Hatchet

A thrash metal outfit from the Bay Area, and it's not 1985? Not a wholesale surprise, really. And given the reexamination of the style as the first decade of the 21st century came to a close, it's really no surprise that bands such as Hatchet had a fair amount of impact on the reborn scene. Formed in the midst of the area's legendary punk and ska geography, Hatchet first made a name for themselves with some well-received shows in 2006 and 2007. An appearance on the Thrash Metal Warriors compilation led to a pair of big events, the first being an opening slot for the Possessed, and secondly — and, arguably most importantly — a record deal with Metal Blade, inked for real in 2008. Their debut full-length followed shortly thereafter. Released in May of 2008, Awaiting Evil drew some positive responses from the genre's critics.