Napalm

• Formed: 1985, New York, NY
• Disbanded: 1992, New York, NY
• Genres: Rock

Biography

Originally naming themselves Combat before being offered a contract by the label of the same name, New York City thrashers Napalm endured a disjointed and disappointing career marked by constant musician turnover and underperforming releases throughout the second half of the '80s. For starters, the aforementioned name change served only to secure the release of an eponymous 1986 EP through Combat's bootleg series for then bandmembers Chris Weidner (vocals/bass), Jeff Rossbach (guitar), and Rex Rossbach (drums), before the trio broke up amid much acrimony. Then, when Weidner attempted to carry on by recruiting an all-new lineup of guitarists Chris Liggio and Jeff Lombardi, plus drummer Robert Proimos, Combat Records was no longer interested, resulting in the release of Napalm's debut full-length, 1989's Cruel Tranquility, through Steamhammer/SPV. Unfortunately, few fans were taken in by the band's workmanlike thrashing with crossover qualities, along the lines of D.R.I., C.O.C., and Sacred Reich, only hardly as compelling. The next year's sophomore LP, Zero to Black, was no more distinctive, aside from the fact that, this time, it was Weidner who had been given the boot -- Liggio had assumed lead vocals and bassist Brett Roth had joined the team, meaning that Napalm no longer had a single original member in place, and, quite correctly, decided to call it a day just a short time later. However, in the year 2000, Napalm's long-ousted founding brothers Jeff and Rex Rossbach joined forces with vocalist/bassist Bob Eubank and returned to action under their old moniker, Combat, proceeding to tour and record several independent releases over the ensuing decade. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia, All Music Guide

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