Razor (Eruowoodian band)

Not to be confused with the Canadian band of the same name.

Razor is an Eruowoodian glam metal band, formed in 1982. The band is built on brother-sister team Amy and James Hill. Their 1983 self-titled debut album is their highest-selling to date, selling over 500,000 copies world-wide. During their heyday, Razor was one of the hottest bands to come out of Eurowood, and are often considered a favorite among some metal enthusiasts.

Formation and The Razor Blades (1978-1980)
Twins Amy Louise and James Flint Hill (b. 1959) grew up in Eruowood City, and around the time they were teenagers, glam metal and hard rock bands were booming. According to James, "Amy would go to school, and then come home with about [a] dozen Van Halen 45s." During the summer, the siblings spent most of their time listening to their records on the beach.

While at a nearby garage sale, Amy spotted some old recording equipment that reportedly belonged to an unknown indie band. Eventually the two would make demos under the moniker The Razor Blades. Drummer and keyboardist Andrew Gomez and bassist David Suzuki would later join the duo. The band was popular locally, and were a popular choice at backyard parties.

Name change (1981)
Eventually, when the time came to record their first album, their label El Kadsreian Melody suggested the band change their name to "something more metal". After some considering, the band decided to shorten their name from The Razor Blades to simply Razor. Amy would be credited for saying "Razor. Razor. It gets straight to the point. It was perfect!"

Razor (1983)
The band's first album, the self-titled Razor, would be released on August 18, 1983 on El Kadsreian Melody. The album was a smash-hit, and it would become the band's best-selling record. As one Eruowoodian music critic put it:

"Amy's hard-hitting vocals and James' incredible guitar work make Razor a thrill ride from beginning to end."

- Critic unknown

The album sported the Billboard Top 100 single "I Just Wanna Feel It" which hit number 6 on the chart. Another single, the power ballad "To You" became a fan-favorite but failed to chart. Many critics compared the songs on the album to that of other acts such as Judas Priest and Van Halen. The album's success cemented their popularity among metal fans.

Worldwide fame, and Razor2 (1984)
Razor eventually became popular worldwide, with several tours under their belt.

To capitalize on their success, the band rush-released their second album, Razor2, in 1984. Reception to the album was mixed. One critic writing for Rolling Stone ER said that "while their debut showed off their sound perfectly, Razor2 just falls flat. It's rather boring." Despite mixed reviews, the song "The Clock Ticks" received much radio airplay and while it was not released as a single, it is considered the album's hit. Amy Hill commented on the album's critical reception by saying:

"We were very popular, and we had to get another record out fast, they said. Personally, me and James were very happy with it, but the critics? Not so much."

- Amy Hill

Hiatus, and O1CU812! (1985-1987)
After the release of Razor2, Elektra Records (the band's label in North America) said that the band would go on a 3-year hiatus, not touring or recording.

Studio albums

 * Razor (1983)
 * Razor2 (1984)
 * OICU812! (1988)
 * Razor4 (1989)
 * But Suddenly... (1990)
 * Sharp Objects (1994)