MUNICIPAL WASTE

The American thrash/crossover wrecking crew Municipal Waste, featuring Tony Foresta (vocals), Ryan Waste and Nick Poulos (guitars), Philip “Landphil” Hall (bass), and Dave Witte (drums), was born in the underground scene of Richmond, Virginia. Guitarist Ryan Waste, a diehard fan of thrash and hardcore legends like Nuclear Assault, Attitude Adjustment, and D.R.I., as well as classic NWOBHM, started the band in the early 2000s. “It was an organic process for me since I grew up on this music. No one forced it on me—it’s just what I blasted as a teenager, and this sound was the perfect way to channel my energy,” Ryan once told Roadie Crew magazine.

Decibel Magazine inducted “The Art of Partying” (2007) into their Hall of Fame, crediting it with “reviving interest in thrash and inspiring a new wave of young bands.” Metal Hammer ranked it among the “50 Greatest Thrash Albums of All Time,” while Loudwire named it “Best Thrash Album of 2007” and recognized “Hazardous Mutation” (2005) as “Best Thrash Album of 2005.” The band has torn through countless sold-out shows across multiple continents and racked up tens of millions of streams along the way. “Slime and Punishment” (2017) hit the Top 3 on Billboard’s Heatseekers Albums Chart, and “The Last Rager” EP (2019) only cranked up the momentum. But make no mistake—Municipal Waste remains as ferocious and relentless as ever on “Electrified Brain” (2022).

Their latest releases include “Tango & Thrash” (2024, a split with Bad Acid Trip) and their full-length “Electrified Brain” (2022), bringing their tally to seven studio albums, five EPs, and four splits. “Our fans know what they want, and we love giving it to them—because it’s the same thing we love,” says Tony Foresta. “We want music that’s raw, fast, ugly… in one word: punk. That’s what we’re about, and that’s what each of our records delivers.”