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

B.A.R.F. (CANADA)

Based on the demos, this band plays raw aggressive thrash/crossover not too far from The Accused, but with a more punk-ish attitude. The music on "Tumulte" takes a slightly more aggressive edge, even treading into death metal waters on quite a few times, but the punk-ish atmosphere still remains ("Mouton Noir", "Intoxicate"), despite the presence of more vicious and brutal vocals.

Social Disorder Demo, 1986
Blasting All Rotten Fuckers Demo, 1990
Tumulte Full-length, 1992
Ignorance Chaos Suicide Full-length, 1993
Surprise... Full-length, 1995
Catharsis Full-length, 1998

B.O.T.

Thrashy hardcore with a very bad sound quality and surprisingly cool leads; the songs are very short (1-1.5min), and some are just instrumental variations, including the opening 2-min from Diamond Head's "Am I Evil"- yeah, that same one which Metallica covered two years earlier, and one noisy bass instrumental as a finishing touch.

Faster Thrashing Speed Demo, 1986

B&R (USA)

Thrash/crossover with a rough sound and intriguing semi-clean Dave Mustaine-like vocals; this is mostly mid-tempo music with jolly riffs which sounds more interesting when it tries to break the pattern a bit (the nice semi-ballad "Younger Years"; the more energtic early Megadeth-esque "Keep The Faith").

Keep the faith Demo, 1990

BAAL (GERMANY)

Based on "Confusion of Tongues": modern thrash/death, quite fast and furious, but having a genuine technical edge, which makes it stand out from the rest of the pack. The guys have the knack to combine raging thrashy riffs with nice melodies ("(Heads Deep in the Ass of the) Red Dragon"). Some tracks are a nice take on the Bolt Thrower war metal style ("Vespertine Absurdity", "Pile Of Debris", with a more technical twist), but there are some which are your average Swedish death metal ("Endeavor Bafflegab"). Often do the guys thrash without mercy ("Pink Tank Fantasies"- this is probably the next stage after the pink elephants... I guess?; "Blackwater Crusade"), and these are the times when the music really takes off. Certainly, a release like that can not pass without pure death metal pieces, but this is where the technicality shows more clearly: "The Throne of Nimrod", although the ultra-fast parts might make you faint. The closing appropriately-titled "Exodus" is a more melodic gothic thrash/death metal instrumental adding more to the diverse interesting nature of this album.

The Lilith Complex Full-length, 2004
Confusion of Tongues Full-length, 2008

Official Site

BABILOS (USA)

3 songs of good retro thrash with meaty semi-technical riffs not far from early Testament, similarity also in the lead department where the guy doesn't hide his infatuation with the more complex elaborate style of Alex Scholnick. "Trapped In The Pit" is mostly instrumental, brisk up-tempo shred with the vocals hitting near the end, but hardly leaving the most positive impression with their gruff semi-death metal blend. "Till Death Do We Thrash" is another no-brainer for the headbangers with sharp lashing riffs taking turns with proficient piercing technical/melodic leads. "Declaration Of Cruelty" is a heavy stomper which, despite the considerable loss of speed, delivers with steam-rolling guitars and again, with very cool lead guitar work, this time of the more screaming chaotic type. The sound quality is crystal clear, and those 3 tracks can be very well implemented into a prospective full-length, and even serve as the base for it.

Demo Demo, 2010

BACCHUS (USA)

Based on the third demo, this band varies things quite well, always staying within the confines of thrash metal. "Hatchet Man" is a cool aggressive Slayer- esque number; "Mein Kampf" is a jolly thrash/crossover piece recalling Ludichrist and Leeway; "Reanimator" is a Bay Area-influenced thrasher ala Vio-lence. The rest is fast and energetic, with cool sharp guitars and excellent vocals courtesy of Manuel Lopez: a former singer of the early technical thrashers Ulysses Siren.

Demo 1 "Enraged" Demo, 1987
Demo 2 Demo, 1987
Demo 3 Demo, 1989
Demo 4 "Live and Learn" Demo, 1990

BACK FROM ASHES (USA)

Modern thrash sounding close to Geezer's "Black Science" and Grip Inc.'s "Solidify"; edgy heavy riffs of a more ordinary nature will one hear here, mostly in mid-tempo with a pinch of alternative. The music becomes too melodic and bland near the end, but suits better the good clean vocals.

Broken Full-Length, 2007

BACKHOE BUTCHERY (USA)

Based on "Once Upon A Thrasher's Dream", this band plays heavy doomy thrash which livens up with a few intense death metal passages, but the crushing steam-roller riffs are all over the place. "I Am A Pirate" comes in the middle to offer some relief with jollier crossover rhythms and a good melody, and the closer "Land Of No Change" is also faster and more uplifting ending in a chaotic grindy fashion, but the very brutal death metal grunts mar them quite a bit. Some band members also take part in the death metal outfit Apnea.

Once Upon A Thrasher's Dream Full-length, 2001
Prolonging The Misery Full-length, 2004
Mailbox Full Of Mouse-Traps Full-length, 2007

My Space

BACKMASK (USA)

Modern thrash/death metal with technical tendencies, but not enough to make it really stand out; the riffs are crunchy and heavy, and the overall style could be described as a more technical Pantera, mixed with Gothenburg-styled melodies and very cool leads. "Prisoner of Mind" is a good attempt at atmospheric progressive metal ala Opeth.

Dark Fiber Full-length, 2006

Official Site

My Space

BACKSTABBING BASTARD (FINLAND)

Based on the 2-song "Shipwrecked" demo, this band plays modern melodic thrash metal of the dark emotional variety. This is laid-back music in mid-pace with very good mid-ranged melodic vocals.
"Reflections" is another 3 tracks of the same radio-friendly modern thrash with the casual shade of death metal, which brings them close to the their compatriots Gandalf, and even H.I.M. ("Reflections"), the main difference coming from the frequent participation of rough low-tuned death metal vocals. The approach is pretty emotional with a lush use of keyboards, and possibly with a full-length the guys might be able to make more heads turn, since there is always a market for this kind of music, especially in the Scandinavia.

Demo 2006 Demo, 2006
The Premonition: New Era Demo, 2007
Of Thieves and Beggars Demo, 2008
Shipwrecked Demo, 2010
Reflections Demo, 2011

Official Site

BACKWATER (GERMANY)

One of the first thrash metal bands from Germany, Backwater are not of the aggressive type- their music is mid-paced and simplistic recalling Venom, Motorhead and the first two Flames albums, with some rock'n roll variations ("Green Eyed Woman" and "Smokin'drinkin'" from "Final Strike") thrown in.

Revelation Full-length, 1984
Final Strike Full-length, 1986

My Space

BACKWATER (SWEDEN)

Alternative groovy post-thrash with cool alternative vocals, but its very melodic at times nature might pull back the thrash fans, especially after I add that there are hardly any intense, headbanging sections here.

Revenge Full-Length, 2007

BACKWATER BURIAL (USA)

A 2-song demo of a modern/classic thrash mixture: "American Dream" is a good up-tempo track with groovy implements; "Under a Blood Moon" is mid- paced, heavy, recalling the more recent Venom sound.

Under a Blood Moon EP, 2007

BACO (CHILE)

Modern melodic power/thrash metal with pleasant mellow hoks bordering on hard'n heavy at times ("Land Of Reality"); the band relies on more restrained mid-tempos which turn to pure doom metal on the entertaining closer "Man On Road", to which the good soulful clean vocals, ala Phil Anselmo's more blues-ish delivery, fit quite well.

From the Ashes Full-length, 2006

My Space

BACTERIA (ARGENTINA)

Melodic power/thrash, of course influenced by Hermetica and Horcas (their early works); sometimes the music picks up speed, and becomes quite good: "En Decadencia", "Cansado de Luchar", "Dueno de las Calles", which are excellent energetic thrashers with cool melodic leads and sharp riffs, but the rest is less striking, with balladic moments and a softer guitar sound.

Cansado de Luchar Full-length, 2005

Official Site

BAD ACID TRIP (USA)

Based on "Lynch the Weirdo", this band offers a wild, frantic mixture of thrash, death, hard and grindcore, which is quite entertaining with short, explosive tracks, often blending all of the aforementioned genres in less than 2-min. The vocal variety is also quite big, and again tries to take part in most tracks; so prepare for 17 pieces of total death/thrashing grindcore madness... The guys play it fair, and give equal chances to each style, with death metal being the not very obvious favourite.

