Exxplorer

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nder the original line-up of Lennie Rizzo (vocals), Ed Lavolpe (guitar), Kevin Kennedy (guitar), Jimmy Gardner (bass), Mike Moyer (drums) Exxplorer released what is commonly believed to be a good debut thrash/power metal album in the eighties titled Symphonies of Steel (1985)before they suddenly disappeared. Nine years later, the band re-emerged with Recipe ForPower (1994) in a similar musical style, but then returned with a changed line-up of Barry Hocking Jr. (vocals), Ed Lavolpe (guitar), Fred Gorhau (guitar), Jay McCaffrey (bass) and Mike Moyer (drums) for 1996's Coldblackugly, an album of '80's influence with a '90's sound to it, incorporating grunge/alternative influences into the mix. The album garnered mixed reviews, but the band broke up after its release. Hocking went on to be featured on 'Emperor Multimedia's' Alliance debut release under his own Raggedy Aneurysm operation.

Some time later, the core of the band met up, with the intent of reforming the band, and eventually the entire Symphonies of Steel lineup was back on board. Under the membership of Jay McCaffrey (bass), Mike Sakowski (drums), Fred Gorhau (guitars), Kevin Kennedy (guitars) and Lenny Rizzo (vocals), the band would finally release Vengeance Rides an Angry Horse (2011).