Excel

Excel is a pivotal entity in the Venice, California 'Suicidal' crossover scene, formed in 1983. They represent the stylistic bridge between the raw intensity of hardcore punk (The Germs, Black Flag) and the technical weight of heavy metal (Black Sabbath, Slayer).

Their sound identity is defined by Adam Siegel's distinctive guitar work, which often incorporates bluesy, doom-influenced grooves into high-speed thrash structures, and Dan Clements' rhythmic, semi-spoken vocal style. Beyond the music, Excel is deeply integrated into street culture, specifically graffiti and skate culture, which informed their visual branding and DIY touring ethos. They are frequently grouped with contemporaries like Suicidal Tendencies and Cryptic Slaughter but are noted for a 'fatter' sonic profile and more complex song structures. After a hiatus in the mid-90s, their legacy was cemented through reissues and a 2012 reformation, maintaining their status as a cult favorite among crate-diggers of the 80s thrash and hardcore overlap.