Live From the Fudge EP, 1995
For the Weird by the Weird Full-length, 2002
Lynch the Weirdo Full-length, 2004

Official Site

BAD BLOOD (CROATIA)

A mix of thrash metal and hardcore, fast and intense, with brutal guttural death metal vocals; apart from the predominant fast-paced tracks a couple of slower numbers can be found which come served with a crushing steam-rollier sound.

To Sin by Silence Full-length, 2002

My Space

BAD BLOOD (USA)

Modern, slightly technical power/thrash metal which has its twists, but lacks energy and sharpness; still some numbers offer a more intense play (the galloping jumpy "Bad Blood"; the good heavy closer "Welcome To My Nightmare"), but the concentration on the rest is clearly on melody. "The Burning Truth" is the other place where your head may headbang a bit, but the second part is even more interesting: softer, but there is a very cool acoustic guitar inserted, contrasting to the heavy riffs. "Extreme Metal Attitude" doesn't really deserve its sinister title being another modern power/thrasher in the Black Album vein.

Bad Blood Full-length, 2007

My Space

BAD HEAVEN (USA)

A very good demo of speed/thrash metal akin to early Exciter with touches of American power metal (Savage Grace, Helstar); the tempo varies throughout, but tracks like "Cavern" and "Reigns of Fate" are mighty speed killers with great sharp riffs. James Rivera was supposedly a member of this act in their spawning stages, but he failed to record anything lasting with them.
The "Crystal Dagger" demo is in a similar vein wasting no time to win the listener for the band's cause with the speedy shredder "Crystal Dagger". Then "Metal On Metal" starts galloping in a heavy formidable manner "waking up" all the cowboys from the Western prairies, before "Demon Slayer" toning the approach a bit with more ordinary power metal rhythms. "Fear No Evil" is a bit edgier recalling Attacker's "Battle at Helm's Deep" including in the screamy vocal department where the singer doesn't really leave a very positive impression with his thin hysterical tone.

Crystal Dagger Demo, 1985
Dragon Lord Demo, 1987

BAD KARMA (USA)

Good semi-technical thrash with frequently changing tempos and a really good lead guitar; a somewhat awkward choice is to put an 8-min ballad, which although slightly reminding of the Testament variations in this direction, could have been avoided on just a 3-song demo.

Demo Demo, 1989

BAD MAMASAN (CHINA)

An ex-pat trio from Beijing performs here for the recording of this laid-back unpretentious funky modern post-thrash which at times takes surprising avantgarde turns in a way not too far from the Finns Waltari. Still, the guitars are too soft to make this release a sure pick for the average thrash metal fan, although more serious complex compositions (the pounding closer "Poison Gas") may catch his/her ear on occasion. The singer is the attraction here with his versatile high-pitched clean voice inserting the necessary amount of dramatism into the music, well fitting to the latter's mellow laid-back nature.

Jeanine the Wolverine Full-length, 2011

Official Site

BAD YODELERS (USA)

Some songs sound like pure pop-metal, but the band have enough powerful thrashers to pull it through; melodic stuff, will not appeal to all thrash metal fans. "I Wonder" is clearly the better achievement, with even interesting semi-technical moments showing up here and there, sharper guitars and more intensity involved, recalling Mordred's "In This Life". The guys have a penchant for ballads, and produce good results ("Queen", the excellent heavy semi-ballad "Life"); at least half of the songs actually are of the semi-balladic type. One could see them as the inventors of the modern gothic style, which later was picked by acts like Sentenced, Century, H.I.M., To Die For, Razorback: check out "Forgotten Face" which is probably the first track of this kind, and the more thrashy, but still quite melodic and atmospheric, "Goodbye". "Beyond" is an exemplary smashing, pounding mid-tempo thrasher with great guitar work, both technical and melodic; if only there were at least a few more of this kind.

I Wonder... Full-length, 1990
Window Full-length, 1991

BAGHEAD (USA)

Fans of the darker, more technical side of modern thrash, will love this. Yes, I know you think of later period Obliveon almost immediately, and this is a good reference point, but Baghead's songwriting is more ambitious and more complex. There are occasional shades of death metal, but used with taste and style. The sound is crushingly heavy, and it's a good thing that the band have included one purely atmospheric, acoustic piece near the end- "The Soul Within", to take away the pressure. Watch out for these guys: they haven't said their final word yet.

The New Elite Full-length, 2003

Official Site

My Space

BAHAL (ITALY)

Based on "Striges", this band pulls out an atmospheric mixture of black and thrash metal which focuses more on atmosphere and orchestral arrangements touching more recent Dimmu Borgir quite a bit. The thrashy breaks are more than welcome, recalling later-period Immortal, since the sprawling black metal sections may stretch your nerves a bit, forgetting to end, often not offering anything speedy, just sweeping landscapes with a shade of ambient. Certainly, there are quite a few blast-beats inserted, and the dynamics at least in the first half is not missing; it's just that the guys feel more comfortable crossing over a wider spectre from the black metal genre.
"Ikelos" The black/thrash metal blend continues unabated here, but the concentration again is more on black metal, and this effort sounds too brutal and relentless for the thrash metal fan's ears who will have to put up with plenty of blast-beats, although the guys haven't forgotten about the more tender, epic side of things; it's kind of sad that the latter moments never develop into a full-length track. Still, this album is not a waste at all, and will keep the black metal maniacs very happy the whole time.

Gazing At The Winter Moon Full-length, 2005
Striges Full-length, 2009
Ikelos Full-length, 2010

Official Site

BAJO ZERO (VENEZUELA)

Modern thrash with crunchy riffs and cool melodic leads; the tempo varies from song to song, at times thrashing with force, at others settling for plodding groove. The singer spoils the picture a bit with his very gruff brutal delivery, which suits better the slower groove-laden parts.

Santeria Full-length, 2003
Caminos Inhumanos EP, 2008

My Space

BAKER'S DOZEN (BELARUS)

Modern thrash of the energetic edgy variety; the music is speedy and optimistic, but the guys have the detrimental tendency to insert unnecessary metalcore breaks from time to time, which serve to no purpose, and kill the gained inertia. On top of that the vocals are awful synthesized shouts.

Demo Demo, 2009

BALANCE OF ONE (KASAKHSTAN)

Competent all-instrumental speed/power/thrash with progressive overtones; the music is moderately complex giving enough room for the riffage to develop, with the leads taking a secondary role, albeit being quite good. The compositions are diverse mixing faster and slower passages the whole time, seldom blasting out for a change, but on the other hand cool balladic interludes are inserted here and there as well, including two purely balladic pieces, the closer being only acoustic guitars, quite a romantic touch. The sound quality is a bit muddy making the leads a bit screamy contrasting too much at times with the heavy pounding riffage.
"Perfection" offers a more abrasive guitar sound, and an increased involvement of the leads. There is an omnipresence of keyboards which deafens the otherwise traditionally good riffs making the album sound like more aggressive gothic. The compelxity of the songs has also been increased resulting in fairly longer ones, "1 000 000 l.e. From You" closing on 10-min, and the closer "Survivor After Humanity" going well over this boundary with its 10.5-min of varied atmospheric gothic/power/thrash, but on the other hand the speed has gone down with most of the tracks developing in a crunchy mid-pace with several more intense passages. As a whole this is not a bad effort at all showing the band in a more restrained, more complex and more atmospheric light, closer to "perfection".

Death Becoming Force Full-Length, 2010
Perfection Full-Length, 2010

BALBERITH (SINGAPORE)

Three Singaporeans are responsible for this brutal take on the early black/thrash metal idea (based on the full-length) which crosses the furious speed aesthetics of early Impaled Nazarene with the darker more laid-back approach of early Bathory and Burzum. There is a cover of Venom's "Countess Bathory" thrown in the middle done in a fast raging manner, hardly recognizable. The musicianship, however, is not on a very high level, and most of the time the guys just bash with passion with a raw underground sound and raspy raven-like vocals the latter well suiting the primal unpolished musical approach.

Legion ov Terror EP, 2006
Beast Ov Hell EP, 2009
Triumph ov Beastial Dominator (Years ov Hatred & Vengeance) Full-length, 2009

My Space

BALISTIK KICK (USA)

American power metal meets a slight shade of thrash; good stuff with a more modern edge on the last two efforts.

Balistik Kick Full-length, 1993
Warhead Full-length, 1997
Destroy Full-length, 2000

BALLISTIC (USA)

This is Tom Gattis' third band (after Tension and Wardog), and here he does a very job again. Surrounded by musicians having done service in other renowned bands (Jag Panzer, Twisted Tower Dire, Tension), the way to the top looks pretty easy. The band plays speed/thrash of the more melodic variety, with few moments from the 90's power/speed metal scene ("Silent Killer"), and the inclusion of pure heavy metal numbers, which are not of the sloppy kind, but pack a punch, and shades of his two previous bands could be clearly heard; Ballistic's music is perhaps more technical and a tad faster.

