December 16, 1996: It’s still an official day of mourning for hardcore Sepultura fans. After finishing a set at the London’s Brixton Academy, the Brazilian quartet headed backstage where an explosive band argument culminated with popular frontman Max Cavalera excusing himself from the group for good.

In May of 1995, At the Gates entered Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden, to record what would be their fourth and final full-length, Slaughter of the Soul.

Having already unleashed two merciless lo-fi shredding clinics via Show No Mercy and Hell Awaits, Slayer’s urban-Satanist lyrics and ultra-violent guitar acrobatics were far too inaccessible for West Hollywood’s coke-metal scene and way too sketchy for the Bay Area’s newly viable thrash contingency.