Lääz Rockit
Encyclopedia
Lääz Rockit are a Power
/Thrash
band formed in San Francisco, California
in 1982. Although one of the lesser-known groups of the Bay Area thrash metal
scene, each album in their history has received high critical marks. One of their signature elements were Ibanez
guitars adorned with elaborate airbrushed scenes of warfare.
The band broke up in the early 1990s with a number of the members forming the groove metal
band Gack. A reunited Lääz Rockit made some concert appearances in 2005, including a local benefit concert and two shows in the Netherlands
and Japan
. At the time, the group announced that they had no plans of recording another studio album however, a DVD titled "Live Untold" was released in August 2006. http://www.laazrockit.com
Due to the fans' positive response to the band's April 2007 live shows and the sales of their DVD "Live Untold", the band began working on a new album, reversing the group's earlier decision not to release any new material under the Lääz Rockit name. The band also announced that their back catalogue would be re-released and remastered, however "Nothing'$ $acred" was not mentioned for a re-release.
On May 27, 2008, the band posted two new songs from their upcoming release Left for Dead
on their Myspace page. The album was released July 25, 2008 on the German label Massacre Records.
Current or former members have also played in Heathen
, Angel Witch
, Vicious Rumors
, Slough Feg, Pro-Pain
, Skinlab
, Soulfly
, Ill Niño
and M.O.D.
The group takes its name from the finale of the 1976 Clint Eastwood
movie, The Enforcer
, involving the use of a M72 LAW rocket
.
Power metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
/Thrash
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
band formed in San Francisco, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1982. Although one of the lesser-known groups of the Bay Area thrash metal
Bay Area thrash metal
Bay Area thrash metal, or "Bay Area thrash", referred to a steady following of heavy metal bands in the 1980s who formed and gained international status in the San Francisco Bay Area, California...
scene, each album in their history has received high critical marks. One of their signature elements were Ibanez
Ibanez
is a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass produce...
guitars adorned with elaborate airbrushed scenes of warfare.
The band broke up in the early 1990s with a number of the members forming the groove metal
Groove metal
Groove metal is a subgenre of heavy metal. It was often used to describe Pantera and Exhorder.- Characteristics and origins :Pantera's Cowboys from Hell album from 1990 was described as "groundbreaking" and "blueprint-defining" for the groove metal genre...
band Gack. A reunited Lääz Rockit made some concert appearances in 2005, including a local benefit concert and two shows in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. At the time, the group announced that they had no plans of recording another studio album however, a DVD titled "Live Untold" was released in August 2006. http://www.laazrockit.com
Due to the fans' positive response to the band's April 2007 live shows and the sales of their DVD "Live Untold", the band began working on a new album, reversing the group's earlier decision not to release any new material under the Lääz Rockit name. The band also announced that their back catalogue would be re-released and remastered, however "Nothing'$ $acred" was not mentioned for a re-release.
On May 27, 2008, the band posted two new songs from their upcoming release Left for Dead
Left for Dead (Lääz Rockit album)
Left for Dead is the sixth studio album from Californian thrash metal band, Lääz Rockit. It was released on July 25, 2008 on Massacre Records and follows 1991's Nothing'$ $acred ...
on their Myspace page. The album was released July 25, 2008 on the German label Massacre Records.
Current or former members have also played in Heathen
Heathen (band)
Heathen is an American thrash metal band originating from the Bay Area San Francisco, founded in 1984 by guitarist Lee Altus and drummer Carl Sacco...
, Angel Witch
Angel Witch
Angel Witch is a British heavy metal band which formed in London, England in 1977 as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement.-Biography:...
, Vicious Rumors
Vicious Rumors
Vicious Rumors is an American power metal band founded in 1979 in the San Francisco Bay Area, California.The brainchild of Geoff Thorpe, the band has been active on the metal scene since its inception in 1979...
, Slough Feg, Pro-Pain
Pro-Pain
Pro-Pain is a New York-based hardcore band formed in 1991 by vocalist and bass guitarist Gary Meskil and drummer Dan Richardson, both former members of Crumbsuckers. Debut album Foul Taste of Freedom was released in 1992, displaying hardcore punk and rap metal influences, after which the band...
, Skinlab
Skinlab
Skinlab is a groove metal band formed in 1994 in San Francisco, California by vocalist/bassist Steev Esquivel and guitarist Mike Roberts, now with San Francisco Bay Areas RAZE the STRAY, guitarist Gary Wendt Skinlab is a groove metal band formed in 1994 in San Francisco, California by...
, Soulfly
Soulfly
Soulfly is a heavy metal band formed in 1997 based in Phoenix, Arizona. The original lyrical content revolved around spirituality and religious themes, with later albums encompassing other themes including war, violence, aggression, hatred and anger. Soulfly is led by former Sepultura frontman Max...
, Ill Niño
Ill Niño
Ill Niño is an American six-piece metal band from New Jersey founded in 1998. The band has sold over 3.3 million units worldwide; they have 5 studio albums and 10 music videos.-History:...
and M.O.D.
M.O.D.
M.O.D. was a crossover thrash band from New York City, fronted by former Anthrax roadie and Stormtroopers of Death vocalist Billy Milano. The band existed from 1986 to 1997, and again from 2001 to 2008...
The group takes its name from the finale of the 1976 Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood
Clinton "Clint" Eastwood, Jr. is an American film actor, director, producer, composer and politician. Eastwood first came to prominence as a supporting cast member in the TV series Rawhide...
movie, The Enforcer
The Enforcer (1976 film)
The Enforcer is a 1976 American film, and the third in the Dirty Harry film series. Directed by James Fargo, it stars Clint Eastwood as Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan, Tyne Daly as Inspector Kate Moore and DeVeren Bookwalter as terrorist leader/main antagonist Bobby Maxwell.-Plot:In Marin County,...
, involving the use of a M72 LAW rocket
M72 LAW
The M72 LAW is a portable one-shot 66 mm unguided anti-tank weapon, designed in the United States by Paul V. Choate, Charles B. Weeks, and Frank A. Spinale et al...
.
Studio albums
- City's Gonna BurnCity's Gonna BurnCity's Gonna Burn is the first studio album from Californian thrash metal band, Lääz Rockit. It was released in 1984. In 2007 the album was reissued by their current label, Including their first demo tape from 1983 as bonus tracks.-Track listing:...
(1984) - No Stranger to Danger (1985)
- Know Your EnemyKnow Your Enemy (Lääz Rockit album)Know Your Enemy is the third studio album from Californian thrash metal band, Lääz Rockit. It was released in 1987 on Roadrunner Records/Enigma Records and follows 1985's No Stranger to Danger.-Track listing:#"Demolition" – 1:16...
(1987) - Annihilation PrincipleAnnihilation PrincipleAnnihilation Principle is the fourth studio album from Californian thrash metal band, Lääz Rockit. It was released in 1989 on Roadrunner Records/Enigma Records and follows 1987's Know Your Enemy...
(1989) - Nothing'$ $acredNothing'$ $acredNothing'$ $acred is the fifth studio album from Californian thrash metal band, Lääz Rockit. It was released in 1991 on Roadrunner Records/Enigma Records and follows 1989's Annihilation Principle...
(1991) - Taste of Rebellion: Live in Citta (1992)
- Left for DeadLeft for Dead (Lääz Rockit album)Left for Dead is the sixth studio album from Californian thrash metal band, Lääz Rockit. It was released on July 25, 2008 on Massacre Records and follows 1991's Nothing'$ $acred ...
(2008)