Trust were not only one of the few French bands able to cross their country's frontiers, but they also made it without having to drop their native language or their half-punk, half-heavy metal aesthetic along the way. Formed in 1977, the band came up a mix of influences, the most obvious of which might be AC/DC (with whom they toured a bit) and early Iron Maiden. A large part of their appeal came from their socially concerned lyrics, which earned them occasional censorship. The '80s quickly saw their popularity drop after the heights of 1979's eponymous album, 1980's Repression, and 1981's Marche ou Crève. ~ Olivier Duboc