HAWAII - One Nation Underground 12" Vinyl LP Album

- Sharpnel Records Pressing

Explosive illustrated front cover of HAWAII - One Nation Underground LP showing an erupting volcano with yellow-orange lava, black smoke, bursting fireballs, a van destroyed in lava, and human figures in panic.

"One Nation Underground" 12" LP by Hawaii stands as a groundbreaking debut album in the world of hard rock. Released under the Shrapnel label, it marks the inception of the band's sonic journey. This album introduces listeners to Hawaii's signature sound, blending raw energy, intricate guitar work, and compelling vocals. A testament to musical innovation, it remains a cherished gem in the hard rock archives, resonating with enthusiasts and collectors alike.

"One Nation Underground" Album Description:

In the early 1980s, as heavy metal was rapidly evolving, the isolated shores of Hawaii saw the emergence of a band that would make its mark on the burgeoning speed metal scene. Hawaii, led by the fiery guitar duo of Marty Friedman and Jeff Graves, released their debut album "One Nation Underground" in 1983 on Shrapnel Records. This album would become a landmark in raw, unbridled speed metal.

Historical Context: Speed Metal Ascendant

"One Nation Underground" debuted during a pivotal time in heavy metal. Bands like Metallica, Slayer, and Anthrax were redefining the genre's limits with their rapid-fire riffs, blistering tempos, and aggressive vocals. Hawaii fit right into this movement, showcasing their own brand of unrelenting power and technical ability. The album reflected the era's raw energy and DIY spirit as new subgenres of metal were constantly emerging.

Musical Exploration: Beyond the Basics

While speed was undeniably their forte, Hawaii weren't limited to just breakneck tempos. "One Nation Underground" demonstrated a band willing to take risks and explore different moods. Tracks like "The Pit and the Pendulum" (inspired by the classic Edgar Allan Poe tale) featured slower, haunting passages in between the speed-driven onslaughts. "Overture Volcania" offered an instrumental showcase of the band's instrumental prowess. These moments of experimentation hinted at the progressive elements the band would further incorporate into their later releases.

Controversies: Challenging Boundaries

Like many of their contemporaries, Hawaii's lyrics occasionally pushed boundaries. Themes of rebellion, anarchy, and the occult ran through the album. While such themes were common in heavy metal, some critics found them distasteful or dangerous. However, this rebellious edge added to the raw, almost primal energy captured on "One Nation Underground".

Production Team and Frontman

The band served as producers on the album, ensuring it reflected their own unfiltered vision. This commitment to DIY production resulted in a sound that was unpolished but authentic to their live approach. Gary St. Pierre's high-pitched, forceful vocals further reinforced the band's uncompromising attitude. However, it was undoubtedly the guitar duo of Friedman and Graves that stole the show, with their virtuosic shredding and electrifying interplay

Music Genre:

Speed Metal 

Album Production Information:

The album: "HAWAII - One Nation Underground Shrapnel" was produced by: Hawaii and Pierre Grill

Pierre Grill - Producer, Sound Engineer - during the 1980s Pierre Grill has produced and engineered music albums for several Heavy Metal bands from Honolulu, Hawaii, these bands include: Hawaii, Liquid Mirror, Sacred Rite, Vixen.


This album was recorded March-May 1983 at: Rendez-Vous Recording, Honolulu, Hawaii
Varney Metal Music

Airic Brummit - Cover Art

Bret H. Linford - Design

Tracy Mell - Photography

Record Label & Catalognr:

Shrapnel 1009

Record Format:

12" Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record

Total Album (Cover+Record) Weight: 230 gram

Year & Country:

1983 Made in USA
Personnel/Band Members and Musicians on: HAWAII - One Nation Underground Shrapnel
    Band-members, Musicians and Performers
  • Marty Friedman - guitars, backing vocals
    Marty Friedman is a genre-blending guitar virtuoso best known for his time with Megadeth , where his melodic, exotic solos helped define albums like Rust in Peace. Born in 1962, he later moved to Japan, diving into J-pop, TV, and solo projects. With a career spanning thrash to traditional Japanese music, Friedman’s style is as unpredictable as it is brilliant. Learn more
  • Jeff Graves - drums, backing vocals
  • Gary St. Pierre - Bass guitar, lead vocals
Complete Track-listing of the album "HAWAII - One Nation Underground Shrapnel"

The detailed tracklist of this record "HAWAII - One Nation Underground Shrapnel" is:

Track listing:

  1. Living In Sin – 3:15
  2. Silent Nightmare – 3:01
  3. One Nation Underground – 4:03
  4. You're Gonna Burn – 4:05
  5. Escape The Night – 3:49
  6. Nitro Power – 4:26
  7. The Pit And The Pendulum – 3:07
  8. Secret Of The Stars – 4:38
  9. Overture Volcania – 3:42

HAWAII - One Nation Underground Shrapnel 12" LP ALBUM VINYL High Resolution & Quality Photos

Front Cover Photo Of HAWAII - One Nation Underground Shrapnel 12" LP ALBUM VINYL
Explosive illustrated front cover of HAWAII - One Nation Underground LP showing an erupting volcano with yellow-orange lava, black smoke, bursting fireballs, a van destroyed in lava, and human figures in panic.

