Heavy Metal band ONWARD had came to prominence with the media attention focussed on the super speed shredding abilities of guitarist TOBY KNAPP. The Montana raised Knapp had previously issued a solo album 'Guitar Distortion', produced by TONY FREDIANELLI and featuring 9.0 and DAVID LEE ROTH band drummer Ray Luzier, for the Shrapnel label. Fredianelli, formerly of APOCRYPHA contributed two guest solos on the album as well. Prior to forging ONWARD had even been inducted into the realms of Black Metal with his outfit DARKEN.

Knapp would form an alliance with bass player Randy LaFrance and drummer Jon Pereau, both members of covers act BIG TROUBLE, to create ONWARD and initial demos would spark the interest of Sentinel Steel Records owner Dennis Gulbey who, in turn, suggested singer Mike Grant.

Grant had credits already with MORPHEUS, OCEAN SEVEN, OBSCURE, COLD OCTOBER and briefly held down a tenure with NEW EDEN. The vocalist had also cut an album for Gulbey with Colombian Metal band LEGEND MAKER 'A Path To Glory'. Now an up to strength quartet ONWARD would record their inaugural outing 'Evermoving'. Originally slated as a Sentinel Steel release the finished product impressed Germany's Century Media label enough to sign the act. Touring would find ONWARD putting in shows at the Lansburg, Illinois 'ProgPower' festival, the Kalamazoo 'Classic Rock' festival and the Los Angeles 'November To Dismember' event.

The bands second album 'Reawaken' included a cover version of 'Clockwork Toy' by LOUDNESS. The first pressing of the album provided a huge bonus to fans as it included an extra free CD compilation 'Prepare For Battle' comprising of Power Metal acts of such repute as JAG PANZER, BLIND GUARDIAN, ICED EARTH, NEVERMORE and ANGEL DUST. The band would also donate their versions of URIAH HEEP's 'Bird Of Prey' and SAVATAGE's 'Strange Wings' to tribute albums.

Latterly Chris Payette supplanted LaFrance's position. ONWARD would be announced as support act for REVEREND's August 2002 West Coast tour of America. In a surprise move ONWARD, all set to enter the studio in the Summer of 2003 to record a projected album billed as 'The NeverEnding Sun', announced they were to disband. Demo recordings for the intended third album were made available to fans as a farewell release. Singer Michael Grant immediately revealed plans for a new venture CRESCENT SHIELD, involving DESTINY'S END guitarist Dan Delucie, the SINERGY, IRON MAIDENS and NEW EDEN credited Melanie Sisneros on bass and ENGINE drummer Craig Anderson. Working with vocalist Rob Murphy founding member Randy LaFrance created EXPLODER, releasing demos in September.

TOBY KNAPP launched a 'Black Metal' project in 2004. At first announced with the title of UNIT 100 this was later changed to WAXEN. Knapp also issued a further solo album, 'Polarizing Lines', in 2005.