Crossbreed

Crossbreed first took the stage in 1996, yet the Florida outfit did not lock in a stable roster until 1999, when vocalist James Rietz, guitarist Chris Nemzek, bassist Charlie Parker, drummer Travis Simpkins, and keyboard masters Flip and DJ Izzo formed the definitive Tampa unit. Their abrasive fusion of industrial techno and alternative metal—marked by raw, blistering textures—ignited crowds at every show and produced the band’s decisive breakthrough in 2000. Kittie received a demo from the group and forwarded it to Artemis Records; the label responded by signing Crossbreed. The band then headed to New York to write and track its debut album, Synthetic Division, which reached stores in May 2001.