>> TSOL

The True Sounds of Liberty were one of the earliest bands to develop the Orange County punk style, though even at its earliest, the band had leanings toward hardcore. Originally a hotbed for leftist political thought -- though never as concise as bands like The Dead Kennedys -- TSOL's earliest records collect some of Los Angeles' fiercest tracks.

As original members splintered away, TSOL quickly became a radio-friendly metal affair that left all its punk roots in its past. After a 2001 reunion of its principal members, the band returned to a style closer to its classic material, though its idealism hasn't resurfaced.