Copyright (c) 2007 THE THRASH METAL GUIDE
0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A.M.Q.A. (USA)
Punk-ish thrash/crossover, more on the melodic side. There are two bass players in the band, and this can be very clearly felt; there is a very heavy bass bottom on every track, and yet the music is catchy and melodic.
Cats are Neat EP, 1986 My Space A.N.I.M.A.L. (ARGENTINA)
Based on "El Nuevo Camino Del Hombre": groovy post-thrash, but lacking any energy and speed, mostly mid-paced, often moving towards slower, balladic fields, one-dimensional and ultimately boring. There is one awful attempt at funk (or rap, or jazz?) at the end: "Chalito".
A.N.I.M.A.L. Full-length, 1993 My Space A.O.D. (FINLAND)
Based on the 2-song demo "Painful Awakening", this obscure band play cool heavy thrash sounding like early Testament. Both songs could well stay on "The New Order" with their crushing, semi-technical riffs and nice Alex Skolnick-like guitar work.
Demo 1988 Demo, 1988 A.R.G. (FINLAND)
A great Finnish thrash metal band who perfectly combine aggression and technicality. Their debut is rawer, but very effective, quite intense and speedy, with some great riffs and ambitious long, complex tracks ("Heathenism in Penitentuary"). The overall style is similar to late 80's Kreator and Destruction. The sophomore album is pretty much in the same vein, but is more technical and polished with another monstrous, 12-min multi-layered thrash opus near the end: the title track "One World Without The End", and some really impressive excercises at more complex, technical song-writing: "Adoration of the Kings", the smashing speedy riff-fest "Misfortune Along My Side", or the crushing galloping "Back To Life". This uncompromising thrash assault still finds room for one brilliant fast-paced melodic crossover piece "Hey Hey My My".
Entrance Full-Length, 1989 Official Site A LOWER DEEP (USA)
An excellent mixture of thrash, progressive and doom metal with a heavy, thick sound and a small doze of modern groove; will appeal to fans of Nevermore, Memento Mori, the last Hexenhaus album and even Iced Earth. "Parable of the Thorn" is the band's least thrashy effort; it's still quite good, with a bigger concentration on the progressive/power side of the music; the more intense thrashy sections (quite a few of them here) are modern sounding, and not really engaging.
A Lower Deep Full-length, 2002 Official Site My Space AAMONHAMMER (BRAZIL)
Brutal black/thrash metal, not too dissimilar from others from the Brazilian metal scene at the same time: Vulcano, Sextrash, Sarcofago, etc., with a pinch of early Sodom and Hellhammer.
Funeral Demo, 1987 AARDVARKS (GERMANY)
Based on "Conglomerate", this band offer an interesting blend of thrash and gothic/death which brings a thrashy Crematory to mind. The songs are heavy, slow to mid-tempo. Before you, thrash metal maniacs, give up tracking this band down, I would like to add that there are some nice fast thrashers, too- "Grey" is a good example for that. The band's interesting mixture will appeal to gothic, death and thrash metal fans.
Profondo Rosso, Full-length, 1999 Official Site My Space ABACINATE (HOLLAND)
Classy aggressive thrash similar to Sepultura's "Beneath the Remains" and Devastation's "Idolatry"; too bad these guys disappeared soon after that. These are actually the same musicians who were behind another great underground act: Brain Implosion. This is very fast-paced intense music, with no single pause for a break, which never goes over the line into death metal territory, providing 7 tracks of great headbanging thrash.
Out of the System, Demo, 1991 ABACINATE (USA)
These guys pull out a very wild mix of thrash, death and hardcore; the guitar work is fabulous, quite technical and varied, shaking hands with the best in the field: Suffocation, Morbid Angel, Decapitated, etc, although the band here are not strangers to some straight thrashy sections. The grinding passages are quite a few, but are very appropriately used, creating a very nice contrast on the less intense material, nicely adding up to the great dynamics of the album. Even the short, 1.5-2min numbers are packed with superb guitars and sudden tempo changes (check out the mighty riff-fest "Sadist Misogynist"). Another act this band might remind you of, is Carcass, their mid-period (check out the awesome "The Nuremberg Code"!). Some more conventional, Swedish-styled riffs are also added ("She Gave Up the Ghost") here and there, but they stand no chance against the impeccable technical riffage.
