There is no doubt that ONSLAUGHT are the undisputed kings of UK Thrash and one of the original pioneers of the Thrash Metal genre in general. Having issued seven studio albums and two live albums to date, ONSLAUGHT were originally formed in 1982 by songwriter/guitarist Nige Rockett and Paul Hill.
The band rapidly established themselves globally with a series of classic album releases in the 1980s: Power From Hell (1985), The Force (1986), and In Search of Sanity(1989).
Renowned for writing neck-breaking metal anthems such as “Power From Hell,” “Metal Forces,” “Killing Peace,” “66’Fucking’6,” and “Bow Down to the Clowns,” ONSLAUGHT’s songs still stand as ferocious, mosh-pit-inducing favourites across generations of dedicated metalheads—a true testament to the quality of music that ONSLAUGHT has consistently created throughout their long and illustrious career.
As an internationally recognized heavy metal powerhouse, ONSLAUGHT have played in over 70 countries across the globe—from Lebanon to Latvia, Argentina to China—appearing at the most prestigious festivals on the planet and headlining countless tours and shows worldwide.
Building a truly dedicated and loyal following since the band’s inception, fans were rewarded by seeing ONSLAUGHT inducted into the prestigious Metal Hall of Fame during their performance at the Maryland Death Fest in 2022—a fitting accolade for delivering over four decades of fury and aggression.
ONSLAUGHT have been honored to feature three world-class vocalists over the years, each playing their part in taking the band to new levels of popularity. There was, of course, Sy Keeler, featured on The Force (1986), Killing Peace (2007), Sounds of Violence (2011), and VI (2013), and the legendary Steve Grimmett, whose iconic vocals graced the 1989 release In Search of Sanity. Currently, Dave Garnett brings a whole new level of energy and brutality to the band's sound, receiving huge plaudits for his performance on the critically acclaimed 2020 album, Generation Antichrist.
As the band's ubiquitous guitarist and founding member, Nige Rockett serves as the undeniably brutal riffing machine—vowing to make each new ONSLAUGHT record sound more violent and relentless than the last. The band's longstanding bastion of bass, Jeff Williams, with his distinctive, thunderous low-end, pulls the entire wall of sound together, laying down a solid foundation alongside the dynamic and incendiary drumming of James Perry. James joined ONSLAUGHT in 2018, the same year that lead guitarist Wayne Dorman came on board. Their addition brought a wave of new energy and intensity to the band, giving ONSLAUGHT complete freedom to create extreme music like never before. This was evident on the band's 2020 release, Generation Antichrist, arguably ONSLAUGHT's most successful album to date—charting high in all major territories and reaching #1 on the US Indie/College charts.
In 2024, ONSLAUGHT signed a new long-term recording contract with metal giants Reigning Phoenix Music, seeking a fresh challenge with a partner that shares the same drive and ambition as the band.
The first release under RPM will be a very special double album to celebrate the inception of the band and the 40th anniversary of ONSLAUGHT's debut album, Power From Hell.
Titled Origins of Aggression, the release will contain 22 tracks in total across a double album format. Disc 1 features re-recordings of the most important ONSLAUGHT tracks from the early years, while Disc 2 consists of punk and metal cover versions that shaped ONSLAUGHT into the band they are today—songs that were jammed at rehearsals and tracks that inspired the band to pick up an instrument and play. It’s a fascinating sonic journey that tells the story of how the band came into existence.
As ONSLAUGHT approach yet another year of thrash metal history-making, the band is gearing up for the 2025 World Tour to promote Origins of Aggression and celebrate this landmark anniversary.
This is a very exciting new chapter for everyone in the ONSLAUGHT camp—with more news, more releases, more tours, and more important shows to come.
See you in the pit!