Razor

Biography

Razor is a Canadian thrash metal band formed in 1983 at Guelph, Ontario. They are recognized as Canadian thrash metal pioneers, and have been referred to as one of the country's "Big Four", alongside Sacrifice, Voivod, and Annihilator.

Early years and split (1983–1992)

Guitarist Dave Carlo formed Razor in 1983. Vocalist and guitarist John Scheffel was in the band at the time, but left in 1984. After two other vocalists, Carlo established a line-up featuring vocalist Stace "Sheepdog" McLaren, bassist Mike Campagnolo, and drummer Mike "M-Bro" Embro. The founding members were former schoolmates. A five-track demo was recorded in 1984 prior to the release of the Armed & Dangerous EP in May 1984 by Voice Records, which received underground acclaim. The pre-production demo album Escape the Fire×Escape the Fire1 December 1984 · Studio album · DemoSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1City of Damnation3:382Time Bomb3:453Distant Thunder4:044Gatecrasher2:595Metal Avenger7:236Heavy Metal Attack2:287Frostbite2:358Deathrace3:229Ready for Action3:2610Escape the Fire3:3311March of Death3:41 was recorded in December 1984. It would become the first full-length album, Executioner's Song, released in April 1985 through Viper Records. Evil Invaders followed in October 1985. Razor performed in the United States and Canada with Slayer, Motörhead, and Venom.
The third album, Malicious Intent×Malicious Intent1986 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Tear Me to Pieces2:512Night Attack2:303Grindstone2:554Cage the Ragers3:195Malicious Intent4:226Rebel Onslaught3:117A.O.D.2:578Challenge the Eagle3:169Stand Before Kings2:3510High Speed Metal3:3111K.M.A.2:41, was released in April 1986. Internal conflicts and the lack of an official release in the United States affected the album. The band requested to be released from Viper/Attic Records, which was granted in January 1987. Free of their contract, they released their self-financed fourth album, Custom Killing×Custom KillingJuly 1987 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracksA1Survival of the Fittest10:55A2Shootout4:54A3Forced Annihilation4:58B1Last Rites10:53B2Snake Eyes3:32B3White Noise5:24B4Going Under4:02B5Russian Ballet0:34, in July 1987. The album met poor commercial success and was in turn overlooked by fans, with the music moving to a more experimental, progressive approach than previous releases. Drummer Mike Embro and bassist Mike Campagnolo left the band shortly after the album's release and were quickly replaced with Dave Carlo's brother Adam on bass and Rob Mills on drums. Razor returned to their roots with the fifth album Violent Restitution×Violent Restitution30 March 1988 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1The Marshall Arts2:382Hypertension3:123Taste The Floor2:034Behind Bars2:085Below The Belt2:476I'll Only Say It Once2:227Enforcer3:358Violent Restitution2:259Out Of The Game2:3810Edge Of The Razor4:0411Eve Of The Storm3:1012Discipline2:2613Fed Up2:2514Soldier Of Fortune2:53, which was released in 1988 by Steamhammer. It was well-received, being considered more aggressive and heavier than its predecessor. To date, it remains the band’s most commercially successful release.
Vocalist Stace McLaren's interest in the band declined which eventually led to his departure. He was replaced with London, Ontario vocalist Bob Reid, whose band SFH had been opening shows for Razor in early 1988. The band then signed with Fringe Product and released Shotgun Justice in March 1990. They headlined smaller venues, performing with Sacrifice and Disciples of Power. Prior to the recording of the next album, drummer Rob Mills was involved in an accident which made him unable to perform. Around that same time, Adam Carlo left the band and was replaced with SFH bassist Jon Armstrong. The next album Open Hostility×Open Hostility1991 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1In Protest3:452Sucker for Punishment4:033Bad Vibrations3:014Road Gunner3:085Cheers2:346Red Money2:547Free Lunch2:398Iron Legions2:349Mental Torture3:2910Psychopath2:3311I Disagree2:5812End of the War3:40 was released in 1991. Due to Mills' injury and inability to perform on the album, Dave Carlo used a drum machine to replicate his style. Mills later returned and Razor embarked on a tour in support of the album leading up to their final performance on October 2, 1992. Following the tour, Dave Carlo, feeling that musical tastes had changed and that Razor had run its course, decided to retire and the band split-up. In 1994, a career retrospective compilation called Exhumed×ExhumedDecember 1994 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 38 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Killer Instinct2:442Armed and Dangerous5:063Take This Torch3:214Fast and Loud4:195City of Damnation3:436Gatecrasher2:597Cross Me Fool3:128Evil Invaders3:509Iron Hammer3:3910Instant Death2:5711Speed Merchants3:4612Thrash Dance3:1913A.O.D.3:0514K.M.A.2:5015Forced Annihilation5:0316Snake Eyes2:41Disc 21The Marshall Arts2:462Behind Bars2:143Below the Belt2:554Enforcer3:455Violent Restitution2:336Edge of the Razor4:147Soldier of Fortune2:598Miami3:149Electric Torture2:4810Meaning of Pain3:1011Shotgun Justice3:1512Parricide2:4513Brass Knuckles3:1514Concussion2:2415The Pugilist3:4316In Protest3:4317Bad Vibrations3:0118Road Gunner3:0819Free Lunch2:3920Iron Legions2:3421Psychopath2:3022End of the War3:22 was issued by Fringe Product.

Reformation and recent years (1996–present)

In 1996, Razor became active again as a result of vocalist Bob Reid's idea of reforming the band. Both Reid and Carlo were joined by Armstrong and SFH drummer Rich Oosterbosch. The eighth studio album Decibels×Decibels1 March 1992 · Studio album · DemoSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Jimi the Fly (instrumental)3:302Nine Dead (instrumental)3:143Great White Lie (instrumental)4:404Goof Soup (instrumental)3:385Open Hostility (instrumental)2:426Decibels (instrumental)3:277Life Sentence (instrumental)3:038The Game (instrumental)3:169Liar (instrumental)3:4410Violence... Gun Control (instrumental)6:23 was released in 1997 by Hypnotic Records. Armstrong and Oosterbosch would no longer be in the band and was replaced by returning members Rob Mills and Adam Carlo (before being replaced by Mike Campagnolo).
Razor took part on The Gates of Hell tour in 2005, the Headbangers Open Air Festival in 2009 and the True Thrash Festival in Osaka in 2011. A DVD of this performance was released only in Japan in February 2012.
On April 19, 2012, Carlo was diagnosed with Stage 2 oral cancer, but was successfully treated and resumed his guitar duties in 2015. The band performed at a charity event in 2014, the Maryland Deathfest in 2015 and the California Deathfest in 2016.
In 2014, drummer Rob Mills left the band and was replaced with Ripp'rd drummer Rider Johnson.
The ninth studio album Cycle of Contempt×Cycle of Contempt23 September 2022 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Flames of Hatred4:242Jabroni3:103Off My Meds2:544A Bitter Pill2:475Crossed3:176First‐Rate Hate4:147Cycle of Contempt5:298Setup3:319Punch Your Face In2:4610All Fist Fighting2:3411Darkness Falls3:1212King Shit4:44 was released on September 23, 2022, the first studio album in 25 years.
In January 2026, former drummer Mike Embro passed away at the age of 63.