Hailing from the Seattle suburb of Lynwood, where they'd been futzing around since 1982, Bitter End was a thrash metal quartet featuring vocalist Matt Fox, guitarist Russ Stefanovich, bassist Chris Fox, and drummer Harry Dearinger. Signed by Metal Blade, the band's only release, Harsh Realities, arrived in 1990 and contained competently executed but rather indistinctive thrash, failing to connect with a wider audience.