Détente has been played on NTS shows including Sensory Overload w/ Isis Mayorga , with Blood I Bleed first played on 2 December 2013.

Détente is an American thrash metal band founded in 1984 in Los Angeles, California. The group’s original line-up consisted of Dawn Crosby on vocals, Steve Hochheiser on bass, Dennis Butler on drums, and Ross Robinson and Caleb Quinn on guitars. The band has broken up on two different occasions, with their most recent reunion being from 2022.

The band recorded their first three-track demo in April 1984, which featured “Shattered Illusions” and “Vultures in the Sky.” Jim Tutone, who initially wrote the two songs, was not part of the recording due to a fallout with Dawn. He was replaced by Fred Rascon, who also eventually left. Dennis and Dawn pressed on, eventually recruiting Caleb Quinn (guitar), Ross Robinson (guitar), and Steve Hochheiser (bass), the latter of whom had experience performing with Lizzy Borden. This new lineup hit the Los Angeles club circuit, marking the band’s first live performances. Around this time, Ross Robinson and Steve Hochheiser co-wrote “Losers,” “Widows Walk,” and “Blood I Bleed.” This iteration of Détente recorded a second demo, incorporating reworked versions of “Shattered Illusions” and “Vultures in the Sky,” along with “Holy War” and “Widows Walk.” The demo caught the attention of several major record labels, including Combat, Noise, Music for Nations, Metal Blade, and Roadrunner. The band ultimately signed with Metal Blade for U.S. distribution and Roadrunner for European markets. A rough version of “Widows Walk” appeared on Metal Massacre VII (Metal Blade, 1986), despite the band’s dislike of label executive Brian Slagel.

Détente performed extensively in the Bay Area but was eventually banned after a riot broke out at a gig with Megadeth and Dark Angel. Tensions flared due to a past conflict between Dennis, Dawn, and Megadeth members Dave Mustaine and Dave Ellefson over an unpaid phone bill. During the show, Dawn retaliated by pelting Megadeth with beer cans, sparking the riot and making future L.A. performances difficult to secure. Later in 1986, the band entered the studio to record their debut album, “Recognize No Authority.” Dana Strum was brought on as producer due to his connections with the Baby O’s recording studio in L.A. Strum leveraged these contacts to stretch the band’s $12,000 recording budget by bribing night-shift workers and borrowing high-end gear—including equipment used by Michael Jackson. Recording sessions ran from 10 PM to 7 AM to avoid studio management oversight, and despite obstacles, the album was completed in nine days.

Even before the release of “Recognize No Authority,” Détente’s internal conflicts intensified. Dana Strum refused to work with Dawn again, and discussions arose about replacing her for future recordings. A final show at the Country Club in Reseda marked the end of the recording lineup. Soon after, Dennis suffered severe chemical burns in a work accident, Dawn went on a European promo tour, and members pursued separate projects.

Steve Hochheiser and Ross Robinson departed to form Catalepsy, leading to a restructured lineup with Greg Cekalovich (guitar), George Robb (bass, ex-Agent Steel), and Mike Carlino (guitar). Greg and George later left, and the band decided to continue with one guitarist. Blair Darby joined as bassist, while Mike Carlino and Dennis developed a strong musical connection. However, Mike and Dawn frequently clashed. A 1987 demo failed to impress Roadrunner, leading to the band being dropped. While writing new material, Mike and Dawn developed a creative partnership, which evolved into a romantic relationship, further fracturing the band. Their collaboration resulted in “Red to Gray,” written in just ten minutes. The lineup disintegrated following a final performance at the Troubadour in L.A., culminating in Dennis leaving the band and divorcing Dawn. Rob “Wacko” Hunter (ex-Raven) took over on drums.

In 1989, the band recorded a new demo, known as the “‘89 Demo,” at Pyramid Sound in Ithaca, New York, with producer Alex Perialis. Due to Blair Darby’s inability to handle the studio’s demands, Mike played bass on the recordings. During this period, Warner Brothers expressed interest in signing the band but struggled to locate them after they relocated to the East Coast. Eventually, the label connected with Dawn and Mike, initiating nine months of negotiations. However, another band already held the Détente name, requiring a legal settlement. The band underwent a transformation, first considering the name “Sedition.” Mike, inspired by the Bible, suggested “Fear God,” but Dawn modified it to “Fear of God.” With a new name, the band recorded their debut album, “Within the Veil,” at Pat Regan’s studio. Initial mixes were unsatisfactory, leading to a remix by Andy Wallace, which greatly improved the final product.

Dennis Butler, Steve Hochheiser, Caleb Quinn, and Hellion vocalist Ann “Boleyn” Hull reunited for a series of Détente performances in the U.S. and Germany in July 2008. Although Mike Carlino was initially involved, he ultimately did not participate. Later that year, “History I,” a collection of Détente and Catalepsy demos, was released. In 2009, Ann Boleyn was replaced by Tiina Teal (formerly of Burn the Empire), leading to the release of “Decline” in June 2010. However, the band dissolved later that year.

In 2012, the song “Kill Rush” from “Decline” gained notoriety when Fox News cited it as an example of “liberal hate speech” due to its criticism of conservative media figure Rush Limbaugh.

In 2019, Détente was offered a headlining spot at the Witches Hex Festival in Cleveland, Ohio. Plans for a reunion were in place, but the festival was ultimately canceled, preventing the comeback. However, in December 2022, Détente announced a special performance of “Recognize No Authority” in its entirety at the Metal Threat Fest on April 16, 2023, in Lombard, IL. The lineup included the return of the Tiina Teal-era members. In January 2025, Détente confirmed plans for a European tour, marking another chapter in the band’s tumultuous yet influential history.