in the late 1980s, the canadian recording industry continued to produce popular acts such as blue rodeo. alternative rock also emerged as an influential genre, with independent artists such as the tragically hip, 54-40, sarah mclachlan, spirit of the west, the waltons, cowboy junkies, the pursuit of happiness, and the grapes of wrath all gaining their first widespread attention during this time. also a new wave of canadian thrash metal bands began to rise up and earned a dedicated following like anvil, razor, voivod, sacrifice, sword, exciter and annihilator, canadian metal's biggest selling artist, with sales of close to 2 million units worldwide, with industrial bands skinny puppy and front line assembly in the mix, as well as black/death metal band blasphemy.