Ballistic Full-length, 2003

Official Site

BALLISTIC WHIPLASH (USA)

THis is a pretty faithful rendition of the trendy at the time groovy post-thrash with a more light-hearted attitude, resulting in a few grungy sections ala Helmet and Biohazard involved. There is also doom present ("Bacootas", "Bloated") of the traditional slow kind (think Sleep, early Cathedral), as well as one ripping, classic piece ("Total Balance"), a "total" thrashing madness, which has no match anywhere else, the rest being mild jumpy stuff assited by capable semi-aggro vocals with a soulful blend.

Bloated Full-length, 1995

My Space

BALROG (ITALY)

Two Stefano's, two Andrea's, and one Tommaso are responsible for this decent slab of old school power/thrash metal with clear nods towards the American scene (think early Helstar, Liege Lord, Iced Earth). "The Wait" is a cool intense opener mixing mid and up-tempos topped by good melodic leads. "At The Black Gates" is a more moderate galloping number with balladic tendencies, followed by the similarly-styled "The Rise". The problem is that later on the intensity of the opener is nowhere captured the guys seemingly content to acquit themselves with melodic power metal with thrash partially coming back on the jumpy closer "Perpetual Circle".

A Dark Passage Full-length, 2010

Official Site

BANDANOS (BRAZIL)

Thrash/crossover with a good up-tempo thrashy rhythm recalling Wehrmacht ("Te Amo Pora") in the faster songs, and Ratos de Porao's more thrashy period.

We Crush Your Mind With The Thrash Inside Full-length, 2007

My Space

BANISHED FORCE (GERMANY)

A young act from Germany who pull pretty intense retro thrash which gets the message through from the very 1st cut: the ultra-speedy "Thrashers in Uniform", which virtually sets the tone for this perennial roller-coaster of fast fiery riffs and forceful, semi-declamatory vocals. Slayer's Reign in Blood" is an obvious reference point, as well as Wehrmacht on the more intense material. Somewhere in the middle the guys rememeber to slow down, on the 3-min semi-stomper "Multiple Death", where stylish bass insertions can be caught. Another track in a similar vein follows: "Alienation", but the deviations and there, and until the end we have an incessant barrage of speedy blitzkrieg pieces, which may help in starting the "thrash revolution" (if it hasn't already begun), like the title of one of the tracks suggests.

Alienation Full-length, 2009

Official Site

BANKERAY (INDONESIA)

2 tracks of modern thrashcore in a light-hearted mode with pleasant semi-shouty vocals, and 1 number of beautiful peaceful acoustic tenderness ("Rain Whisper"); for lovers only...

Jalur Tengkorak EP, 2011

Official Site

BAPHOMET (GERMANY)

"No Answers" is one of the undisputable masterpieces of the 90's, triumphant technical thrash/death metal, a fine addition to a tremendous, on the technical metal side, year (the works of Coroner, Pestilence, Anacrusis, Death, Atheist, Assorted Heap, Invocator, etc.). "No Answers" opens in a fast-paced, intense manner, not too far from Pestilence's "Testimony of the Ancients". The guys introduce slower darker, but equally as interesting, tracks ("Time Has Come") later on. Still, their more speedy delivery is the more attractive one, and smashing killers like "Elm Street" are the highlight, although near the end the music takes a slower, more atmospheric turn. "Rise of Baphomet" is a melodic power/thrash metal instrumental. The band's singer, Thomas Hertler, is also the founder of the famous label Massacre Records.

"Latest Jesus" is another strong offering, maybe a bit slower and more on the death metal side, but the cool riff-work stays pretty much intact. The music is darker and sinister, and the leads are more proficient and longer, but on the other hand we have two soft, pure gothic tracks: "Lethal Tendencies", "Latest Jesus", which don't really fit into the overall picture. "State of Censorship" is a magnificent fast technical smasher, followed by the stylish dark "Coaliton of the Lost". "Born Of No Name" has shades of gothic as well, but this time it is combined with good thrashing guitars, and the result is more satisfying. "Full Moon Eyes", the last song, is another whirlwind of both fast and slower technical riffs, greatly summing up what this effort is about.
"Trust" is clearly a letdown, with less impressive and more modern guitar work. It actually starts in a way no worse than the other two, with the excellent fast-paced "Betrayed" and "Mind the Doubt", and it's the 3rd song: "What Went Wrong", which tells a different story with its slower, more modern riffs. The technical guitars step down to leave room for more stomping, even groovy ones ("Intense"), although just sparkles of the technical genius of old spring up here and there: the Coroner ("Grin")-influenced and quite cool "Low Life", but the awful, distorted vocals on this one will pull you back. The closing track "Trust" is a gothic/doom affair, which is not a surprise, having in mind the band's previous experiments in this field.

No Answers Full-length, 1991
Latest Jesus Full-length, 1992
Trust Full-length, 1994

BAPHOMET (USA)

The demo is an excellent slab of technically-minded thrash of the fast more aggressive variety bordering on proto-death. "Children of Doom" is an outstanding progressive 8-min composition, an obvious influence on the future Nocturnus releases, a timeless blend of fast intense and more restrained atmospheric passages topped by the first real attempts at gruff low-tuned death metal singing. "Evil Witchery" is almost pure death metal all the way preserving the technical moments most of the time racing with the speed of light at times quite successfully as well, another sure hit in the target. "Satanic Feast" is equally as brutal, this time without any technical surprises, which come back on the monstrous 9-min closer "Necromancy", a seamless cocktail of speedy and more complex sections constantly overlapping each other on a swirling technical base. Listening to this, one would not be surprised to hear later elaborations on this little obscure gem: the works of Nocturnus, Incubus, Invocator, Hellwitch; even Atheist and Pestilence, if you like. This band should really get a wider exposure for being one of the first acts ever (if not the first) to give a more technical shape to the spawning death metal genre.

Baphomet Demo, 1987
Children of Doom Best of/Compilation, 2010

BAPHOMET'S BLOOD (ITALY)

"Satanic Metal Attack": an awful sound and amateurish musicianship leave little to enjoy here; otherwise if you pay serious attention, you may recognize light-hearted speed/thrash in the spirit of Motorhead (the Brits are honoured with a cover of "Heart of Stone") and Hallow's Eve ("Kill the Monk"), on the more aggressive moments. The last song "Heavy Metal Forces" is a cover version of their compatriots Fingernails who play very similar stuff, and are one of the first acts to start the speed/thrash metal mania in Italy back in the mid-80's. The singer has a gruff tember coming as a blend between Lemmy and Kermit (Tyrant).
"Metal Damnation" is a more hard-hitting, and a much better, affair relying more on speed metal to pull it through, and succeeds as such even touching the legendary "Violence and Force" on the best moments ("Midnight Patrol"). "Italian Steel" partly justifies its title although this is vintage Motorhead, also recalling the German power/speed metal veterans Tyrant ("Fight for Your Life", in particular). The following "Evilbringer" deserves this title more being a furious speedster which sets the tone for the next "The Iron Bonehead", another pure speed metal delight. The closing "Ready For Hell" is mellower again "nodding" towards the guys' idols Motorhead, but up to this point the band have already proven themselves as one of the better practitioners of the good old speed metal nowadays standing proud beside "pillars" of the genre like the still-operating veterans Killers (France) and Not Fragile (Germany), and Solitaire (Finland) from the more recent practitioners.
Actually the band's rise to a higher level of musicianship has started with "Second Strike" which is quite close music-wise to its follow-up. The brisk opener, also carrying the band name, pulls no punches with its speedy riffage, and although the next "Baphometal" is a softer Motorhead-ish roller coaster, later the album offers not many relieves of the kind, heading onwards in a nice energetic fashion raising the flag of classic speed metal sky-high in the best tradition of the Germans Vectom and Tyrant, a dedication also displayed by the song-titles ("Speed, Fast, Loud"; "Speed Metal Earthquake", which is indeed a moshing seismic speedster). The end is preserved for a cover of the aforementioned Tyrant: "Making Noise and Drinking Beer" from their debut "Mean Machine", to these ears maybe not very appropriately chosen, slower than the other material, betraying its energy and passion.
The "Back from the Fire" EP is an optimistic speed/proto-thrash metal offering with Motorhead a very obvious influence, down to the inebriate hoarse vocals. These are 4 jolly tracks with merry-go-round riffs of the playful, carefree type.

