Defiance is an American thrash metal band from Oakland, California, formed in 1985. They released three albums for Roadracer Records at the turn of the 1990s - "Product of Society" (1989), "Void Terra Firma" (1990) and "Beyond Recognition" (1992) - earning a reputation as one of the most technically accomplished acts in the second wave of Bay Area thrash. After two disbandments (1995 and 2012), the band reunited in 2019 and continues to perform with guitarist Billy Garoutte filling the slot left by the late Doug Harrington.
Defiance completed the European tour Clash of Thrash 2025 alongside Tankard, Accuser and Shaark, which also visited the Czech Republic.
The band performed as an opening act for D.R.I. at the end of 2023 and continues to perform mainly in the Northern California area.
The record label Vic Records released the double album compilation Checkmate: The Demo Collection with 25 recordings from 1986-1994, including previously unreleased Jackson Street Sessions.
The band announced a new reunion on Facebook in September 2019; the planned performance at the Blades of Steel festival in Milwaukee was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Uncompromising thrash metal night featuring legendary acts DEFIANCE, BONDED, FATTT BOYS and GAME OVER. Raw old-school metal at MC Kotelna.
Legendary American thrash metal pioneers Defiance headline this tour with German, Italian, and Czech acts, delivering a night of technical riffs and high-energy performances.