Back in the mid-eighties the "speed metal" scene was just starting to gain a following. Acts like Metallica, Slayer, Nasty Savage and D.R.I. were just starting out in basements & garages. Influenced as much by the underground hardcore punk rock scene as by Ozzy, Black Sabbath & AC/DC, these early "speed metal" or "crossover" bands were blazing a new trail. One with all the guitar solos of the 80's heavy metal bands mixed with the speed and intensity of punk rock.
Well, Minnesota had it's own speed metal scene back then. Local Minneapolis/St. Paul bands like Impaler & Powermad gained national attention with a couple records and national tours to each of their credit, these bands and the otherwise unknown local bands like Death Squad & Vile turned out demo tapes and got reviewed in "zines" of the time like Karrrang and Your Flesh.
Death Squad, a young 4 piece with more intensity then any of the other bands mentioned, stormed out of the suburban St. Paul basements, playing anywhere and any time someone would let them. They set up their own shows in old ballrooms, bars and VFW halls. Death Squad quickly became well known on the scene and out lasted all the other bands.
Still rockin' today in the same style and with all the fury of the early days, Death Squad still has it. With four demo tapes, one 7" EP, a cassette only album, and an unreleased CD and countless home studio recordings to their credit, Death Squad keeps busy.....Death Squad keeps playing!
Below is a listing of those demo tapes, cassettes & EP's.
First self titled demo.
5 songs, 1986
Second self titled demo.
11 songs, 1987
"Reach out and kill someone" demo. 5 songs, 1988
"Casting a new light on corn" demo. 8 songs, 1989
"Noise Commands
Respect" 7inch EP. 5 songs, 1990 Download a
song from the EP in the .mpe format!
"Born to lose...Die to Win?" Cassette. 14 songs,
1991 Download a song in the .mp3 format!
From their beginning until 1989 Death Squad was:
Bubba Vocals
Rocco Bass
Tony Drums
Gary Guitar
In 1990, Bubba left and was replaced by Bill Patton (older bro' to Impulse Manslaughter front-man Karl Patton). 1990-1996:
Bill Vocals
Rocco Bass
Tony Drums
Gary Guitar
About 1996 or 1997, Rocco seemed to disappear off the face of the earth. I'm not entirely sure who has replaced him, but I do know that the rest of the boys still gather a few times a week to blast out the old favorites and crank out new songs too!
Unknown to the band, I have compiled all the early "Bubba years" demos onto one CD, Born to lose... on it's own CD, as well as the 7" (with unreleased bonus tracks), a promo cassette done as a pre-release give away for the 7" and a rough mix of the unreleased album onto it's own CD. If you should bump into these guys, tell 'em to call me.....
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