Satanic Metal Attack Full-length, 2006
Second Strike Full-length, 2008
Metal Damnation Full-length, 2009
Back from the Fire EP 2011

My Space

BAPTIZED IN BLOOD (CANADA)

The full-length is your typical melodic modern thrash metal, which acquires more melodic speed/power metal elements ala Children of Bodom on quite a few moments. Some tracks are quite satisfying takes on speed metal: "Next Stop Hollywood", and especially the speed monster "Kickin' Ass And Takin' The Blame", but on the rest the tempos change all the time, with maybe too many melodic deviations to keep the thrash metal fan entertained the whole time.

Baptized In Blood EP, 2006
Gutterbound Full-length, 2009

My Space

BARBARIAN (ITALY)

This hellish trio pulls out specializes in old school speed/thrash coming as a mix between the Iron Angel debut and the more stripped-down barrage of early Venom. The approach is right as rain, maybe a bit more playful than the one of the aforementioned acts (check the Motorhead-ish "Rain of Fire") from time to time, also varying things up with the odd slower cut (the tribute to early Celtic Frost "Human Pest"). "Ad Mortem Festinamus" features a certain black metal intensity spiced with a more rock-ish vibe reminiscent of a more recent Darkthrone. The singer is strictly in the black metal camp, and his demonic shouts kind of fit the simplistic musical delivery.

Barbarian Full-length, 2011

Official Site

BARBARIAN (SPAIN)

This band was founded by Pep Casas: the guitarist (and singer) who was the mainman behind one of the first (and best) Spanish thrash metal bands Fuck Off. Half of the songs from this live album are old songs taken from the two Fuck Off releases; the other half keeps up in the same spirit: up-tempo speed/thrash, maybe more melodic and catchy than the older material, with influences from classic heavy metal, but still enjoyable enough. Casas does a great job on the guitar, and steals the show big time. His riffs are not as killing as before, but his skills, especially in the lead-section, have improved a lot. His vocal abilities seem to have declined a bit, as his voice now has acquired a clear hardcore shade, and could be annoying at times. A decent version of Black Sabbath's "Syptom of the Universe" is included as well.
"Hell Is Back on Earth" is another capable entry with speed metal taking over in a way similar to the early German efforts in the field (Warrant, Iron Angel), and the American acts Savage Grace and early Liege Lord. The guys spare no speed, and the opener "Rider From Hell" is a smashing piece of old school speed/thrash lashing hard for more than 6-min. "Embraced by Religion" is a short bursting speedster, but the songs that follow reach the length of the opening one with the speed never getting lost, although every track contains heavier stomping passages. "Harlot of Heaven" in the middle serves more hard-hitting thrash, compensated by the melodic instrumental speedy roller-coaster "Human Holocaust" which is a feast for the ears with loads of memorable melodic tunes. Then comes a time for more forceful thrash metal with "High Priest Blaspheme", which gets translated well on the short bombastic "Soldiers to War", and especially on the excellent mosher at the end "Midnight Preacher", which starts with a nice guitar-driven take on the theme from the cult film "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly": a really aggressive slab of speed/thrash giving a nice endind to this commendable effort which gives a desirable more standard direction to the genre among the increasingly technical releases (Killem, Legen Beltza, Kaothic, Unreal Overflows, Perseidan, etc.) coming out of Spain in recent years.

Seguimos Avanzando Live album, 2006
Heavy Metal Resurrección Full-length, 2007
Hell Is Back on Earth Full-length, 2009

Official Site

BARBARIAN (USA)

On this only demo this band combines quite a few influences: heavy power/thrash in the vein of Nasty Savage's debut, American power metal ala Savage Grace and Omen, speed/thrash akin to Destructor and Exciter, and for a "dessert" there is one excellent technical thrashy instrumental ("Barbaric Core").

Demo Demo, 1987

BARBARIANS (ARGENTINA)

Melodic punk-ish thrash/crossover with very good melodic leads; surprisingly there are very few faster sections, only the energetic "Instinto Guerrero" comes to mind, and this stuff will be also of interest to heavy and power metal fans (check out the epic "Hombres Del Norte").

Destino al Walhalla Full-length, 2006

BARBATOS (JAPAN)

Black/thrash metal akin to Abigail; Barbatos are even less serious and more light-hearted in their approach; the music is playful rock-ish thrash reminiscent of Venom, Motorhead, mid 90's Sodom, etc.

War! Speed and Power Full-length, 2001
War Metal Drinkers EP, 2002
Rocking Metal Motherfucker Full-length, 2003
Fury and Fear, Flesh and Bone Full-length, 2005
LEt's fucking die! Full-length, 2006

BARBED WIRE (HUNGARY)

Very good, but roughly produced thrash metal reminiscent or Sepultura's mid period ("Arise", above all); the guys tend to write longer songs, but there is nothing technical going on there. The bass and the lead work are particularly good, and overshadow the not very impressive riffage. "Time" and "Empty Lies" are cool aggressive thrashers, which could fit onto "Beneath the Remains" without any problems, even with the quiet, atmospheric ending of the latter. Seldom can one hear less-serious, punky jokes: "Liar", which are not as a nice touch as, say, the excellent slower semi-balladic instrumental "A Lost Friend".

Demo Demo, 1991
Immemorial Demo, 1992

BAREHANDED (SLOVENIA)

This is a very mixed bag: on their only demo so far this band offers a wild cocktail of styles; the good thing is that the base is thrash metal and it's of the more melodic, semi-technical variety typical for 90's Megadeth ("Symphony of Destruction" is not a Megadeth-cover), but there are Swedish death metal riffs (think Dark Tranquillity), folk/pagan melodies, and even progressive rock/metal sections not too far from Porcupine Tree. It definitely has its moments, but apparently this is just a bit more than a draft for something better and more compact.

Manipulator Demo, 2005

Official Site

BARGEST (RUSSIA)

This is laidback stuff, modern power/proto-thrash metal with decent mid-ranged clean vocals, developing in a calm mid-tempo with frequent balladic stretches. The guitars lack an edge, but there is an overabundance of melodic hooks, as well as very good leads.

Drugoi (Ia) Full-Length, 2011

BAROPHOBIA (SWEDEN)

Based on the last demo, this band, who boasts the presence of M†rten Hagstrom (Meshuggah), pulls out a cool mix of fast raging thrash ala Merciless and clever heavy technical riffage ala early Meshuggah and Dark Angel's "Time Does Not Heal". The latter are clearly the dominating sound, and one doesn't need a very big imagination to see where the beginnings of the Meshuggah characteristic delivery had been laid.

International Hits Demo, 1988
Beckomberga Ensemble Demo, 1989
Demo Demo, 1990
Labyrinth of the Mind Demo, 1990

BARRACUDA (CZECH)

Good technical thrash/death metal which, in its faster and more frantic parts, reminds of Atheist quite a bit, and Carcass' early 90's period, but the guys don't rely on speed a lot, often mixing the tempo with heavy, mid-paced moments as well as cool atmospheric, progressive passages. There is a variety of vocal styles used, too, the predominant ones being both death metal-based: low growls and higher-pitched snarls similar to Kelly Shaefer from Atheist. There are semi-whispered clean ones, too, accompanying the mellower progressive sections. The songs do not go over the 4-min range, and are infused with a fair number of interesting, ever changing riffs which, along with the alternating vocals, create the impression that one listens to different bands. Hopefully this band is ready to strike with something new soon: by all means a valuable addition to the technical side of metal.

Humanimal Full-length, 2003

Official Site

BASANOS (AUSTRIA)

Baed on "Cracking The Sledge", this formation pulls out groovy post-thrash without any more meaningful deviations. The guitars are suitably heavy, the singer is suitably angry, and "Now" is the suitably faster number. In other words, this album would be suitable to all those who have left their hearts in the 90's, and possible still have those, now pretty faded and worn out, posters of Machine Head and Pantera on the walls.

Instincts Full-length 2010
Cracking The Sledge Full-length 2011

Official Site

BASIC DREAMS (ITALY)

A cool debut from Italy this way comes; the guys offer progressively-tinged melodic power/thrash metal reminiscent of early Eldritch, Squealer and Dark Arena. Some tracks leave the thrash field: "Son of Future", "Strange Days", "When the Rain Falls" (an unnecessarily long ballad-7min), and the sound is not very heavy and aggressive although some songs have the energetic headbanging riffs: "Another Reason to Hope". The vocalist is truly the highlight with his clean passionate emotional voice which will remind you of James Hetfield, especially on the aforementioned ballad.

