Slaughter

When it comes to the importance of groundbreaking rock and metal acts, Canada has always been criminally underrated-forever doomed to be overshadowed by it's mighty neighbor to the south. Just think of Anvil, true originators of speed metal, or Rush, who have served as a blueprint for progressive metal for over five decades. Toronto's Slaughter also deserves a place on this list. Formed in 1984, the trio of Dave Hewson (vocals, guitar), Terry Sadler (vocals, bass), and Ron Summers (drums) recorded their debut album Strappado three years later, in 1987. Today, Strappado is hailed as a groundbreaking record of raw thrash metal, sowing the seeds for the first wave of true American death metal. Songs like the lightning-fast title track "Strappado," the almost punky "F.O.D. (Fuck of Death)," and the no-holds-barred "Nocturnal Hell" make this an absolute landmark release. Slaughter eventually broke up after becoming disillusioned with the workings of the music industry-a decision that speaks volumes about their integrity. Dave Hewson went on to form a new band called Strappado. In 1994, Slaughter briefly reunited to record a cover of Celtic Frost's "Dethroned Emperor" before disappearing once more.