Onward

Formed around the skills of guitarist Toby Knapp, a Sheridan, Wyoming native who first drew notice in 1993 as a six-string shredder on the Shrapnel label, the American power metal band Onward took shape once flashy guitar-hero trends faded during the 1990s. Knapp therefore assembled a full lineup featuring vocalist Michael Grant, bassist Randy LaFrance (later succeeded by Chris Payette), and drummer Jon Pereau to establish the group. After signing with Century Media, the quartet delivered its opening pair of releases, Evermoving in 2001 and Reawaken in 2002, both arriving in rapid order and showcasing a melodic power metal approach that proved polished yet formulaic. The label soon parted ways with the band, which then dissolved, though the members reconvened briefly to issue a third, independently released album titled The Neverending Sun in 2007 before splitting permanently. Knapp eventually relocated to Montana, where he maintains a regional performance schedule, while vocalist Michael Grant later joined the retro-metal act Crescent Shield.