Evildead is a thrash metal band based in California, born from the ashes of two bands, Agent Steel and Abattoir. In 1987, after leaving Agent Steel, guitarist Juan Garcia and bassist Mel Sanchez formed Evildead with the intention to do music more in a thrash metal vein than their old band (which developed the speed metal sound), following a Vio-lence/Sacred Reich style, with lyrics exploring political and social themes mixed with horror/nuclear war themes.