Portrayal Of The Gray Man EP, 2006 Official Site ABACINATOR (USA)
"Abacinator" is heavy thrash, alternating between fast, Slayer-esque sections and slower ones, recalling Nasty Savage's debut, with mean, declamatory vocals which sound quite cool, actually. "Domestic Violence" abandons the slower parts, and is all-out speed most of the time, with again Slayer being the obvious influence, as well as Evildead's "Annihilation of Civilization" and Sacred Reich's "Ignorance"; the drums sound a bit hollow on this one, and there is a song there: "Acting Like Black Sabbath", which acquires some doomy tendencies similar to the Brits' early stage with Ozzy, and is clearly intended as a joke.
Abacinator Demo, 1987 My Space ABANDON HOPE (GERMANY)
Another band who play modern groovy thrash apparently influenced by Pantera and Machine Head, this time spiced up with some stoner/doom elements, as well as some more interesting, semi-progressive guitar work. When the guys pull themselves together, they can come up with some hard-hitting, headbanging riffs ("Lost But Not Forgotten"). They also offer a cover version of Jethro Tull's "Locomotive Breath".
The Endless Ride Full-length, 2006 Official Site ABANDONED (GERMANY)
These guys like the word "thrash", and it's not hard to guess where they would go with album titles like that. Classic 80's thrash is the order of the day. Surprisingly, Abandoned don't follow on the steps of their legendary compatriots, but have looked for inspiration on the other side of the Atlantic ocean, and have made a quite good Bay-Area thrash album ("Thrash Notes").Their debut is better, more aggressive- really hard hitting thrash. The follow-up is not bad, either, but the sound is kind of more laid back and slower.
Thrash Notes, Full-length, 2006 Official Site My Space ABATHUR (ITALY)
Based on the single, this band offer brutal black/thrash with a very dirty, fuzzy guitar sound. The 1st song: "Blood World Flesh Winter" is almost pure vicious black, whereas the other one: "Last Man's Last Way", is cool black-ish thrash along the lines of mid-period Bathory ("Blood, Fire, Death"), in a good galloping tempo, and a very nice acoustic outro.
Grim Fuckin Folktales Demo, 2001 Official Site ABATTOIR (USA)
This band is more famous as the band from where John Cyriis started his career (although he doesn't sing on any of the two albums), and also another member of Agent Steel: the guitarist Juan Garcia.The style is a very good mixture of speed, thrash and power metal, with the preferences going for the second album which is heavier, with a more aggressive sound. "Vicious Attack" is almost a full-fledged speed/power metal affair, which keeps a respectable up-tempo throughout (the opener "Screams from the Grave", "The Enemy"), featuring a cool version of, but of course, Motorhead's "Ace of Spades", as well as some less sharp heavy/power metal numbers. "The Only Safe Place" is not a very distant departure, but the sound is heavier and not as speed-based, close to early Exciter and the songs, albeit longer, are more memorable and catchy.
Vicious Attack, Full-length, 1985 My Space ABAXIAL (ARGENTINA)
A blend of 80's Metallica and modern 90's thrash; works quite well. The guitars have a nice technical edge, and the tempo varies from nice galloping energetic thrashers ("Self-Respect") to heavy, slower ones ("206 Bones"). "Carnivore" is a cool choppy, more complex number. The singer has a slightly uneven hoarse, semi-clean voice, which at its best sounds like unrehearsed James Hetfield.
Samsara, Full-length, 1994 Fan Site ABGATOR (GERMANY)
This is great stuff: brilliant classic thrash along the lines of Viking's "Man of Straw", but faster paced, and more aggressive ("Wings of Change" picks up some death metal-like intensity). The guitar peformance is particularly good, boasting some great leads and hard-hitting riffs.
House of Cards Demo, 1991 Official Site ABHORRANCE (USA)
Based on the EP, this is melodic thrash/crossover akin to Broken Bones and Lawnmower Deth. "Malevolent Existence" is a strange, but not a very successful attempt to cross their basic style with some alternative.
Lowering The Spirits of a Narcissistic Superhero EP, 2002 Official Site My Space ABHORRED (USA)
Very good energetic classic thrash with a slight shade of death metal, and with death metal vocals; a few scattered blast beats, but nothing really too brutal. The style resembles the Japanese Torture Squad and the Swedes Defleshed.
None Shall Be Spared EP, 2007 ABHORRENT (BRAZIL)
The band's debut is great thrash in the Bay-Area tradition with vocals reminding of Max Cavalera. The music is fast and aggressive reminiscent of Vio-lence's "Eternal Nightmare". The second album has almost nothing to do with this style, going for strictly modern groovy semi-thrash.
Rage, Full-length, 1996 Official Site My Space ABIGAIL (JAPAN)
A black/thrash metal band with a long, consistent career in the underground. Music-wise Abigail are thrash metal with some references to early Bathory, and the "black metal" tag they deserve rather for the horrifying, screaming vocals. Most of the time their style is like a faster mix of Motorhead and Venom, but there are also influences from other sides of the metal spectre.
Descending from a Blackend Sky, EP, 1993 My Space ABOMINATION (USA)
Paul Speckman is one of the greatest figures of the American metal underground. Among his projects, Abomination is arguably the best one. The band's trade mark are the heavy, crushing, stomping riffs which create an ominous, depressing atmosphere, aggravated by Speckman's roaring vocals, and this would not be music you would get back to very often. However, the quality displayed here is undeniable, and fans of the darker, rawer side of thrash will find a lot to like. Unfortunately, their comeback album in 1999 sounds tired and uninspired, with Speckman looking for inspiration in other genres (hardcore), and consequently ruining the band's unique sound.
Abomination, Full-length, 1990 Official Site ABOMINATOR (AUSTRALIA)
Abominator are one of the main rivals to Destroyer 666 as one of the leading Australian metal bands in recent years. They actually have a connection to the Destroyers: Chris Volcano- a former singer and a drummer for that band. The music is not far from early Destroyer 666, and is pretty much the same frenetic mixture of thrash, death, speed and black metal, but with a more aggressive attitude, and without any melodic leanings which "flooded" Destroyer 666's sound on their more recent works.
Damnation's Prophecy Full-length, 1999 Official Site My Space ABRACADATHRASH (USA)
The information here is insufficient, so if anyone could help, I would be eternally grateful! Despite the funny, do-not-take-us-seriously name, these guys come up with awesome speed/thrash akin to Paradox's "Heresy" and Vio-lence's "Eternal Nightmare"; the music is fast, with cool swirling leads, and vocals which are not too far from Chuck Billy. "Reincarnation" moves the sound in a heavier and slightly more technical direction, sounding like a leftover from Heathen's "Victims of Deception", or even Metallica's "...And Justice for All".
Demo ABSOLUTE ZERO (USA)
A 4-song demo (one track is actually instrumental- "Zappa Death") of excellent technical thrash. The music is a bit hectic, but never loses coherence, with frequent change of tempos, and numerous twisted technical riffs, recalling Mekong Delta, Donor and Watchtower. This is great stuff with a magnificent closer: "The King"- a 7min-and-a-half technical opus featuring some aggressive guitars as well as atmospheric calmer moments.
Piracy Demo, 1988 ABSOLUTION (USA)
A really good newcomer on the US metal scene, pulling out excellent classic thrash. The vocal styles vary from clean ones to rougher, mean-ish ones, both working fine. The tempo is not very fast, but there's enough energy involved to keep the listener on the alert. Some songs are a bit softer, with a power/speed metal vibe ("Reflections Of Hate", "Seven Deadly Sins"), but the musicianship there is better, especially in the lead department. The album starts with two short, immediate thrashers, but with each subsequent song the complexity increases, and although it very seldom reaches progressive dimensions, the overall sound is fairly technical on quite a few times: the awesome Oriental-tinged "Eternal Ascension", the sharp riff-fest "The Servant Of Liars". Near the end the band take it easier, mixing power and thrash in a fairly cool manner, except on the very ordinary modern metal track "Blind Reality". The closing "Human" is a more ambitious progressively-ornated song, but abandons the thrashing, concentrating more on the melody and the complex arrangements, and partially losing in the long run (almost 9-min).
The Remission of Sin EP, 2005 Official Site ABSTRACT RAPTURE (LUXEMBOURG)
The people from the richest country in the world have never seemed to care about metal, but here comes a band from there who specialize in modern groovy thrash; nothing exceptional, with the mid-paced heavy tracks ("The Void") predominating, occasionally interrupted by some faster, better ones ("Noxious Utopia").
Dead End Entry EP, 2006 Official Site ABSU (USA)
Absu started as a black/death metal band on their debut, which sounded pretty close to Darkthrone."The Sun of Tiphareth" introduced a more restrained, epic sound which showed another, very interesting side of the band. "The Third Storm of Cythraul" was a transitional work, featuring both the epic moments from the previous album and some really fast thrashy passages, suggesting at the future direction taken by the band. "Tara" is a masterpiece of black/thrash reminding of Slayer at times, with Proscriptor doing an amazing job on drums; clearly one of the leading extreme bands on the contemporary American metal scene.
