With four other full-lengths to their name, Slayer doesn’t have a large catalog of music, but they certainly have an influential one.Īnthrax’s “Spreading the Disease” and “Among the Living” are must-listens in any introductory thrash metal course. That album alone gets them near the top of the tally of the best thrash metal bands of all time, with its 28-minutes of punishing riffs and rhythms. With Slayer, 1986’s “Reign in Blood” leads that body of work. They’re all crucial to the formation of the genre, and they all have a body of work that’s unrivaled. There’s a reason all of these final bands are part of the “Big Four” of thrash. Vocalist Chuck Billy has proven to be an exceptional fit for Testament, as his powerful voice and onstage charisma brings so much to the metal table.Īs we get to the final four spots on this list, it’s difficult to put one band in front of another. The biggest happened when lead vocalist Steve “Zetro” Souza went to Exodus, but they always got back on track. The band has gone through a few lineup changes. But, if one band was chosen to be added to the “Big Four” of Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax, Testament would sure be up there, along with Exodus and Overkill. It’s always difficult to say which band might make up the “Big Five” in thrash. Catch Audio Ink Radio’s interview with Exodus drummer Tom Hunting here. With its super-fast tempos, technical guitar work and convoluted screams, it’s a thrash masterpiece. There’s no denying that 1985’s “Bonded by Blood” is one of the key albums in the thrash metal movement and set an example for countless releases to follow. The band just released their 20th studio album, “Scorched.” Blitz spoke with Audio Ink Radio about the new Overkill album in a recent interview, as well as the thrash movement, saying that it had “no rules.”Įxodus are certainly one of the Bay Area thrash giants. Overkill were a key part of the early, underground thrash scene, and they’re still making music today. New Jersey’s Overkill are one of the most influential bands in the genre, spearheaded by charismatic vocalist Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth and bass player D.D. That’s not to mention that Death Angel were one of the early pioneers in the thrash scene, making them an obvious pick for this list. Those who love technical thrash point to the band’s 1987 release, “The Ultra-Violence,” as a classic,Īs well as subsequent Death Angel albums. Dark Angel are one of the more well-known bands that hailed from that scene, along with many more on this list. The San Francisco Bay Area thrash scene is legendary. It doesn’t hurt that the talented singer and multi-instrumentalist Jeff Waters heads up the group. There’s certainly a place for that in the genre. The Canadian group has a penchant for creating very catchy, hooky thrash metal. However, they don’t often wind up on these lists, so we’re righting that wrong.Īnnihilator are one of the more unique thrash bands on this list, as they bring together progressive melodies and grand-sounding instrumentation. Destruction are incredibly influential in the thrash metal world. It’s also delightful, if you’re a true metalhead who just likes their whiskey straight. This flavor of thrash is pure fire, with little melody and few catchy hooks. Those looking for relentless, angry-sounding thrash metal don’t have to look any further than German’s Destruction. Reach out to us on social media to offer your picks. Therefore, Audio Ink Radio presents its list of the 10 best thrash metal bands of all time. Moreover, many of the pioneering thrash bands are still releasing new music and selling arenas out. Here we are, more than 40 years since the advent of thrash, and it’s still among metal’s most popular subgenres. As it turns out, people liked what they heard. Record labels such as Metal Blade, Roadrunner, Megaforce, Combat and Noise took this underground genre and sprinkled it out to the world. Thrash bands were less about appearance and style (if at all) and more about the music. Thrash metal blossomed in the 1980s, offering an alternative to the glam and hair-metal of the era. It can also be the most thrilling to take in, with its lightning-fast beats, over-the-top shredding and deep, thought-provoking lyrics. Of all the metal sub-genres, thrash is fastest and most aggressive. Here’s Audio Ink Radio’s roll call of the 10 best thrash metal bands of all time Megadeth is one of Audio Ink Radio’s best thrash metal bands of all time – Story by Anne Erickson, photo by Travis Shinn
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |