ApocryphA

Like numerous bands signed by California's Shrapnel label, Las Vegas-based Apocrypha were short on songs but long on showy guitar playing. Formed by singer Steve Plocica, guitarist Tony Fredianelli, bassist Al Rumley, and drummer Mike Poe, Apocrypha released three shred-intensive heavy metal albums: 1987's The Forgotten Scroll, 1988's The Eyes of Time (having added rhythm guitarist Chip Chrovian), and 1990's Area 54 (with a new rhythm section of bassist Breck Smith and drummer Dave Schiller). All of these were reliably heavy, if rather mediocre in terms of songwriting, and wer...