Secrets & Lies Full-length, 2001

Official Site

BASILISK (CHILE)

Raw speedy thrash in the early Kreator vein; energetic and quite well done. The singer is not a very pleasant hysterical shrieker, but the cool music saves the day. Some Slayer-esque intensity can also be felt ("Thrash Without Truce"). The lead work is cool, perhaps a bit melodic for the style, and gives some tracks a genuine epic atmosphere ("Basilisk"). "Altars Of Carrion" is a great aggressive thrasher, with the only more technically-inclined guitar performance on the demo.

Thrash al Hueso Demo, 2004

BASSAIUM (JAPAN)

Based on the debut, these Japanese samurai play retro death with the casual sparkle of Germanic speed/thrash metal. Death metal reigns supreme, though, and one can not remain unshaken (and also unstirred) by the visceral power of technical explosions like "Capital Punishment Of A Neighbor", or partly repelled by the sincere grindy-ness of "Great Killing". Their influence from the thrash metal spectre is paid a nice deathy tribute at the end: a brutal version of Kreator's "Extreme Aggression" which music-wise is not very hard to recognize, but the undecipherable brutal low-tuned vocals are hardly an attraction there. Reportedly on the follow-up the band switched onto pure heads-down retro thrash covering quite a few influences with the German ones again leading the show.

Be Addicted To Suffering Pain Full-length 2002
Pandemic Full-length 2008

My Space

BAST (CZECH)

Based on "Zem� Vlk—", this band plays a more classic-sounding speed/thrash metal which at times descends to a more peaceful heavy metal tempo, plus the odd balladic break. The guitar work is melodic lacking sharpness, consequently missing in the thrash sector on at least half of the material. Still, the balladic sections are handled well if we exclude the rough semi-clean tone of the singer which lacks depth and emotion.
"Stopy V Kameni" is not too far music-wise from its follow-up containing a similar material of melodic power/thrash metal the peaceful delivery occasionally broken by more vigorous tempos ("Vogastisburg"), but the one-dimensional mid-paced approach will hardly keep you hooked to the player, although the good melodic emotional vocalist does his best to keep the album floating.

Stopy V Kameni Full-length, 2004
Zem� Vlk— Full-length, 2008

BASTARD SQUAD (USA)

These American "bastards" opt for cool thrash/crossover which is both intense and "desperate" ("Desperation") and mellow and funky ("Dynamite Lady"). There are also joke songs ("Johnny Be Paranoid", a comic mix of "Johnny Be Good" and Sabbath's "Paranoid"), as well as dynamic thrashy instrumentals ("Tarantula", the technical 3-min lead-driven "Hey, Ralph"). There is a lot of joy and optimism displayed here, the hoarse semi-clean singer also trying to share the mood with less serious punk-ish antics.

Bastard Squad Demo 1990

BASTARDATOR (CANADA)

Based on "Identify The Dead", this band pull out cool old school speed/thrash ala Destructor and Whiplash. The music actually sits between the aforementioned bands' debuts: it's edgier than the Destructor effort, but is not as intense and fast as the one of Whiplash. There is some hardcore feeling throughout ("Identify the Dead"), as well as echoes of Metallica's "Kill'Em All" ("Conquistador", the "Hit the Lights"-influenced "Pillars Of Oppression"). The tempo is not fast the whole time, and some heavy metal tunes can also be caught ("Power Of The Templars"). This album doesn't strike as hard as a full-fledged thrash metal "monster", but its variety and catchiness will bring a lot of sweet memories from the 80's.

Bastards of Mayhem EP, 2007
Barbatos / Bastardator Split, 2008
Identify The Dead Full-length, 2009

My Space

BASTARDOS (SPAIN)

3 songs of nice intense old school thrash, fast and technical at the same time recalling the Dutch one-album-wonder Usurper. The riffs lash with no mercy supported by very short screaming leads, but the good music is slightly "betrayed" by the hoarse shouty vocals.

Bastardos Demo

BASTARDÖS (ARGENTINA)

3 songs of straight-ahead old school thrash, played with competence and understanding of the genre canons, the main annoyance being the shouty, slightly hysterical, vocals which may remind you of the Tony Portaro delivery on the Whiplash debut. Otherise the music is right, dynamic headbanging thrash with sharp guitars which are often overshadowed by the pounding drum section and the excellent bass work.

KM 24 Demo 2009

Official Site

BASTION (USA)

Both demos offer enjoyable speed/thrash along the lines of the Brits Blood Money, Agent Steel and Exciter. This is good music with nice, memorable and generally up-tempo songs ("Merciless" picks up more aggression and is arguably the best track here), and a singer who has a cool mid-ranged melodic voice. The guitar work is good, simplistic with good melodic lines thrown in. "Blitzfreeze" contains the faster material, and is more speed metal-based, but on the other hand "D.B.D." and "Metamorphosis" come with great riffs in the early Destruction vein.

Blitzfreeze Demo, 1987
Dead Religion is Good Religion Demo, 1988

BAT BONES (JAPAN)

Fast hardcore-ish thrash metal with shades of Motorhead as well sounding quite close to early Broken Bones, with hoarse punky vocals and simplistic stripped-down riffage.

Demo Demo, 1989

BATALLON DE CASTIGO (SPAIN)

The band-members have been doing "service" in a Spanish prison and, to pass the time, have decided to play some thrash. Their open nazi stance, expressed in the lyrics, may have been the main obstacle for the band to reach further. Alas, the music is less impressive than their political views, thrash and hardcore mixed together, something typical for the nazi bands around the world.

Caña de España! Full-length, 1998
Desperta ferro! Full-length, 1999
Akelarre Full-length, 2004

BATHORY (SWEDEN)

The great Quorthon (R.I.P.), the only artist in music history to have taken part in the founding of two music genres (black and viking metal), ventured into many styles throughout his short, but very eventful life, including thrash metal. And while he was good at everything he was doing on the music field, thrash metal had clearly been his weakest side. While there were good attempts at the style on "Blood, Fire, Death", they worked well mainly because of the able support of the other metal genres present there. The two pure ventures into thrash from the mid-90's: "Requiem" and "Octagon", were very uneven efforts, especially "Octagon" with its strained undeveloped vocals and blunt unfocused sound. Even the "other genres versus thrash"-mixture on "Destroyer Of Worlds" later didn't work anymore. It was clear by then that Quorthon was way better treading into other metal fields. However, considering the immeasurable contribution this man had made to the metal world, this site feels honoured to include him as well.

Blood Fire Death Full-length, 1988
Requiem Full-length, 1994
Octagon Full-length, 1995
Destroyer of Worlds Full-length, 2001

Official Site

My Space

BATHYM (USA)

A 2-song EP of thrash/death metal; the 1st track is mid-paced, with a cool faster middle section, closer to death metal; the 2nd one is a faster, cool thrashy headbanger. The vocals are very vicious, evil black metal-ish shrieks, but suit the music well.

Demonic Force EP, 1991

Fan Site

BATSTORM (THAILAND)

After a good bass intro the guys unleash aggressive thrash/death, which could have been more appealing, if it wasn't for the annoying buzzy guitar sound. The music is fast and closer to death metal, with vicious synthesized black-ish vocals.

---İ- 2006 ( Desaster ) EP, 2006

Official Site

BATTALION (BRAZIL)

Epic battle-like speed/thrash metal offering 5 songs of 90's speed metal-influenced stuff with a few more aggressive thrashy moments; at their best the guys manage to touch early Sacred Steel ("Soldiers From The Shadows") and even early Agent Steel (in other words, all the early "steels" from the scene). The songs flow nicely in up-tempo with sharp riffs and a strong bass-bottom, supported by average gruff semi-clean vocals which ineptly try to scream high from time to time.

Battalion Demo, 2007

My Space

BATTALION (DENMARK)

"Immortal Power" contains heavy, mid-paced thrash with a certain Bay Area flavour with rough, black-ish vocals. "The Sense" is faster, a bit more technical, with a new more melodic singer, recalling Laaz Rockit's more thrashy period.

