Metal Mondays: My Top 5 Thrash Bands

At this point in time, thrash is a historic and revered metal genre, in which many innovations were made, from which many legends were born.  Many contentious opinions have collided in the effort to determine the greatest thrash bands.  Here is my say in the debate.

Image from: http://www.overdrive.ie/?p=2625

 

5. Megadeth

The brainchild of guitar god Dave Mustaine, Megadeth should make every best of thrash list.  With adept technical ability and creative riffing, Mustaine spearheaded a band with an ever-evolving but always grandiose sound.  In addition, his lyricism conveyed biting political commentary with a punk edge and humorous cynicism that will always remain relevant.

 

Image from: http://oth12.free.fr/index_concerts.htm

 

4. Coroner

Hailing from Zurich, Switzerland, Coroner was a relentless thrash group that brought a new dimension to the Teutonic Thrash movement.  They delivered a highly technical and progressive brand of metal that many consider a return to classical composition.  Not only that, but they sprinted along at a breakneck pace.  These guys are really worth checking out if you haven't listened to them before.

 

Image from: www.metal-rules.com

 

3. Slayer

Everyone likes Slayer.  They are the funnest, most energetic thrash group.  They're the thrash group you want to hang out with on the weekend while getting into drunken shenanigans.  Fast and loose, Slayer assaults the eardrums without remorse, spewing diabolic rhythms, throbbing perscussion, and spastic solos.  Furthermore, Slayer is a well-greased riff engine that manufactures catchy hook after catchy hook.  Certainly one of the best.

 

 

 Image from: http://sepultura-bg.blogspot.com/

2. Sepultura

Sepultura: The bad boys from Brazil.  These guys produced perhaps the meanest, heaviest incarnation of thrash with their dense, sludgy guitars, intimidating riffs, and pounding drums.  Lead man Max Cavalera sealed the deal with his gruff, punk-tinged vocal delivery.  Also, their lead guitar work, though not as emphasized as that of other thrash greats, was always colorful and evocative.  Adding jungle elements and atmosphere to their sound, they brought a new flavor to thrash.

 

Image from: http://www.sonicexcess.com/metallica_photos3.html

 

1. Metallica

Say what you will; Metallica is king.  I'm tired of hearing complaints about Metallica's sound changing for the worse after the '80s.  The fact of the matter is that all the other groups on this list, and many thrash bands of the '80s in general, either deviated from thrash eventually, broke up, or just plain got bad.  So give Metallica some slack because their first four albums are gods.  Metallica crafted easily the most complex compositions, the most intricate arrangements.  Their sound was invigorating yet thoroughly clean and precise.  They also created some of the most majestic solos and instrumental passages.  They could be slow and dramatic as well as whirlwind fast.  This range and ability earns them the number one spot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Metal Mondays: My Top 5 Thrash Album Covers

Thrash will always have a special place in my heart because it was the first kind of metal I was exposed to (when I was too young to really know what metal was).  I have always loved the cover art of thrash albums, and the art has often played an important role in my decision to purchase an album.  I am especially fond of the covers from the '80s and early '90s; I can't get enough of their cynical political imagery and sardonic wit.  Here are my top 5.  No need for a lot of text here, just enjoy the images:

Image from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Megadeth_-_Peace_Sells..._But_Who%27s_Buying-.jpg

5. Peace Sells...But Who's Buying? by Megadeth

Image from: http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/persecution%20mania?language=pl_PL

 

4. Persecution Mania by Sodom

 

Image from: http://www.last.fm/music/Metallica/...+And+Justice+For+All

 

3. ...And Justice For All by Metallica

Image from: http://www.metal-archives.com/reviews/Toxik/World_Circus/3758/

 

2. World Circus by Toxik

 

Image from: http://www.metal-archives.com/reviews/Sacred_Reich/The_American_Way/534/

1. The American Way by Sacred Reich

 

 

Album Review: Skull (Evile)

Image from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Evile-Skull_abum_cover.jpg 

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For a while I’ve been hearing rumors that thrash is back.  I’ve caught wind of murmurs echoing from metal strongholds across the Internet, claiming that the decline of the ‘90s was merely a speed bump.  Looking into these allegations, I’ve found them to be nothing but true, and English thrash outfit Evile stands among the vanguard of this reinvigoration.  Evile’s latest release, Skull (Century Media/Earache Records), presents the listener with a hearty nod to thrash tradition, complete with relentlessly aggressive riffs, clean-plucked intros and interludes, and a healthy dose of harmonized lead guitar work.

            As a thrash album that borrows extensively from the sound of the original wave, Skull must stand trial by its pioneering predecessors.  While it doesn’t contain much that sets it apart, opting to replicate rather than innovate, it does compare well alongside the greats of the ‘80s and early ‘90s.  For one, Skull skillfully combines the chaotic sprint of early Slayer albums with the tight precision found in Metallica’s original thrash efforts.  The influence of these two groups doesn’t stop there.  Evile’s vocals bear a sound similar to that of James Hetfield with a delivery that at times resembles that of Tom Araya.  The album even begins with foreboding crypt noises; reminiscent of the intro to Exumer’s Possessed by Fire.  Though these ‘80s innovators have already secured their place in thrash legend, Evile’s Skull carves out its own right to a mention in thrash history with its deft musicianship.  Like a good thrash album should, this recording pulses with complex and dynamic riff sequences.  Lightning fast rhythms fire off like machine gun rounds and then change tempo to deliver slower, crunching blows.  Paying due reverence to the breadth of thrash styles, Skull shifts from clear, meticulous riff-work to messy, cymbal-crashing fury as the album storms on. 

Overall, Evile’s Skull is an adrenaline-filled release.  Lively drum work coerces the listener to bob his or her head to its bouncing trots and later knocks his or her skull with thumping bass pedal beats.  In addition, energetic, mosh-worthy riffage gyrates throughout the album, invigorating the listener.  Furthermore, many of the album’s rhythms channel the danceable groove that Sepultura displayed even in their early thrash releases.  The album also demonstrates a mastery of building and releasing tension.  Every time I was tempted to think that a track was falling flat, in came a change of tempo, a cranium crushing riff, or a tone-altering breakdown that kept me interested and sucked me back into the fray.  From the outset of the recording, Evile controls and commands the listener’s musical experience.  The only shortcoming that I could sense was the soloing.  For me, the guitar solos were certainly emotive, but not breathtaking in terms of technicality.  However, I can see how one could make an argument in the other direction, especially on “Words of the Dead,” so I’m not going to hold this impression too heavily against the album.

I thought the core of the album shined.  The fourth track, “Head of the Demon,” starts out energetic and enticing and then proceeds to hit the listener with dark chord progressions that cascade into thudding palm-muted chops.  The fifth track, “Tomb,” begins with poignantly plucked melodies, woven with increasing intricacy, and then builds into an ascending thrash charge.  At 7 minutes and 26 seconds, it serves as a strong, epic centerpiece and will certainly please fans of Metallica’s “Fade to Black” and “One.”

In the end, I would sum up this album as a brilliantly executed trip down a path that has been tread many times before.  However, this path has become overgrown over the years and could use a good bushwhacking.  In light of the ‘90s decline, as a thrash fan, I wholeheartedly welcome this return to the old-school sound.  It’s a very, VERY good return.

For this album, I’m going to give a qualified scoring.

If you’re a thrash fan raised on the ‘80s sound, you’ll love the album:

Score: 9/10

But if you’re not particularly into thrash and are just looking for new developments in metal, there’s not much here that hasn’t been done before:

Score: 7/10