The name DETENTE (pronounced [dey-tahnt]) doesn't ring a bell to most of the Metal fans, especially the younger ones. However they are one of the very important chapters in the history of Thrash Metal. Even if they didn't manage to rise above the underground, they did release a devastating album in 1986, Recognize No Authority (reissued last year) that left many speechless with its aggressiveness in music, the screaming vocals by late Dawn Crosby, a woman with a voice that most Thrash vocalists would love to have, and anti-conformist and anti-war lyrics.

History 1 is not a new album. It contains the band's original first 4-track demo, Shattered Illusions (1985), plus the two demos that were released by CATALEPSY, the act that guitarist Ross Robinson and bassist Steve Hochheiser formed after DETENTE split-up in 1986. All songs are remastered and made available for the first time.  

DETENTE's four tracks are a blast of Speed/Thrash Metal. They are not just typical songs of the era, but they can equally stand next to masterpieces like Bonded by Blood by EXODUS or Fistful of Metal by ANTHRAX. The lead guitar is simply amazing. Sometimes fast and frantic with wild tapping, sometimes melodic and dark, it creates a hellish atmosphere. The drums are loud and thundering backed up by a bass that grinds all the time. Yet what really stands out is the vocals. Dawn Crosby gives her entire heart (and throat) on her performance, screaming till our ears bleed and delivering to us the most appropriate up yours and fuck you attitude for such a devastating album.

Unfortunately the bad promotion, a city that wasn't very welcome (they lived in L.A. where glam ruled the skies) and personal problems led the band to split up shortly after the release of their first-and-only full album. Guitarist Ross Robinson and bassist Steve Hochheiser joined forces with drummer Dave McClain (afterwards in MACHINE HEAD) and another female singer, Veronica Ross, and managed to release two demos under the name CATALEPSY.

The six tracks from CATALEPSY are a perfect example of early progressive Thrash Metal. Without losing much of their former aggressiveness, they took DETENTE's music a step ahead and opened new paths for tech-Thrash bands of the late 80s. Songs like Under The Influence and Who Can You Trust? were blueprints for the later generations with clever solid riffs and melodic leads & bass lines. Veronica Ross was not as extreme as Dawn Crosby, yet she was hard and rough and fit perfectly to the more sophisticated Metal of CATALEPSY.

Overall, this release is for fans of 80s Thrash. It's not like we see often old demos and promo recordings being released, especially when they come from bands that never had the chance to stand out even if their music was magnificent. History 1 uncovers 10 Thrash Metal diamonds for the ones who want to delve more into the extreme music of the 80s.