Jump to content

Top 10 Thrash Albums


dennis1077

Recommended Posts

Any thrash scene apart from the Bay Area basically consisted of followers.

Hell, even Anthrax and Overkill were not playing thrash up until Metallica drove to the east coast to crash at the Old Bridge Militia while recording "Kill 'em All" under Jon Zazula's supervision!

The UK scene was no exception and, moreover, it took them more time to learn how to follow. As I mentioned elsewhere, Onslaught's first record, "Power From Hell", was frustratingly primitive (and I absolutely L.O.V.E. that record). England might have spawned the biggest influencers (Motorhead, Venom, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Diamond Head, Saxon, Savage, Jaguar, Blitzkrieg, you name them!), but thrash really is technological genre. Without certain technical innovations that Metallica and Exodus came up with, you are not playing thrash, you are playing speed metal. Even Slayer were playing Def Leppard songs before hearing Metallica (no joke, they had "WASTED" in their setlist).

So, I do believe UK bands like the above mentioned deserve more praise than what they got.. FROM THRASH AFICIONADOS like us! But it makes complete sense to me that the casual listener (the one that doesn't have hundreds of records at home) sticks to the big 4 instead!

 

Now some funny trivia... Did you guys know that hair band NIGHT RANGER hailed from Frisco (so I'd call them a Bay Area band) and featured a proto thrash riff in their first album (1982)? Check it out, it starts at 2.20. Unfortunately there is no crunchy overdrive, but the picking is STRAIGHT THRASH! Call me crazy.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Any thrash scene apart from the Bay Area basically consisted of followers.

Hell, even Anthrax and Overkill were not playing thrash up until Metallica drove to the east coast to crash at the Old Bridge Militia while recording "Kill 'em All" under Jon Zazula's supervision!

The UK scene was no exception and, moreover, it took them more time to learn how to follow. As I mentioned elsewhere, Onslaught's first record, "Power From Hell", was frustratingly primitive (and I absolutely L.O.V.E. that record). England might have spawned the biggest influencers (Motorhead, Venom, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Diamond Head, Saxon, Savage, Jaguar, Blitzkrieg, you name them!), but thrash really is technological genre. Without certain technical innovations that Metallica and Exodus came up with, you are not playing thrash, you are playing speed metal. Even Slayer were playing Def Leppard songs before hearing Metallica (no joke, they had "WASTED" in their setlist).

So, I do believe UK bands like the above mentioned deserve more praise than what they got.. FROM THRASH AFICIONADOS like us! But it makes complete sense to me that the casual listener (the one that doesn't have hundreds of records at home) sticks to the big 4 instead!

 

Now some funny trivia... Did you guys know that hair band NIGHT RANGER hailed from Frisco (so I'd call them a Bay Area band) and featured a proto thrash riff in their first album (1982)? Check it out, it starts at 2.20. Unfortunately there is no crunchy overdrive, but the picking is STRAIGHT THRASH! Call me crazy.

 

 

 

Night Ranger have a new song out too....

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Link to comment
Share on other sites

18 hours ago, RelentlessOblivion said:

Hmm maybe but now I just feel dirty having listened to that. Back to my obscure Aussie grindcore I go...

Ahahah I'm sorry for that... I hope that grindcore stuff purified your heart and soul!

But Night Ranger have some heavy metal credibility! Hell, Brad Gillis filled in for Randy Rhoads between Bernie Torme and Jake E Lee! I love his playing on "Speak of the Devil" ("Talk of the Devil" depending on which side of the Atlantic you live in).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 year later...

Demolition Hammer - Epidemic Of Violence

Sepultura - Arise

Metallica - Ride the Lightning

Overkill - The Years of Decay

Exodus - Bonded by Blood

Slayer - Hell Awaits

Kreator - Pleasure to Kill

Annihilator - Alice in Hell

 

That's a decent list, but by my count, you're a couple of albums shy.

Sent from my HTCD160LVW using Tapatalk

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Demolition Hammer - Epidemic Of Violence

Sepultura - Arise

Metallica - Ride the Lightning

Overkill - The Years of Decay

Exodus - Bonded by Blood

Slayer - Hell Awaits

Kreator - Pleasure to Kill

Annihilator - Alice in Hell

 




