Meliah Rage was formed in Boston in 1985 and attracted the attention of Epic Records, who released their first two albums along with a live EP. Though their music was strong (a powerful thrashy metal style in the vein of prime Metal Church), they didn't seem to get the push one might have expected given their major label status, and thus they faded from view. In 1992 an album/demo was recorded with a new rhythm section featuring none other than Godsmack frontman Sully Erna on drums, but it went unreleased, and it was not until 1996 that, with another new .