Prog-tinged, '80s-style shred metal is the specialty of Onward, formed in the mid-'90s by former Shrapnel recording artist and guitar virtuoso Toby Knapp. Initially based in Wyoming, Knapp left Shrapnel to pursue a band project focusing on traditional, straight-ahead heavy metal; he hooked up with bassist Randy LaFrance and drummer Jon Pereau, and eventually found former Legend Maker vocalist Michael Grant through a connection with the Sentinel Steel label, which initially signed the group. Century Media eventually secured the rights to both the band and their debut album Evermoving, releasing the record in early 2001. ~ Steve Huey, Rovi