UNITED destroy metal NRR-E003

A foundational piece of Japanese thrash metal history is the focus for this entry: the debut 7-inch single from the long-running band, United. This is the “Destroy Metal” EP.

Released in February 1985 on the Noise Room Records label (a Hold Up sub-label), this 7-inch, 33 ⅓ RPM EP (catalog number NRR-E003) marks the band’s very first release, a significant moment in the history of Japanese thrash.

The EP unleashes three tracks of raw, early heavy metal and speed metal:
A1: U.N.I.T.E.D
A2: Skill
B1: Sniper

This record captures the band’s initial, aggressive sound and their early lineup. “Destroy Metal” stands as the crucial starting point for a band that would become a cornerstone of the Japanese thrash metal scene for decades. As an independent release from the dawn of the movement, it’s a highly sought-after artifact. The original release came packaged in a fold-out poster sleeve.