Em All combined the musical backbone of the NWOBHM with the raging vitriol of hardcore punk, paving the way for a new genre: thrash metal. It was a win-win. Kids all across the country heard Metallica and were inspired to form their own bands of equal or greater intensity. They’d then strive to be picked up by Megaforce, which quickly became the premiere label for this young, fledging genre. The rest, as they say, is history. Almost 40 years later and we’re still acting like maniacs…”WHIPLASH”!!!

3. Anthrax – Among the Living (1987)

After the runaway success of Spreading the Disease, Anthrax retreated to the studio to record their followup and magnum opus, Among the Living. Joining them behind the mixing board was none other than legendary producer Eddie Kramer, who made a name for himself working for such bands as The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Led Zeppelin, and KISS. Talk about a resume! Kramer worked the same magic on Anthrax as he did those gods of yore, helping accentuate their brutality without losing the melodic charm of their past two releases. The album spawned some of Anthrax’s biggest songs, including “Caught in a Mosh”, “I Am the Law”, and “Indians”, which gained significant airplay on MTV.

2. Overkill – The Years of Decay (1989)

Overkill closed out the 1980s with a bang. Growing both creatively and commercially with each subsequent release, the band’s finest hour arrived in the form of The Years of Decay. Why this album didn’t propel Overkill to arena headliner status the way South of Heaven (1988) did for Slayer and Rust in Peace (1990) did for Megadeth is beyond me. It’s essentially flat out thrash metal with the hooks, catchiness, and charisma of AC/DC. How on earth could you not simultaneously mosh and scream along to “Time to Kill”, “I Hate”, and the unexpected hit single, “Elimination”? Hell, even the album’s curveballs (the doom groove monolith “Playing with Spiders / Skullkrusher” and epic ballad title track respectively) pack a powerful punch. If it weren’t for one other album that reshaped metal history altogether, this would be #1…

1. Metallica – Ride the Lightning (1984)

And here it is: The greatest album Megaforce ever released. I know it. You know it. The older I get, the harder it is for me to believe Ride the Lightning is even the same band who dropped Kill ‘Em All just a year earlier. This was far more than a sign of growth or progression. It was a quantum leap forward in all areas: songwriting, musicianship, arrangement, production. Just as Kill ‘Em All put Megaforce on the map and vice versa in 1983, Ride the Lightning only expanded both Metallica and Megaforce’s base in ’84. The former scored a major label deal with Elektra. The latter scored major label distribution deals with Island and Atlantic. Thus the metal flowed from coast to coast, filling the ears and minds of headbangers all across the land: All of this because of one man’s dream and vision. Rest in power Jonny Z.

Honorable Mentions

• Anthrax – Fistful of Metal (1984)
• Blessed Death – Kill or Be Killed (1985)
• Icon – Right Between the Eyes (1989)
• Overkill – Feel the Fire (1985)
• Vio-Lence – Oppressing the Masses (1990)