Before crossover had a rulebook
Ken “Corpse” Ballone forms Angry Corpses—the band that would become a precursor to New York crossover heavyweights M.O.D.
1984 → present
Built where hardcore met thrash
Four decades at the collision point of punk urgency, street-level hardcore, and thrash.
Hardcore and thrash collide
Ballone and Tim McMurtrie join Billy Milano in Method of Destruction. Ballone and McMurtrie write much of the music and lyrics for the Megaforce crossover classic.
“Preserve the roots. Push the sound.”The Angry Corpses blueprint
The blueprint gets heavier
McMurtrie reunites with Milano and writes the vast majority of the album’s music and lyrics, deepening the band’s crossover legacy.
The name returns
Ballone and McMurtrie officially revive Angry Corpses. Donny Polinske joins on vocals as the band returns to the original street-level thrash sound.
Records, rooms, and forward motion
The H8 and Resurrected EPs arrive, followed by extensive U.S. touring—including a three-week run with NYHC legends Skarhead.
Honored in the deck
Kenny Ballone and Tim McMurtrie are added to the Hardcore Legends Trading Cards collection, recognizing their place in the history of hardcore and crossover.
The legacy continues
Following Ken Ballone’s passing in 2022, McMurtrie continues the band at Ken’s request: preserving their sound while writing the next chapter.
In memoriam
Kenny Ballone
January 22, 1969 — August 9, 2022
The founding spirit of Angry Corpses remains part of every chapter that follows.