New Jersey's Hades was associated with the thrash metal scene since the band's inception. In fact, the band was often compared to Anthrax in the mid-'80s. Hades was formed in 1978 by Dan Lorenzo. After studying Greek Mythology in 9th grade, Dan Lorenzo had picked the name Hades for his band. First order of business was covers of Kiss, Aerosmith et al. They delivered a 1982 debut 7" EP called Deliver Us From Evil. The line-up read, singer Paul Smith, guitarists Dan Lorenzo and Joe Casili, bassist Anthony Vitti and drummer Tom Coombs. This line-up soon changed however. Guitarist/bassist Scott Le Page and bassist Sandy Handsel soon joined the band. A new bassist, Jimmy Schulman, however soon brought some stability to the band. More importantly, Alan Tecchio soon entered Hades.
The band soon spread a number of live demos and rehearsal tapes throughout the underground and began granting interviews to various fanzines. Hades was soon also heard on the Megaforce compilation Born To Metalize and Metal Blade's Metal Massacre VI. Jimmy Schulman was involved in an auto accident at this time that was deemed serious enough to put his future in the band in doubt.
Hades nevertheless would not cross into the realm of the dead and instead obtained a record contract with Torrid Records, a label which was looking to capitalize on its recent success with Exodus. The band was celebrated on the thrash metal scene with its two studio albums before things ground to a halt. Essentially, a lack of success coupled with a disappointing European run had killed the band in 1989. Tom Coombs joined Doro and toured Europe and the USA. Dan Lorenzo and Alan Tecchio formed Non-Fiction. Live: On Location appeared in 1991. It was taped in April of that year at Studio One in New Jersey during a reunion show.
Various members formed other bands until 1996 meant a better climate for heavy metal once again. The band reunited for the 1996 album Exist To Resist which featured older and newer tracks alike. Metal Blade Records signed the band and soon released the 1998 album $aviour $elf.
Previously the band had threatened the Norwegian Hades with legal action. The Norsemen had consequently altered their name.
In 2000 the band featured drummer Ron Lipinski as well as the returning Jimmy Schulman on bass. The band travelled to Europe to be a part of the Wacken Open Air that year. Next up was DamNation released in the summer of 2001. The first 3,000 copies released in Europe were a limited edition double-CD containing the Hades home video Inside The Metal. The band would call for an official halt to all activities though, seemingly dissatisfied with the lack of sales. The act independently issued acompilation called 1982-2002 and Lipnicki would spend time in a cover band. In early 2003 fans would learn that Lipnicki is fighting cancer. Monster Records would announce that it will release a new Hades compilation later in 2003 featuring material from the Paul Smith era, as well as his successor John Calura who sang for the band before Alan Tecchio.
Lipnicki would undergo major operation due to cancer at the beginning of 2003. Dan Lorenzo would busy himself selling advertising for Stepping Out Magazine. It was announced late in 2003 that Monster Records was planning on releasing very early and unreleased Hades material. The material predated the Resisting Success album.
Dan Lorenzo and Jimmy Schulman began working together in Cassius King. Lorenzo also banded together with Overkill’s Bobby Blitz to form The Cursed in 2006. That band signed to Screaming Ferret Wreckords.
Hades signed to Mausoleum Records in 2004 for the re-release of the group's first two albums, Resisting Success and If At First You Don't Succeed.