Toxik

Toxik is a thrash metal group formed in 1985 by Joshua Christian and Lee Erwin of Peekskill, New York. The band’s style was comprised of a complex thrash metal base mixed with progressive influences. By the end of 1992 the band had broken up but not before reshaping what was to be termed “progressive thrash”.

Bands like Watchtower, Fates Warning and King Diamond had all approached the point of actually becoming mainstream. Toxik was in that group and had an equal commercial potential or greater but before they had that chance the industry changed. Toxik, originally called Tokyo line up, consisted of Josh Christian (guitar), Lee Erwin (bass), Sal Dadabo (drums), and Michael Sanders (vocals).

While the groups music was highly regarded especially Josh Christians technical guitar playing, the vocals were a hit and miss with fans. On the second release Think This (RoadRacer 1989) Mike Sanders had been replaced by Charles Sabin who unlike Sanders had a very versatile vocal range. The group also added guitarist John Donnely for a fuller live sound. Think This received even more acclaim than World Circus and was followed by a European Tour and a Tour of the States with label mates King Diamond.

In 1992 the group disbanded. Although Toxik never broke through to the masses in the United States they enjoyed a very strong following in Europe and Japan. Toxik officially re-united in 2007.

One of my favorite thrash metal bands.

Here's the two legendary albums:

World Circus
(1987)

Tracklist:

01. Heart Attack (3:49)
02. Social Overload (3:27)
03. Pain And Misery (3:17)
04. Voices (3:26)
05. Door To Hell (3:50)
06. World Circus (5:02)
07. 47 Seconds To Hell/Count Your Blessings (4:59)
08. False Prophets (2:22)
09. Haunted Earth (3:29)
10. Victims (3:58)

Download.

Think This
(1989)

Tracklist:

01. Think This (05:37)
02. Greed (04:10)
03. Spontaneous (05:10)
04. There Stood the Fence (04:43)
05. Black and White (05:10)
06. Technical Arrogance (05:25)
07. WIR NJN8/In God (05:10)
08. Machine Dream (04:27)
09. Out on the Tiles (Led Zeppelin cover) (03:06)
10. Shotgun Logic (05:14)
11. Time After Time (04:55)
12. Think That (00:27)

Download.