Front cover artwork of the album "One Nation Underground" by HAWAII features a dramatic, hand-painted illustration of a volcanic eruption in full force. The volcano dominates the center of the image, rendered in dark brown and black with jagged contours. Fiery lava bursts violently from the crater, spilling in glowing orange-red streams down its slopes.

Bright yellow flames and thick smoke clouds surge into the sky, mingling with dark storm clouds that fill the upper right. Fireballs and chunks of volcanic rock shoot outward, scattering across the blue and blackened sky. Several impact explosions light up the background as more molten flows pour across the rugged landscape.

At the bottom right, a white van is shown being engulfed by the lava, already consumed in part by the fire. Just above, a tiny figure of a person is seen fleeing with arms raised in panic, emphasizing the destructive scale of the eruption. In the distance, more tiny silhouettes of figures appear to run or stand in awe.

The band's name, HAWAII, is emblazoned across the top in blocky, red-and-white stylized letters bordered in black, seemingly cracking with the same energy as the erupting scene below. The image captures chaos, danger, and raw natural power—perfectly matching the explosive energy of the band's speed metal sound.

Photo Of The Back Cover HAWAII - One Nation Underground Shrapnel 12" LP ALBUM VINYL
Back cover of HAWAII - One Nation Underground LP showing band photos, track list, credits, and dramatic volcano-themed background art with clouds of ash and fire.

Back cover of the "One Nation Underground" 12" vinyl LP by HAWAII features a volcanic eruption scene similar to the front, with black mountain silhouettes framing a glowing sky of blue and fiery orange. At the top are three rectangular live-action performance photos of the band members:

Gary St. Pierre (lead vocals, bass) appears left, mid-performance in a sleeveless black shirt and white pants, singing passionately into the microphone. Jeff Graves (drums, vocals) is centered, captured in a moment of intensity behind his drum kit. Marty Friedman (guitar, vocals) is on the right, caught mid-stride with his iconic wild red hair, lit dramatically on stage as he plays a solo.

Below the photos, printed in stylized white text over the illustrated mountainous terrain, is a mythic-sounding quote evoking imagery of volcanic fire, molten rock, and the birth of the album’s concept. The album title One Nation Underground is centered and bold.

The left side lists all nine tracks split into Side 1 and Side 2. To the right, detailed credits are printed in white: produced by Hawaii and Pierre Grill, recorded in Honolulu between March–May 1983 at Rendez-Vous Recording. Art credits go to Tracy Mell (live photos), Airic Brummit (illustration), and Bret H. Linford (graphics).

The band expresses thanks to numerous individuals, media outlets, and friends. Text at the bottom includes licensing and label information along with a copyright warning. The back cover combines performance authenticity with visual mythology, grounding the album in both the real and fantastical.

Close up of record's label HAWAII - One Nation Underground Shrapnel 12" LP ALBUM VINYL Side One:
Close-up of HAWAII - One Nation Underground LP Side 1 label on black vinyl with SHRAPNEL logo, tracklist, credits, and catalog number SHRAPNEL 1009. ©1983 Shrapnel Records.

Close-up photo of Side One record label from the 12-inch vinyl LP One Nation Underground by HAWAII, released on Shrapnel Records. The label is printed in silver and white ink on a matte black background.

The upper half features the iconic SHRAPNEL logo—a stylized image of a projectile or missile with the label name embossed in bold, curved letters. The spindle hole cuts through the center of the logo and label text.

On the left, the text reads SIDE 1. On the right, the catalog number is printed: SHRAPNEL 1009. Below the centerline, the album title is displayed in all caps: HAWAII – ONE NATION UNDERGROUND.

The track listing is numbered 1 through 5 with songwriting credits after each title:

  • Living In Sin (Graves, Friedman, St. Pierre)
  • Silent Nightmare (Friedman, Graves, St. Pierre)
  • One Nation Underground (Friedman, Graves, St. Pierre)
  • You're Gonna Burn (St. Pierre, Graves, Friedman)
  • Escape the Night (Friedman, Graves)

At the bottom, it states: “All songs Published by Varney Metal Music Co. BMI” and includes the copyright and phonogram line: ℗ 1983 SHRAPNEL RECORDS.