Barathrum V.I.T.R.I.O.L. Full-length, 1993 Official Site My Space ABSURD (BELGIUM)
This band features Gunther Maes- the guitarist who also took part in an early incarnation of the great Chemical Breath. Based on the "Oppression Murder" demo, this band offer a mix of hardcore and thrash similar to Acrophet's "Corrupt Minds", or early Prong. The music is not very heavy, but is fast and quite enjoyable. The vocals are put a bit forward in the mix, and their presence "chokes" the instruments a bit.
Possessed by Insanity Demo, 1989 ABSURD2 (NORWAY)
This band was formed by former and present members of Extol, who apparently were not too happy with the melodic and unimpressive form of music which this band have started to play recently. This is standout technical thrash/death pretty much along the lines of Extol's magnum opus "Synergy". The music is quite energetic, with smashing technical guitars, frequently changing tempos, some great jazzy parts, and will also remind you of Cynic, Atheist, Chemical Breath, Coroner, among other masters of the technical genre. The vocals are slightly irritating, being high-pitched hysterical semi-hardcore ones. Hopefully the full-length will hit us soon!
Absurdďż˝ EP, 2004 Official Site ABSURDITY (FRANCE)
A modern death/thrash metal band with a strong presence of hardcore on the second demo.
Sessions Recordings Demo, 2003 Official Site My Space ABYSS (CHILE)
A good album of classic 80's thrash; the music is closer to the German school, and more particularly early Destruction and Darkness. The tempo is dynamic, up-tempo for most of the time, with clever, sharp riffs, but nothing overtly technical. The songs flow in the same vein, without any changes, but there is no time for that, since the album is only 6 songs. The singer has a sinister, black-ish snarl, seldom accompanied by more aggressive death metal growls.
Under the Shadows of Evil Full-length, 2006
Mutant Cats From Hell Full-length, 1988
Fin De Un Mundo Enfermo Full-length, 1994
El Nuevo Camino Del Hombre Full-length, 1996
Poder Latino Full-length, 1998
Usa Toda Tu Fuerza Full-length, 1999
Animal 6 Full-length, 2001
Combativo Full-length, 2004
Painful Awakening EP, 1989
AnnODomini Best of/Compilation, 2001
Back To Life EP, 1990
One World Without The End Full-Length, 1991
"Trinity" is a better offering, starting with a cool heavy power/thrashing number ("Ascent Of The Fallen"), which sets the tone for the rest. The tracks are longer, and are not sustained in a hard-hitting thrashing vein the whole time, but include some slower, doomy sections, as well as some more melodic ones. Certainly there are more laid-back, power metal-based songs ("Gods And Monsters"), as well as pure doom metal delights (the excellent, Candlemass-influenced "Lost in Eden"), and some exercises in modern groove ( the closing "The Power Of Why"), but generally the guitar sound is sharper and more aggressive.
Parable of the Thorn Full-length, 2004
Trinity Full-length, 2005
Warfare Noise II Split, 1988
Conglomerate, Full-length, 2002
Ruination Full-length, 2008
Domestic Violence Demo, 1988
Thrash You, Full-length, 2007
Philosophic Nothingness Split, 2002
Blood | World | Flesh | Winter Single, 2002
The Only Safe Place, Full-length, 1986
The Right Disease Full-length, 2005
Caution Strong Irritant, Full-length, 2001
Confound Eternal, EP, 1996
Intercourse and Lust, Full-length, 1997
Welcome all Hell Fuckers, EP, 2001
Forever Street Metal Bitch, Full-length, 2003
Fucking louder than hell, Full-length, 2004
Abigail Loves Ilona, as she is the Very Best, Full-length, 2005
Ultimate Unholy Death, Full-length, 2005
Eastern Force of Evil, EP, 2005
Tragedy Strikes, Full-length, 1991
The Final War, EP, 1999
Curses of a Deadly Sin, Full-length, 1999
Subversives For Lucifer Full-length, 2001
Nuctemeron Descent Full-length, 2003
The Eternal Conflagration Full-length, 2006
The Revelation Diaries Full-length, 2008
Democadencia Full-length, 2008
...And Shineth Unto the Cold Cometh EP, 1995
The Sun of Tiphareth Full-length, 1995
The Third Storm of Cythraul Full-length, 1997
In the Eyes of Ioldanach EP, 1998
Hallstattian Swords EP, 2001
Tara Full-length, 2001
L'Attaque Du Tyran: Toulouse, Le 28 Avril 1997 EP, 2007
Absu Full-length, 2008
Oppression or Murder Demo, 1989
Decline Of Human Condition Demo, 2004