WHIPLASH
ROAR (VIOLET VINYL)

ROAR is the new ten-track album from legendary thrash metal force WHIPLASH, delivering an explosive combination of speed, aggression and precision. The record captures the band's signature blend of velocity and venom while bringing their classic sound into the present with a sharper, modern edge. Fronted by founding guitarist and vocalist Tony Portaro, WHIPLASH channel the raw energy that has defined their music for decades through punishing riffs, relentless rhythms and uncompromising songwriting. Rather than relying on nostalgia, ROAR builds upon the band's legacy while pushing their sound forward, retaining the intensity and directness of classic thrash metal with a powerful contemporary production.

Formed in Passaic, New Jersey, in 1984, WHIPLASH quickly established themselves as one of the defining forces of the 1980s East Coast thrash metal scene. Led by guitarist and vocalist Tony Portaro, their combination of melodic speed metal, vicious riffs and raw energy produced the cult classic "Power and Pain" (1985), released through Roadrunner's Road Racer imprint.

Followed by "Ticket to Mayhem" (1987) and "Insult to Injury" (1989), the band's early records helped establish a distinctive identity within a New York scene dominated by punk and hardcore. After further releases, lineup changes and a period of inactivity, WHIPLASH returned with "Thrashback" (1998) before a long hiatus.

The band re-emerged with "Unborn Again" in 2009, reconnecting with both old-school devotees and a new generation of thrash fans. Through every incarnation, Tony Portaro has remained the band's constant driving force, preserving the power-trio spirit at the heart of WHIPLASH.

In 2026, that uncompromising approach continues with "ROAR", the band's eighth studio album and their new worldwide release through Time To Kill Records.