Nice list. Never Neverland my fave Annihilator but no issues with Alice...WTYD being one of their greatest songs.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Exciter - Heavy Metal Maniac (One of the first and very best thrash albums)
Megadeth - Killing is my Business (Tho the production quality is poor it serves the thrash sound well in a way)
Anthrax - Spreading the Disease
Testament - Practice What You Preach
Power Trip - Nightmare Logic
Death Angel - The Ultra-Violence
Forbidden - Twisted Into Form
F.K.Ü - 4: Rise of the Mosh Mongers
Toxic Holocaust - Chemistry of Conciousness
SSS - Problems to the Answear
 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Exciter - Heavy Metal Maniac (One of the first and very best thrash albums)
Megadeth - Killing is my Business (Tho the production quality is poor it serves the thrash sound well in a way)
Anthrax - Spreading the Disease
Testament - Practice What You Preach
Power Trip - Nightmare Logic
Death Angel - The Ultra-Violence
Forbidden - Twisted Into Form
F.K.Ü - 4: Rise of the Mosh Mongers
Toxic Holocaust - Chemistry of Conciousness
SSS - Problems to the Answear
 
Exciter isn't thrash metal...

Sent from my HTCD160LVW using Tapatalk

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Slayer - Seasons in the Abyss
Sepultura - Arise
Hatesphere - The Sickness Withinn
Megadeth - Rust in Peace
Testament - The Lagacy
Exodus - Tempo of the Damned
Sodom - Persecution Mania or Agent Orange (cant decide)
Metallica - Master of Puppets
Demolition Mammer - Tortured Existence
Overkill - The Years of Decay
react_hornsup.png
 
You've got some good ones in there. I don't think I would put Tempo of the Damned above Fabulous Disaster or Bonded By Blood, but it is a pretty great comeback album.

Sent from my HTCD160LVW using Tapatalk

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Coroner - No More Color

Artillery - By Inheritance

Megadeth - Rust in Peace 

Aspid - Extravasation 

Target - Master Project Genesis

Destruction - Release from Agony 

Holy Terror - Mind Wars

Voivod - Killing Technology

Mekong Delta - Dances of Death (and Other Walking Shadows)

Realm - Endless War

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Coroner - No More Color
Artillery - By Inheritance
Megadeth - Rust in Peace 
Aspid - Extravasation 
Target - Master Project Genesis
Destruction - Release from Agony 
Holy Terror - Mind Wars
Voivod - Killing Technology
Mekong Delta - Dances of Death (and Other Walking Shadows)
Realm - Endless War
 
Win.

Sent from my HTCD160LVW using Tapatalk

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Coroner - Mental Vortex
Morbid Saint - Spectrum of Death
Dark Angel - Darkness Descends
Slayer - Hell Awaits
Infernäl Mäjesty - None Shall Defy
Sacrifice - Forward to Termination
Demolition Hammer - Tortured Existence
Obliveon - From This Day Forward
Rigor Mortis - S/T
Sadus - Swallowed in Black
More win. I don't think it's any kind of coincidence that Coroner is a commonality among these lists.

Sent from my HTCD160LVW using Tapatalk

Link to comment
Share on other sites

23 hours ago, BlutAusNerd said:

You've got some good ones in there. I don't think I would put Tempo of the Damned above Fabulous Disaster or Bonded By Blood, but it is a pretty great comeback album.

Sent from my HTCD160LVW using Tapatalk
 

Thx Man. Yeah Fabulous Disaster is great. (i never loved Bonded By Blood that much) But Tempo is the greatest Comeback ever!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thx Man. Yeah Fabulous Disaster is great. (i never loved Bonded By Blood that much) But Tempo is the greatest Comeback ever!
As far as thrash goes, it's certainly up there, but other bands like Destruction and Overkill had some excellent returns to thrash as well with albums like All Hell Breaks Loose, The Antichrist, Ironbound, and White Devil Armory. I would probably give the "best comeback ever" honor to Celtic Frost's Monotheist, but that's not thrash.

Sent from my HTCD160LVW using Tapatalk

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 hours ago, BlutAusNerd said:

More win. I don't think it's any kind of coincidence that Coroner is a commonality among these lists.

What's amazing is that I find it hard to pick between No More Color and Mental Vortex. They both present the band at their best in equally demanding yet different varieties of thrash. They're a great band. 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What's amazing is that I find it hard to pick between No More Color and Mental Vortex. They both present the band at their best in equally demanding yet different varieties of thrash. They're a great band. 
 
 
Punishment for Decadence is my top thrash album ever, I favor it over their other works. The band was impressive in that they could constantly evolve an yet sound characteristically only like Coroner could, and each stage in their evolution was brilliant. Even the often dismissed Grin is amazing, probably my second favorite Coroner album.

Sent from my HTCD160LVW using Tapatalk

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, BlutAusNerd said:

Punishment for Decadence is my top thrash album ever, I favor it over their other works. The band was impressive in that they could constantly evolve an yet sound characteristically only like Coroner could, and each stage in their evolution was brilliant. Even the often dismissed Grin is amazing, probably my second favorite Coroner album.