Immortal Power Demo, 1986
The Sense Demo, 1987

BATTALION (SWITZERLAND)

This band started a few years earlier under the name Corpus Delicti where they played classic heavy metal. Based on "Underdogs", the guys must have undergone a major "shift in consciousness" since the music now is all-out retro speed/thrash wasting no time winning as many fans as possible for the thrash metal cause with the blitzkrieg opener "Thrash Maniacs" which is strictly for "thrash maniacs". "Headbangers" is hardly the headbanger's paradise being a much slower offering, but "Running Alone" will shoot you straight to the 7th heaven, a major speedster in the best tradition of the early German school (Vectom, Warrant, Iron Angel). Then another slower number comes, but the fast and slow songs stop alternating here with the guys losing the inertia in the middle apparently feeling a bit nostalgic for the heavy metal times of old reflected in a couple of mellower heavy/power metal-based numbers. "Beggars Right", which is an allusion to the Running Wild hit from "Under Jolly Roger" both music and title-wise, brings back the speedy patterns which stay around for the final "Defenders": a flying happy hymn recalling the 90's power/speed metal scene with the soaring melodies and the catchy sing-along choruses.

The Fight for Metal Full-length, 2006
Underdogs Full-length, 2010

Official Site

BATTALION (USA)

Fairly good classic power/thrash metal, quite heavy, with a couple of a few great technical riffs thrown in for good measure, reminiscent of Helstar's "Nosferatu" in the more dynamic parts, and another great American underground band: Carbide. The pace is mostly mid-tempo, but it varies from speedy thrashers ("The Black") to almost doomy, stomping numbers (the great instrumental "Orchestrated by Fear").

Excessive Force Full-length, 1995

BATTERED (SWEDEN)

Battered was formed by three members of the viking/black metallers Einherjer after the latter split up. The music is firmly in the thrash metal realm with shades of Einherjer's last album "Blot". This is a blend of modern and classic thrash, well executed, with occasionally very good technical guitar work. The album starts really promisingly with the intense thrashing opener "Oblivion Awaits", but the next couple of songs slow down, and are more melodic and modern-sounding. "Not One" thrashes with no mercy, and from then on things become more interesting. "The Dig" is another great track, sounding as though directly taken from Grip Inc.'s "Nemesis". "Industrial Killing" follows with smashing technical guitars in the Coroner vein, before "Perfect Illusion" speeds up again. The remaining numbers are more on the stomping, heavier side, "The Flagellant" coming very close to Slayer's late 80's period. The very shouted, noisy vocals are not very fitting to the music, and some adjustment in this department for the future would be desirable.

Battered Full-length, 2006

Official Site

My Space

BATTERY (GERMANY)

Speed/thrash metal of the German school ala early Deathrow, early Destruction and the Paradox debut; the vocals are more brutal, with a death metal shade, and the music is energetic, with good sharp riffs which at times try hard to emulate Destruction (and succeed). The leads are of the screaming type, but fit the intense delivery well, although sometimes one might not hear them quite clearly because of the muddy sound quality.

The Unknown Demo, 1986
Nuclear Assault Demo, 1987

BATTLE OF THE WAR MACHINES (UK)

Modern metalcore-ish thrash which doesn't completely lack in the speed department ("Aftermath"; the dry hardcore-ish "Delete All Life Forms"), but the preferrable by the band delivery is mostly mid with the metalcore breaks being of the jumpy more technical variety.

Trial And Terror Full-Length, 2010

BATTLE SLAUGHTER (USA)

Based on the Live album, these guys pull out raw aggressive black/thrash metal which is hard to compare to anything else out there since the sound is too bad, and the band bashes with no mercy for most of the time creating a noisy, blurry mess with echoes of early Bathory and Impaled Nazarene. The vocalist plainly shouts and croaks, taking quite a space from the performance which hardly deserves any audience having in mind its ultimately amateurish nature.

Hammer Of Fusion Demo 2008
Export Rehearsal Tape Live album 2011

My Space

BATTLECROSS (USA)

Nice modern speed/thrash metal close to Children of Bodom and Brimstone; this is melodic stuff with harsh death metal vocals with sparce more aggressive death metal-tinged moments. The riffs lash with passion at times (the excellent shredder "Man of Stone"), and the pace is generally fast with a couple of more stylish technical elements added ("Rupture", the more aggressive riff-fest "Better Off Dead"). The closing "Misery" is an ambitious undertaking lasting for nearly 8-min (the last 2-min are wind blowing and echoing leads, disappearing in the distance, mixed together) boasting outstanding lead guitar work and intense fast riffage intercepted by fine quiet passages. Although the guys definitely have an example to follow, they manage to come up with a more individual approach, twisting the pattern here and there, as opposed to the mere copiers nowadays of the aforementioned acts.
"Pursuit of Honor" doesn't betray the band's staple style, and is another decent slab of the new breed of speed/thrash metal this time coming with more frequent death metal leanings, but with also numerous melodic hooks. "Deception" brings the more stylish riffing forward, after the opening trio of soaring speedsters, and later on there is more elaboration on the technical side with hectic complex pieces like "Breaking You" and "Rupture", or with vigorous twisted speedsters like the excellent "Better Off Dead". The closing "Misery" (there is a fine lead-driven instrumental after it) wraps it up nicely closing the 2nd chapter of the band's career with style blending the speed and the technicality in a sure-handed fashion. With two albums in quick succession this your outfit want to have their voice heard, and with the heaps of talent displayed here they should have no worries about it.

Push Pull Destroy Full-length, 2010
Pursuit of Honor Full-length 2011

My Space

BATTLEFIELD (GERMANY)

The band debuted with this nice EP of German speed/thrash metal with a female singer, close to Angel Dust and Iron Angel, and looked as though they would replace those two bands, the one of whom had split up, the other being in the process of changing their style. "We Come To Fight" is a truly impressive speed/thrasher, which begins with an imposing, slower intro, but later lashes with no mercy, with the girl singing her lungs out, providing great high vocals, reminiscent of her compatriot (and peer) Doro Pesch. "Nuclear Death" is another smashing speed delight, with an even more aggressive riffage. "Knock On Your Door" adds more stylish, semi-technical guitar work to the proceedings, still thrashing in an uncompromising way. "Grave Of The Unknown" is speed metal at its best, which would be a highlight even on "Walls of Jericho". "Possessed Preacher" starts like a quiet, tender ballad, with fine vocals, but afterwards the speed/thrash aggression reigns supreme this time accompanied by a catchy sing-along chorus, longer and better leads, and stupendous riffage as well, which in the second half (the song is 9-min long) becomes quite technical for a while. However, the "winds of change" carried Battlefield away, like the bands they were supposed to replace, and their later offerings adopted a much more melodic heavy/power metal sound with almost no traces of speed/thrash.
The "Time To Rethink" demo, released less than a year before their much more melodic debut, carries on in the same energetic vein, speed/thrashing in a way quite close to the EP. "Time To Rethink" is a sweeping speed/thrasher, but "Plastic World" is a more complex affair mixing slow and fast rhythms to a very good effect. "Undiscribable" is relentless intense thrash with the girl (whose name is Tanja Ivenz) unleashing a few piercing high-pitches. "Through My Veins" is another merciless portion of headbanging speed/thrash metal with impressive lead guitar work raising the flag high of the early German speed/thrash metal movement at the beginning of the new decade. One might have been quite shocked to hear the full-length debut, which followed soon after, after having given a listen to this short compulsive piece of vigorous speed/thrash metal.

We Come to Fight EP, 1987
Time To Rethink Demo, 1990

Fan Site

BATTLESOUL (CANADA)

Based on the full-length, this act plays epic stuff mixing Swedish melo-death metal with modern thrash and folk/pagan motifs. The style comes as a blend between Ensiferum and Norther with frequent blacky hyper-blasts thrown in for not a very good measure. Fast and slow songs are mixed the latter the more appealing side carrying the battle-like spirit of Amon Amarth and mid-period Bathory ("Lay Down Thy Burdens", "Those Who Sought the Dawn") on the best moments. The guitar tone is pretty melodic, though, with loads of catchy memorable hooks (check out "Warriors in Carrion Kingdoms") ably supported by keyboards, angelic female vocals, and more.

Battlesoul EP, 2008
Lay Down thy Burdens Full-length, 2010

My Space

BATTLETORN (USA)

Based on "Terminal Dawn", this is aggressive fast thrash/crossover ala Cryptic Slaughter and The Accused with very short, barely going over the 1.5-min limit songs; uncompromising, in-your-face approach, pretty basic and one-dimensional, but sincere.
"Reflect The Filth" is in a similar vein, short direct tracks, this time not as fast allowing a couple of more moderate passages to sneak in. The vocals are awful rending hysterical screeches which may get on some listeners' nerves.

