Defiance

American Bay Area thrash metal band from Oakland, formed in the mid-1980s. Released Product Of Society (1989), Void Terra Firma (1990) and Beyond Recognition (1992). Reviews praise the band's musicianship and production while often critiquing vocalist Steev/Steeve Esquivel. The group ceased activity in the early 1990s and had an unfinished reunion recording during which guitarist Doug Harrington died (noted in reviews).

Jeff Waters produced Product Of Society; John Cuniberti produced Void Terra Firma; Rob Beaton produced Beyond Recognition. Steev/Steeve Esquivel later became associated with Skinlab (publicly verifiable). The band is regularly compared to Testament and Exodus in contemporary reviews.

Defiance is presented as a technically skilled Bay Area thrash band whose three main albums (Product Of Society, Void Terra Firma, Beyond Recognition) show strong musicianship and production. Reviewers praise guitar work, bass and especially drumming, while commonly criticizing vocalist Steev/Steeve Esquivel's limitations. The band is framed as part of the late-80s/early-90s thrash decline, producing noteworthy but commercially limited records.

For:Fans of Bay Area thrash metal, collectors of late-80s/early-90s thrash, listeners of Testament/Exodus-style bands.