Oppressor

Oppressor formed in Los Angeles in the early 1980s, with Steve "Zetro" Souza on vocals, Mike Gibson on guitar, Ken Stauffer on bass, and Larry Barragan on drums. They came up playing shows around the local metal scene, drawing from the aggressive sound of bands like Slayer and Metallica. Their debut album 'Abandon Tyrant' came out in 1988, and the title track became a staple for them.

Their lyrics often dealt with themes of rebellion and confrontation, which sometimes drew criticism. Songs like 'And The Angels Fell (The Suffering)' and 'As Blood Flows' kept that direct, aggressive approach. The band kept recording through the 1990s and 2000s, putting out albums like 'The Storm' in 1991 and 'Divinity' in 2001.

Over time, the lineup shifted. Drummer Larry Barragan left and was replaced by Sean Reinert. They released 'Solstice' in 2008. Their music stayed rooted in that straightforward, heavy metal style they established early on, with tracks like 'Blinded' and 'Dying Inside' showing their consistent approach.