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Thrash metal collage created by Hirax fans

Thrash metal (or simply thrash) is the most aggressive and strong subgenre of heavy metal that is specifically characterized by its the very heaviest rhythms similar to extreme metal, NWOBHM, biker metal, speed metal, and hardcore punk in aggressiveness and forcefulness that one who is very characterised by fast tempos, high speed riffing and aggression. All thrash metal songs typically use fast, percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work. Thrash song lyrics express nihilistic views or deal with social issues using visceral, gory language, an approach which partially overlaps with the very brutal music.

The so-called thrash metal emerged in the early 1980s from speed metal, and under the influence of the new wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM), also incorporating the aggression and energy of what was known as hardcore punk with cigars. incorporated elements of biker metal and extreme metal into the American scene. The movement began in the United States, especially in the San Francisco Bay area, in what became known, later, as Bay Area thrash metal. The sound that "thrash" groups developed was faster and more aggressive, increasing the distortion of electric guitars and using the scratching technique ('scraping', with the pick).

The "Big Four" of thrash were Anthrax, Megadeth, Metallica and Slayer. These were the bands that enjoyed the most commercial success.

1986 is considered the "year of thrash" as it containted several seminal releases from various bands, which broke through into the mainstream.


Globally, there were several main types of thrash:

  • Bay Area thrash (US West Coast)

The most progressive and technical of the five thrash scenes, the leaders here were Metallica, Megadeth, Testament and Exodus.

  • East coast thrash (US)

​More punk influenced than the West Coast bands, these bands put more emphasis on speed and agression than technicality. The leading bands were Anthrax, Overkill, Nuclear Assault and Whiplash.

  • Brazilian thrash ​

Brazilian thrash brought in more guttural vocals and more death metal-like riffs. The most famed bands were Sepultura, Executer, Korzus, MX and Violator.

  • Teutonic thrash

​This scene in Germany had it's own "Big Four"- the "Big/Teutonic Three", comprised of Kreator, Sodom and Destruction. The sound was rawer and more agressive, and in some band's case, e.g. Sodom, much darker. Other leading bands were female fronted Holy Moses and beer obsessed Tankard.

  • British thrash

​Britain didn't make much of an impact in the thrash boom of the 80s, but there were some critically acclaimed bands like Sabbat and Onslaught who rose to the top.


Other notable bands are:

  • The "prog-thrash" band Voivod from Canada
  • Sadus from the US- who pioneered fretless basswork in metal
  • Forbidden, a very agressive thrash band from the US
  • Toxix, an East coast band who were incredibly technical and precise in their riffage
  • Coroner, a Swiss band who were, again, very technical
  • Annihilator, an almost one man band from Canada
  • Dark Angel, an influential underground band from the US


This is a list of albums generally considered "classic" thrash albums:

Anthrax- Among the Living (1987)

Destruction- Eternal Devastation (1986)

Exodus- Bonded By Blood (1986)

Kreator- Pleasure to Kill (1986)

Megadeth- Peace Sells... But Who's Buying? (1986)

Megadeth- Rust In Peace (1990)

Metallica- Master of Puppets (1986)

Overkill- Horrorscope (1991)

Sepultura- Beneath the Remains (1989)

Slayer- Reign In Blood (1986)

Sodom- Agent Orange (1989)

Testament- The Legacy (1987)

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