Oakland thrashers DEFIANCE, best known for their seminal late 80’s/early 90’s Roadrunner releases Void Terra Firma and Beyond Recognition, have inked a deal with LA based Corporate Punishment Records, who will release the groups as-yet-untitled fourth LP in late 2006.

Part of the so-called “second wave” of Bay Area Thrash (which also included the likes of Forbidden, Vio-lence, Death Angel, and Testament), DEFIANCE officially disbanded in 1993, after the departure of vocalist Steev Esquivel (who would go on to form Skinlab, and later Re:Ignition), while the remaining members, with the addition of vocalist Dave Godfrey White (Heathen), formed Inner Threshold, which would also eventually disband.

In 2005, rumors of a reformed Defiance sent waves of interest through the burgeoning Thrash Metal community, until it was finally confirmed that the band had in fact reunited and were at work on their first new material in over a decade.

“I’m really stoked to be playing with Defiance again.” Says guitarist Jim Adams, “We have been working on some new songs and ideas that are really heavy and complex. We are not moving away from the Bay Area Thrash style that people will expect to hear from us, no detuning or anything like that. We are writing pure straight forward Thrash Metal.”

Bassist/Founder Mike Kauffman adds, “We've been working hard at writing new songs and we're all looking forward to working with Corporate Punishment. We hold ourselves to a very high standard when it comes to songwriting and I'm sure our fans will not be disappointed.”

In addition to the classic lineup of Doug Harrington (Guitars), Jim Adams (Guitars), Mike Kaufmann (Bass) and vocalist Steev Esquivel, the LP will also feature (ex Vio-lence,Torque) drummer Mark Hernandez.

The band is set to enter Trident Studios in Concord, CA with producer Juan Urteaga (Exodus, Skinlab, Vile) this summer to begin work on the album. Upon completion of the LP, the band is looking forward to playing selected shows and festivals

In addition to the new LP, CPR will also release the bands first long-form DVD, Decade(s) of DEFIANCE, compiling hours of live performance, interview and archival footage chronicling their nearly 20 years of existence.

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