Peace of the Grave EP, 2005
Villains/Reversed Single, 2005
Evil Chains Full-length, 2005
Burn Fast EP, 2006
Terminal Dawn Full-length, 2007
Reflect The Filth Full-length, 2009

Official Site

BATTUE (GERMANY)

Based on the demo, this act plays modern thrash/death metal which doesn't quite belong to any of the familiar schools, but looks for its own face with a dynamic, intense mixture of fast and slow sections both sides graced by a good sense of melody, bordering on the technical ("As Shadows Fade To Black") on occasion. The vocal "duel" is the expected "guttural vs. the raven" one, but is not overused, and as a whole the guys have laid a good base for a prospective capable full-length release. The musiscians also operate in two other formations: the similarly-styled thrash/death unit Deathtrip, and the doom/death metal outfit Nailed to Obscurity,

Demo Demo, 2007
New World Disorder Full-length, 2008
Deathinfection EP, 2010

Official Site

BAZ™OKA (TAIWAN)

Well played retro speed/thrash with hellish black metal vocals; the music is close to the Swedes Cranium and the Portuguese Alastor. There wil be a lot of fun with this effort played at high-speed the whole time, and one will hardly be annoyed by the not very convincing hoarse black metal vocals. The "pause" comes in the middle in the form of the heavy pounding "Barrage", a heavy stomper with echoes from early Celtic Frost. Its heaviness slightly translates on the following "Burning Village", but don't expect this to happen any further till the end; this is an uncompromising speed/thrash metal attack from the Far East.

Toxic Warriors Full-length, 2009

My Space

BEAGLE PUNCHER (UK)

4 songs of excellent speedy retro thrash, all instrumental, quite close to the Canadians Mastery, although the tracks are shorter, the leads are not prevalent, and there are no attempts at more elaborate shredding: just straight-forward fast-paced thrashing, a sure-handed headbanging winner.

Canine Holocaust EP, 2008

My Space

BEAST OF DAMNATION (HOLLAND)

This is classic/modern black/thrash metal recalling Impaled Nazarene and Dissection on the faster parts, but there are a few which go straight into the avantgarde post-black heard on the only Thorns effort and on the last few Satyricon albums. Both styles alternate supported by nice melodic leads (again with a touch of Dissection) and forceful death metal vocals.

Plague Infected Battlefield EP, 2008

My Space

BEAST PETRIFY (SINGAPORE)

Based on "Intrication": these Singaporeans play an aggressive, but at the same time fairly complex and technical, blend of thrash and death metal. "Entangled Nightmares" is a total mid-period Carcass and Atheist worship (the similarities with this band are also based on the vocals): a brutal slab of metal, quite jumpy and hectic as well. "Schizophrenic Aggressor" is a more direct death/thrasher, with a great bass support, followed by the "monstrous" interlude: the 9.5-min progressive opus "Fisting of Addictive", which is larger than life, and apart from the dominant thrash/death approach, the band finds time to add classic heavy metal touches ala Iron Maiden, which kind of dissipate the hard-hitting nature of the beginning; later on furious thrashing follows suit, and the exit is reserved for some joke tunes, but one has to pay attention in order to catch all the nuances here. "Injustice Victims" is a chaotic, violent piece, which ruins the good, until this point, impression where the vocals "help" a lot as well acquiring an awful screechy hysterical tember; it may be considered a masterpiece of technical thrash/death metal, but to these ears it's a bit more than senseless aggression. "In Tears of Anger" is a melodic power/thrash instrumental, not bad, but out of context, and will do little to remove the aftertaste already formed during the previous number. "Enigma of Hypnosis" finally returns to the more controlled patterns from the start, and is a fairly satisfying piece of thrash. "Intricated Devastation" is another winner, moving more towards death metal, graced by cool technical, but also quite fast frantic guitars. "Rage in the Millennium Vibrations" is a stunning work of technical/progressive thrash/death metal which more than compensates for the flaws encountered earlier: an encyclopaedia of riffs, time changes, and moods, where one would hardly find a dull moment during its more than 12-min of length; for a "dessert" the exiting part is a very cool balladic lead-driven outro.

"Dimensional Deranged Dilema" is a great work, seeing the band already on a high level of musicianship, offering an amalgam of styles, well mixed together; the approach is more complex, and firmly belongs to the progressive genre. The guitar sound is a bit buzzy, and the bass is put up front, but these are not very big detractions. "Dimensional Deranged Dilema" already suggests at the very beginning of the complex stuff one will encounter here, being a good progressive power/thrasher with nice melodies and furious fast parts. "Massive Irretrievable Burden" is another masterpiece of thought-out, elaborate music, but things pretty much hit the top with the brilliant instrumental "Slaves Of The Abyss" which, although more melodic and balladic, is a true gem of technical/progressive thrash, seamlessly blending raging thrashy sections with very calm, quiet ones, where the lead guitar work is breathtaking. "Impending Disaster" is more direct, but still semi-technical thrash, followed by "Revulsion After Discrimination" which also starts quietly, only to continue in a furious speed/thrashing manner ala Exumer's "Possessed by Fire" (which is actually the main influence on the whole album) only served with a much stronger technical/progressive edge; later the sound gets more technical, but retains the fast moments. "Pertiferous Betrayal" is again more immediate speed/thrash, quite fast and enjoyable, as well as the next "Obscure Obliteration", which jumps the death metal wagon for a while, before offering a nice Oriental passage. "The Pain Deep Within" goes back to the complex song-writing, providing a wide range of moods and tempos, finished with a nice acoustic instrumental, which later finds full realisation on the fine closing instrumental, which only features an acoustic play, but is more than a satisfying ending to this strong debut.

Dimensional Deranged Dilema Full-length, 1999
Webbed In Living Hell Full-length, 2003
Intrication Full-length, 2008

BED SORES (CZECH)

Ordinary groovy thrash, spiced with more intense death metal-ish moments ("Toodoo", "Why", "For"), which are definitely the better side of their style. At times the guys drop the ball, and go head-over-heals into alternative metal territory ("The Way Of Talented Race"), with the jumpy rhythms and the clean vocals.

Talented Race Full-length, 2005

Official Site

BEDLAM (USA)

Based on the "Permanent Psychosis" demo, these guys offer pretty cool American power/speed/thrash metal which is both heavy and mid-paced, and speedy and intense, both sides very well dispalayed on "Shadowland" which is a nice diverse thrasher with the very high-pitched dramatic vocals a slight pullback reminiscent of early Warrel Dane quite a bit. "Chaos At Bedlam" is a heavy semi-doomy piece, and "Contradictions" is a more vigorous track moshing far and wide ala early Blessed Death and Whiplash.

Demo Demo, 1988
Permanent Psychosis Demo, 1991

BEEHLER (CANADA)

This is Dan Beehler (Exciter)'s new band under his own name. Helped by another former Exciter member: the bassist Allan Johnson, the band perfectly captures the spirit of 80's Exciter, but with a more thrashy attitude. Beehler's vocals are impossible to be mistaken; perhaps here he gives way to his higher-pitched tones making him sound even like Rob Halford at times. Tribute is paid to the Beehler's past with a new version of the immortal "Violence And Force". There is much promise shown on both demos; hopefully a full-length release is just a matter of time.
Mr. Beehler is finally ready with his full-length, but without Johnson this time, and judging by the fierce opener "Jet Black", he is determined to give his former comrades from Exciter a lesson in the good old speed/thrash, something which they by all means need, having in mind their not very impressive, more recent, efforts. And things don't ger any calmer later on, the album offering vigorous speedsters galore ("Eternal Tormentor", "March of Death", "Destroy", the grinding (yes, indeed!) "Kill the Witch", etc.). Even the seemingly slower deviations ("Organized Mayhem", "In Know One We Trust") contain faster sections, the short lead-driven isntrumentals "Megalodon" and the closing "The End of the World" being the only really quiet moments. Beehler hasn't lost his hellish screams, this time sounding even higher-pitched reaching Halford-esque heights at times, and his attached, albeit slightly hysterical, antics confidently top this dedicated tribute to the old school which is just a nostalgic tune or two away from reaching the greatness of Exciter's earlier output.

Demo Demo, 2002
Demo Demo, 2003
Messages to the Dead Full-length, 2011

Official Site

BEER MOSH (SPAIN)

Heavy, hardcore-influenced modern thrash metal.

Pesadilla EP, 1992
A todos los cerdos les llega su San Martin Full-length, 1993
Injusta Prisi=n Full-length, 1996

BEER SOCIETY (SLOVAKIA)

Modern thrash metal with more melodic classic heavy metal moments; this is not hard stuff, but could be enjoyable, especially if you're a member of the "beer society".

