Post by david company on Feb 14, 2007 15:40:32 GMT 1
www.metalreviews.com
Editorial.
For years and years, I have been assaulted with countless “essential” lists of what thrash albums and songs should be in everyone’s collection from magazines, online e-zines, or just personal opinions by those who know a thing or two about thrash. Now, I don’t claim to be the all knowing lord of all things thrash, but I do consider myself “in the know” about what is good and what is bad, so let me lay out a couple of problems I have with this seemingly endless procession of what everyone in the metal community considers to be mandatory thrash:
1) Speed metal is NOT THRASH! If a person initiating a best of examination can’t tell the difference between the two, then they have no business publishing a list for the masses.
2)Machine Head and The Haunted should NOT be considered worthy of an essential thrash list, as their relevance in the thrash community is meager at best. Yes, there are members of both bands that have histories in the thrash scene, but thrash is thrash, and neither of these bands qualify as real thrash no matter what the quality of their music may or may not be. These are just two examples that modern bands that are given the title thrash gods, and I don’t like it.
3)It is easier in a best of article to examine individual songs as opposed to entire albums, because often times a full album is either not an amazing album all the way through, or it does not contain all thrash (often being doused with too much punk, death metal, traditional metal, etc)
An essential thrash list should be just that…thrash! Yes, thrash can often times be ambiguous with all the different influences that the genre derives its sound from, but there is still enough quality identifiable thrash out there, that a best of list can easily be made. So, with that said, I have taken it upon myself to try and come up with a complete list of fantastic thrash songs that should give metalheads of MetalReviews the chance to check out some songs/albums/bands that they may not have been exposed to otherwise, or perhaps to the seasoned thrasher that has missed a little something from their collection.
I am hoping this list incites discussion, as thrash is still a lost artform despite the recent surge in a modern classic sound. Happy reading (and listening)!
(NOTE: I was originally intending on putting these in a ranked order, but after concluding it was next to impossible to rank a bunch of amazing material, I just settled on creating a top 25 list in no particular order.)
1. Slayer – Angel of Death (Reign In Blood: 1986)
2. Metallica – Jump in the Fire (Kill’Em All: 1983)
3. Mortal Sin – Lebanon (Mayhemic Destruction: 1987)
4. Demolition Hammer – Epidemic of Violence (Epidemic of Violence: 1989)
5. Heathen – Hypnotized (Victims of Deception: 1991)
6. Artillery - By Inheritance (By Inheritance: 1988)
7. Megadeth - Holy Wars…The Punishment Due (Rust in Peace: 1990)
8. Sepultura - Mass Hypnosis (Beneath the Remains: 1989)
9. Kreator - Love Us Or Hate Us (Extreme Aggression: 1989)
10. Overkill - Elimination (Years of Decay: 1989)
11. Exodus - Brain Dead (Pleasures of the Flesh: 1987)
12. Tankard - Chemical Invasion (Chemical Invasion:
13. Destruction - Dictators of Cruelty (The Antichrist: 2001)
14. Anthrax - Caught In A Mosh(Among the Living: 1987)
15. Death Angel - Mistress of Death (The Ultra-Violence: 1987)
16. Testament - Burnt Offerings (The Legacy: 1987)
17. Sabbat – For Those Who Died (A History of Time to Come: 1988)
18. Shah - Total Devastation (Beware: 1989)
19. Annihilator - Insomniac (Carnival Diablos: 2001)
20. Mandator - Perfect Progeny (Perfect Progeny: 1989)
21. Sodom - The Saw Is the Law (Better Off Dead: 1990
22. Vio-lence - Officer Nice (Oppressing the Masses - 1990)
23. Laaz Rockit - Mob Justice (Annilation Principal - 1989)
24. Forbidden - Twisted Into Form (Twisted Into Form: 1990)
25. Flotsam and Jetsam - Hard On You (No Place For Disgrace: 1988)
Well, there you have it! That is my list. I am sure I missed some amazing acts, but unfortunately I couldn’t hit them all. There are several bands I haven’t had the fortune of really delving into yet (i.e. Sadus, Mekong Delta, etc), so hopefully this has helped out some folks. Have a good week everyone!
