When in 1998 Jos van den Brand, Serge Smolders and Michel Meeuwissen decided to move on,
following the break-up of Acrostichon, they set for them selves a musical goal that nowadays is
quite popular; mixing melodic thrash metal with death metal and Gothenburg style melodies. Quickly
joined by Tijn and Tjerk, they found themselves ready to take on the challenge.

At the end of 1998 Outburst released their first demo cd ‘Symbols Of Brutality’. The three tracks
presented a rough mixture of styles. But still, their music needed a couple of years to come to it’s
definitive form.

With 2000’s ‘Time Has Come’ they we’re well on their way and received good reviews in Dutch press.
After that release Michel Meeuwissen left the band to concentrate on his other band
Crustacean. Only a few months after he left, the four remaining guys found a suitable
replacement in Arvid Kuipers. In 2001 the new Outburst started to take shape, with all five
members going for one common goal; make the best thrash metal there is and gaining popularity on
the way.

They recorded two songs for a free give away promo at concerts. Roughly 600 were given away. In
October Outburst played the Chuck Schuldiner Tribute concert in 013, Tilburg.

In early 2002, the first of many good support slots were booked; The Defaced (Sweden) and
Tankard (Germany). On June 1st 2002, Outburst got the chance to perform for the largest
audience they had ever played for; OZZFEST in Nijmegen, Holland. After that, Outburst toured
Holland with Macabre (USA) and Darkane (S) as well as opening up for Arch Enemy (S).

Recorded in 2002, early 2003 saw the release of the ‘Overfiend’ mini cd, which also featured a live
video of the Ozzfest performance. It was released just before the No Mercy festival in Holland
where Outburst played alongside Death Angel, Nuclear Assault and Testament. More shows
were played and just before they went to the USA, they we’re invited to open for Anthrax in
Rotterdam. The Milwaukee Metalfest marked the bands’ first trip to the USA, with an actual
first US show in Chicago.

The band started to gain more popularity and it seemed as if Outburst was going to be the regular
support act for Bay Area thrash bands that play Holland, as Eindhoven welcomed them as
openers for Testament.

In 2004 Outburst started working on their first full length album. In between the band only did a
couple of shows with Dew Scented and again; Death Angel. In august Outburst entered the
Double Noise studio in Tilburg, Holland, to start recording with producer Jochem Jacobs
(Textures, Hiding With Girls a.o.). Textures vocalist Eric Kalsbeek came to the studio and
recorded some vocals for the track ‘Attack Of The Overfiend’. In september, Outburst singer Tjerk
recorded guest vocals in Denver, CO for the new Cephalic Carnage album and to return the
favour, Cephalic singer Leonard Leal sang on Outburst’s ‘What The Eyes See’.

Meanwhile, shows with The Haunted and Nuclear Assault to name but a few have been played.
And the string of live dates continued with UK’s Biomechanical and their first ever German
weekend tour with Tankard. 2006 finally saw the release of the debut album. On 28-08-2006,
Overfiend Records released Fair And Balanced in the Benelux, Germany, France and Spain. Shows
in Holland and Germany followed. The summer of 2007 marked a new highlight in Outburst’s
career; playing the Czech festival Brutal Assault (8500 attendance). Right after that the band
started pre-production for the follow up to Fair And Balanced, scheduled to be released in 2008.
Before that, Outburst will celebrate their 10 year anniversary at their hometown club 013.
Prepare to be thrashed!!!