Slauter Xstroyes is a progressive power metal band from Chicago, USA. The band was founded in 1981 when guitarist Paul Kratky (who, at that time, was intentioned to put together a band called Naj) met bassist Brent Sullivan and vocalist John Stewart. Drummer Dave Bonow joined the band, and Slauter Xstroyes released their first album, "Winter Kill", in 1985. The album was considered a masterpiece of prog/power metal from start to finish, but few knew that it would end up being the collector piece it is today. In fact, only 500 copies were released in the area around Chicago. It was around 1987-88 that the band headed into the studio to record their second album “Free the Beast", which was never completed nor released. The band kept on playing in the area near Chicago, and in 1999 "Free The Beast" was finally released. At the moment, the band is working on a new album without the original singer Jonathan Stewart.

Epitaph's best album (actually, many would argue it's their only good album), 1974's Outside the Law, was produced during the German-based, English-fronted quartet's brief sojourn in America, while benefiting from the patronage of tiny independent label Billingsgate Records. Having just lost their deal with mighty Polydor following two nondescript LPs filled with progressive excess, the bandmembers now seemed motivated to edit themselves, and emerged from Chicago's Omega Studios with a far more focused and engaging set of songs, marked by fluid, mid-paced grooves, radio-friendly choruses, and dual-guitar harmonies often backed by acoustic rhythm guitars for added sweetening.