Ironchrist is an American

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thrash metal Thrash metal (or simply thrash) is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its overall aggression and often fast tempo.Kahn-Harris, Keith, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'', pp. 2–3, 9. Oxford: Berg, 2007, . ...

band founded in 1986 from the demise of the punk rock band Spastic Rats. Along with label mates Indestroy, Ironchrist was one of the biggest metal bands of the late 80s to early 90s in the mid-Atlantic region and considered a pioneer of the punk/metal crossover movement. After touring and recording for several years, Ironchrist disbanded in 1993 and members moved on to pursue other musical and artistic interests. In 2012, Divebomb/

Tribunal Records Tribunal Records is a heavy metal and hardcore punk label that started in 1999. The label also has a subsidiary entitled Divebomb Records. Tribunal has hosted bands such as From the Shallows, Scarlet, and Century, while Divebomb hosts bands such ...

Records re-released Ironchrist's entire discography in a deluxe edition, available as both CD and MP3 download.

Biography

Ironchrist's foundation was forged in the early 80s punk scene in Washington DC. Known as the Spastic Rats, members Tristan Lentz and Ned Westrick, along with drummer Kenny Hill opened for punk icons such as Black Flag and

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before deciding to part ways with Hill and disband. Soon after, Westrick and Treude met and began jamming with Lentz. Deciding to blend their roots with Treude's jazz background and the then current thrash metal movement they decided to change their name from Spastic Rats to Metal God, before landing on Ironchrist. The original lineup, consisting of Tristan Lentz (guitar, vocals), Ned Westrick (bass/vocals), and Scott Treude (drums), recorded one demo they employed to secure a recording contract with

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. Taking the best three tracks from the demo, the threesome went to LSP Studios, owned and operated by Lentz's twin brother Les, to record their first EP. Before the EP was released in 1988, the band wrote most of what would become their first, and only, full-length album. Soon after, Mike Bullock (vocals) was introduced to Lentz at a party and joined the band the following day. They re-entered LSP Studios a short month later in November 1988 to record Getting The Most Out Of Your Extinction. After turning the master tapes over to New Renaissance Records, the band set about touring in support of the album that was to be released in early 1989. However, the label shelved the tapes. The band continued to tour and build a cult following all over the eastern United States, all the while awaiting the release of their record. In late 1989, New Renaissance announced a deal to open a new label, Colossal Records in partnership with

Restless Records Restless Records is a record label that was started in El Segundo, California in 1986 by Enigma Records and primarily released alternative, metal, and punk records. Restless also licensed and released records from Bar/None Records, Metal Blade R ...

and assured the four members of Ironchrist their record would be one of the new labels first releases. By the time the album finally arrived on store shelves, well over two years after they recorded it, Ironchrist had temporarily disbanded. Vocalist Mike Bullock then joined label mates Indestroy who were having similar troubles with New Renaissance/Colossal Records. After Getting The Most Out Of Your Extinction was finally released in 1990, the band reformed with guitarist Rod Reddish replacing Tristan Lentz, who had moved on to explore a hard rock/fusion style he had experimented with while in Ironchrist. The band completed a tour of the Mid-Atlantic and Southern US States over the course of the next year before Bullock left to resume playing with Indestroy in 1991. The band continued without Bullock, with Westrick taking over the vocal duties for a short time before ultimately disbanding. In 2012 Divebomb/

released a re-mastered, deluxe edition of Getting The Most Out Of Your Extinction that included the first self-titled EP and remaining tracks from the band's first demo.

Successes

Ironchrist spent the majority of 1990–1991 in th
College Music Top 100
thanks in great part to several college DJs that were familiar with the band through their connection to the metal tape trading movement popular in the 1980s.

Discography

Studio albums

* ''Self Titled'' (1988) * ''Getting The Most Out of Your Extinction'' (1990) * ''Getting The Most Out of Your Extinction – Deluxe Edition'' (2012)

Demos

* ''Ironchrist'' (1987)

External links

Official website

Divebomb Records Page

Encyclopedia Metallum – Metal Archive Page

Official Facebook page

Hard Rock Haven review of Getting The Most Out Of Your Extinction

Blog Critics: Music Review
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ironchrist (Band) American thrash metal musical groups Heavy metal musical groups from Maryland Musical groups established in 1986 American speed metal musical groups Musical groups reestablished in 2008 Musical quartets 1986 establishments in the United States Restless Records artists