I've always felt that Punishment for Decadence was still a period of growth for them but they still pulled out a great album in the process. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've always felt that Punishment for Decadence was still a period of growth for them but they still pulled out a great album in the process. 
I get that you mean. It's more frantic than No More Color and maybe not quite as confident, but they were reaching out for something unreal, and then they grabbed hold of it and didn't let go. No More Color seems a bit more relaxed by comparison, but it's that manic, almost desperate raging quality to Punishment for Decadence that gives it the top spot for me. It's totally wild, about to careen out of control at any moment, but they manage to keep it contained at just the right moment to let it start going out of control another way.

Sent from my HTCD160LVW using Tapatalk

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


  • Join Metal Forum

    joinus-home.jpg

  • Our picks

    • Whichever tier of thrash metal you consigned Sacred Reich back in the 80's/90's they still had their moments.  "Ignorance" & "Surf Nicaragura" did a great job of establishing the band, whereas "The American Way" just got a little to comfortable and accessible (the title track grates nowadays) for my ears.  A couple more records better left forgotten about and then nothing for twenty three years.  2019 alone has now seen three releases from Phil Rind and co.  A live EP, a split EP with Iron Reagan and now a full length.

      Notable addition to the ranks for the current throng of releases is former Machine Head sticksman, Dave McClean.  Love or hate Machine Head, McClean is a more than capable drummer and his presence here is felt from the off with the opening and title track kicking things off with some real gusto.  'Divide & Conquer' and 'Salvation' muddle along nicely, never quite reaching any quality that would make my balls tingle but comfortable enough.  The looming build to 'Manifest Reality' delivers a real punch when the song starts proper.  Frenzied riffs and drums with shots of lead work to hold the interest.


      There's a problem already though (I know, I am such a fucking mood hoover).  I don't like Phil's vocals.  I never had if I am being honest.  The aggression to them seems a little forced even when they are at their best on tracks like 'Manifest Reality'.  When he tries to sing it just feels weak though ('Salvation') and tracks lose real punch.  Give him a riffy number such as 'Killing Machine' and he is fine with the Reich engine (probably a poor choice of phrase) up in sixth gear.  For every thrashy riff there's a fair share of rock edged, local bar act rhythm aplenty too.

      Let's not poo-poo proceedings though, because overall I actually enjoy "Awakening".  It is stacked full of catchy riffs that are sticky on the old ears.  Whilst not as raw as perhaps the - brilliant - artwork suggests with its black and white, tattoo flash sheet style design it is enjoyable enough.  Yes, 'Death Valley' & 'Something to Believe' have no place here, saved only by Arnett and Radziwill's lead work but 'Revolution' is a fucking 80's thrash heyday throwback to the extent that if you turn the TV on during it you might catch a new episode of Cheers!

      3/5
      • Reputation Points

      • 10 replies
    • I
      • Reputation Points

      • 2 replies
    • https://www.metalforum.com/blogs/entry/52-vltimas-something-wicked-marches-in/
      • Reputation Points

      • 3 replies

    • https://www.metalforum.com/blogs/entry/48-candlemass-the-door-to-doom/
      • Reputation Points

      • 2 replies
    • Full length number 19 from overkill certainly makes a splash in the energy stakes, I mean there's some modern thrash bands that are a good two decades younger than Overkill who can only hope to achieve the levels of spunk that New Jersey's finest produce here.  That in itself is an achievement, for a band of Overkill's stature and reputation to be able to still sound relevant four decades into their career is no mean feat.  Even in the albums weaker moments it never gets redundant and the energy levels remain high.  There's a real sense of a band in a state of some renewed vigour, helped in no small part by the addition of Jason Bittner on drums.  The former Flotsam & Jetsam skinsman is nothing short of superb throughout "The Wings of War" and seems to have squeezed a little extra out of the rest of his peers.

      The album kicks of with a great build to opening track "Last Man Standing" and for the first 4 tracks of the album the Overkill crew stomp, bash and groove their way to a solid level of consistency.  The lead work is of particular note and Blitz sounds as sneery and scathing as ever.  The album is well produced and mixed too with all parts of the thrash machine audible as the five piece hammer away at your skull with the usual blend of chugging riffs and infectious anthems.  


      There are weak moments as mentioned but they are more a victim of how good the strong tracks are.  In it's own right "Distortion" is a solid enough - if not slightly varied a journey from the last offering - but it just doesn't stand up well against a "Bat Shit Crazy" or a "Head of a Pin".  As the album draws to a close you get the increasing impression that the last few tracks are rescued really by some great solos and stomping skin work which is a shame because trimming of a couple of tracks may have made this less obvious. 

      4/5
      • Reputation Points

      • 4 replies
×
×
  • Create New...