Damn The Machine
Refusing an offer to rejoin Megadeth after playing on the demo sessions for RUST IN PEACE, guitarist Chris Poland subsequently recorded a fine solo effort, RETURN TO METALOPOLIS. Afterwards he would form Damn The Machine in Los Angeles in 1991 with his drummer brother Mark, bassist Dave Randi, and guitarist/vocalist Dave Clemmons. The band were signed by A&M Records on the strength of a live-in-the-studio demo. DAMN THE MACHINE eschewed Megadeth-style thrash, opting for a progressive blend of traditional power metal and the jazz stylings which Poland had explored in his solo work to produce a complex yet listenable album. However, despite considerable interest and near-universal press support, the band surprisingly broke up shortly after their debut European dates opening for Dream Theater.