Jose, espero ansioso tus comentarios...
Editorial.
For years and years, I have been assaulted with countless “essential” lists of what thrash albums and songs should be in everyone’s collection from magazines, online e-zines, or just personal opinions by those who know a thing or two about thrash. Now, I don’t claim to be the all knowing lord of all things thrash, but I do consider myself “in the know” about what is good and what is bad, so let me lay out a couple of problems I have with this seemingly endless procession of what everyone in the metal community considers to be mandatory thrash:
1) Speed metal is NOT THRASH! If a person initiating a best of examination can’t tell the difference between the two, then they have no business publishing a list for the masses.
2)Machine Head and The Haunted should NOT be considered worthy of an essential thrash list, as their relevance in the thrash community is meager at best. Yes, there are members of both bands that have histories in the thrash scene, but thrash is thrash, and neither of these bands qualify as real thrash no matter what the quality of their music may or may not be. These are just two examples that modern bands that are given the title thrash gods, and I don’t like it.
3)It is easier in a best of article to examine individual songs as opposed to entire albums, because often times a full album is either not an amazing album all the way through, or it does not contain all thrash (often being doused with too much punk, death metal, traditional metal, etc)
An essential thrash list should be just that…thrash! Yes, thrash can often times be ambiguous with all the different influences that the genre derives its sound from, but there is still enough quality identifiable thrash out there, that a best of list can easily be made. So, with that said, I have taken it upon myself to try and come up with a complete list of fantastic thrash songs that should give metalheads of MetalReviews the chance to check out some songs/albums/bands that they may not have been exposed to otherwise, or perhaps to the seasoned thrasher that has missed a little something from their collection.
I am hoping this list incites discussion, as thrash is still a lost artform despite the recent surge in a modern classic sound. Happy reading (and listening)!
(NOTE: I was originally intending on putting these in a ranked order, but after concluding it was next to impossible to rank a bunch of amazing material, I just settled on creating a top 25 list in no particular order.)
1. Slayer – Angel of Death (Reign In Blood: 1986)
2. Metallica – Jump in the Fire (Kill’Em All: 1983)
3. Mortal Sin – Lebanon (Mayhemic Destruction: 1987)
4. Demolition Hammer – Epidemic of Violence (Epidemic of Violence: 1989)
5. Heathen – Hypnotized (Victims of Deception: 1991)
6. Artillery - By Inheritance (By Inheritance: 1988)
7. Megadeth - Holy Wars…The Punishment Due (Rust in Peace: 1990)
8. Sepultura - Mass Hypnosis (Beneath the Remains: 1989)
9. Kreator - Love Us Or Hate Us (Extreme Aggression: 1989)
10. Overkill - Elimination (Years of Decay: 1989)
11. Exodus - Brain Dead (Pleasures of the Flesh: 1987)
12. Tankard - Chemical Invasion (Chemical Invasion:
13. Destruction - Dictators of Cruelty (The Antichrist: 2001)
14. Anthrax - Caught In A Mosh(Among the Living: 1987)
15. Death Angel - Mistress of Death (The Ultra-Violence: 1987)
16. Testament - Burnt Offerings (The Legacy: 1987)
17. Sabbat – For Those Who Died (A History of Time to Come: 1988)
18. Shah - Total Devastation (Beware: 1989)
19. Annihilator - Insomniac (Carnival Diablos: 2001)
20. Mandator - Perfect Progeny (Perfect Progeny: 1989)
21. Sodom - The Saw Is the Law (Better Off Dead: 1990
22. Vio-lence - Officer Nice (Oppressing the Masses - 1990)
23. Laaz Rockit - Mob Justice (Annilation Principal - 1989)
24. Forbidden - Twisted Into Form (Twisted Into Form: 1990)
25. Flotsam and Jetsam - Hard On You (No Place For Disgrace: 1988)
Well, there you have it! That is my list. I am sure I missed some amazing acts, but unfortunately I couldn’t hit them all. There are several bands I haven’t had the fortune of really delving into yet (i.e. Sadus, Mekong Delta, etc), so hopefully this has helped out some folks. Have a good week everyone!
Jose, espero ansioso tus comentarios...