Demo Demo, 2005

Official Site

My Space

BEETHOVEN (RUSSIA)

This is an obscure 4-track effort serving very thinly produced retro thrash wtih hateful deathy vocals, distantly recalling early Mille. The very thin guitar sound is a major disruption, the music sounding as though having been recorded on a computer, with the very noisy drums another annoyance, consisting of mostly fast rhythms with a few attempts at something melodic, which could have gone somewhere if it wasn't for the really bad sound quality.

Stay Such Demo, 1993

BEFAMAL (BRAZIL)

Brutal unpolished mix of thrash and death metal; fast short tracks accompanied by brutal low-tuned death vocals; death metal dominates, with thrash being a little bit more than just a humble assistant. The end is preserved for the very aggressive speedy cover of Sodom's "Blasphemer".

The Christ Exile Demo, 2004

BEFORE GOD (USA)

This is a side project for almost all members of the nazi crossover/thrashers Bound For Glory. It would be great if they decide to concentrate on this act more for the future; the music of Before God is much better, being a fusion of several metal styles- thrash, death (both technical and quite brutal at times), black and pagan/viking, with the last one bringing the sound close to Bathory's more epic period ("Blood,Fire,Death" and "Hammerheart"). Unfortunately the guys must have lost interest in this project, as it's been quite a while since we last heard from them.

Wolves Amongst The Sheep Full-length, 1999
Under The Blood Banner Full-length, 2000

Official Site

My Space

BEFORE THE FALL (AUSTRIA)

Fans of Terror 2000 and The Forsaken will rejoice: modern thrash metal, but watch out for those undesirable metalcore passages.

From Mutism to Riddance Full-length, 2006

Official Site

My Space

BEG FOR LIFE (AUSTRALIA)

A heavy mix of groovy post-thrash, hardcore and low-tuned roller-coaster death metal akin to early Six Feet Under. Not bad, easily reaching the intensity of Soulstorm and Puncture, also aiming at the sludge/core arena at times when the sound smells Eye Hate God quite a bit.

Doomed Full-Length, 2009

BEGINNING OF THE END (UK)

Thrashcore with hysterical black-ish vocals; there is plenty of energy and speed to be enjoyed here, although the guitars lack an edge sticking to the same sound pattern with sincere spontaneous takes on punk at times. The slow deviation from the norm "Death" is a cool minimalistic modern post-thrasher ruined by the bad rending inintellgible vocals which could be corrected in the future.

If Youre Going Through Hell-Keep Going Full-length, 2009

My Space

BEHIND ENEMY LINES (USA)

Two members of the doomsters Penance apparently got tired with the doom metal scene, and have decided to play more cheerful music for a change. The result is this band whose style is an enjoyable mixture of thrash, hardcore and punk.

Know Your Enemy Full-length, 2001
The Global Cannibal Full-length, 2003
One Nation Under The Iron Fist of God Full-length, 2007

Official Site

BEHOLDER (UK)

The full-length offers heavy modern power/thrash, mid-tempo for most of the time, recalling both more recent Iced Earth (on the few more classic moments) and Annihilator. Doom sneaks through at some point ("The Awakening"), and the semi-ballad genre is covered well ("The Brave Shall Fall"), but there is little to bang the fan's head here except for isolated sections from separate songs. Actually these are the same guys who were known much earlier under the name The Handsome Beasts and took an active part in the foundation of the NWOBHM movement, and are still active now.

Unleash the Hell EP, 2008
The Awakening Full-length, 2009

My Space

BEISSERT (GERMANY)

Heavy groovy post-thrash with cool doomy implements ("Panzerpabst") which nicely comes stripped off the groove. The rest will hardly make anyone fall in love with these guys who completely lose it near the end moving onto 70's blues to a very negative effect culminating on the monstrous 20-min mish-mash "[The 70's] Never Existed" where the sax delivers much better than the guitars.
"The Pusher" hardly "pushes" the guys into new musical territories, and sounds much softer than the debut with more adherence to stoner/doom and cleaner vocals. The guitars lack an edge preferring to stick to playful jolly rhythms even displaying a certain dance potential.

Nothin' Left to Luv! Full-length, 2007
The Pusher Full-length, 2010

My Space

BELADONNA (RUSSIA)

One of the lesser examples of thrash metal from the Russian metal scene; the music is probably not a total waste, but it's very simplistic and without any edge, and sounds like a thesis of an average guitar student from a musical college. There are timid attempts at lead guitar performance, but they remain on the semi-professional level. The guys try to speed up here and there, but it's just hard to headbang on this, simply because there are no riffs to be heard. The singer is plain horrible with his screechy high-pitched voice sounding as though his balls were trapped in a vise the whole time.

Xa-Os Full-Length, 1991

BELFEGOR (HUNGARY)

Melodic power/speed/thrash metal is offered here, with a big sense of melody which clearly predominates over the sharp riffage; actually there is not much thrash to be heard, but the faster numbers will definitely keep the speed lovers happy, and this effort could be considered one of the first entires into the 90's power/speed metal scene. At the present time members from this band play in the progressive metallers Age of Nemesis.

Vihar Ut n Full-length, 1992

BELFEGOR (POLAND)

3 songs (one is actually just an acoustic outro) of atmospheric gloomy black/thrash, slow and ponderous, predating the "exploits" of Barathrum and Khold with a few years, the difference coming mostly in the vocal department; the singer here is cleaner and better.

Mrok Demo, 1992

BELIEVER (USA)

A highly respected Christian progressive/thrash metal band; "Extraction from Mortality" is the band's most immediate work, being quite worthy aggressive thrash, which begins in a very intense fast manner bordering on death metal. This is far from mindless bashing, and "D.O.S." comes with a nice technical edge, although this is just a sparkle as later on the brutal thrashing carries on, moving onto pure death metal teritory with "Blemished Sacrifices", which is hardly the band's most attractive side. Fortunately the technical riffage returns for "Not Even One" and the cool closer "Stress" which sees the guys experimenting with offbeat funky tunes.
"Sanity Obscure" is the band's magnum opus, and their real entry into the technical/progressive thrash metal field. The title opener serves the debut's aggression in a more refined and controlled manner, showing that this time the technicality will rule over the rest. The tempo is also fast and intense, but this album has its other, slower and more complex side, which also produces very good results: "Nonpoint", "Stop the Madness". The album, however, loses momentum twice: on "Dies Irae"- an orchestral, operatic track which comes unheralded, and sounds quite misplaced, and on "Like A Song", which is a U2 cover.

"Dimensions" offers longer and heavier songs, which are intercepted by really good atmospheric, quiet passages, where one can hear guitars (leads and acoustic), bells, pianos, etc, which are simply too much on some tracks: "Dimentia". The speed has been decreased to a big extent, but slower, very technical and complex numbers like the awesome "What Is But Cannot Be" largely compensate for that. Still, headbangers of the more technical type are around ("Singularity") to stir the mood. The ending is secured for the 3-part metal opera "Movement", which is really ambitious and quite well done. The orchestral arrangements, the violins, royals and all other gimmicks are all here, as well as the female vocals, all this put on a heavy metal base, which might not serve a thrash metal album right, but at least proved very influential on many future acts (Therion, Nightwish, Bal-Sagoth, etc.).

The tsunami of comeback thrash veterans has swept these guys, too, and here they rise from the ashes, with their new opus "Gabriel". One usually approaches the comeback albums with caution, fearing that his idols might mess it up, being away for such a long time, but in the case of Believer one should safely bet on them. "Gabriel" is a good work on all counts, technicall/progressive thrash, sitting somewhere between their last two efforts. "Medwton" opens the album in an energetic technical fashion, a tendency continued on the following a bit slower and more complex "A Moment In Prime". Some cool more abstract elements on "Stoned", before "Redshift" starts delving deeper into progressive eclectic territories: a strange avantgarde doomy number. "History Of Decline" is exemplary technical thrash, strengthened by cool orchestral implements, a masterpiece of complex, thought-out performance. "The Need For Conflict" wastes no time bringing back the speed, still staying on a quite technical ground. Before your head starts spinning, the guys throw in the casual straight headbanger "Focused Lethality", as well as the dreamy almost balladic composition "Shut Out The Sun". "The Brave" has nothing to do with thrash, but is quite a noisy track, mostly due to the vocals, which here seriously try to tear some vocal chords on this one, and reminds of their attempt to cover U2 from "Sanity Obscure". Progressive instrumental thrash is probably the best way for the guys to apologize for the couple of not very impressive songs, and also put an end to the album, and here comes "Nonsense Mediated Decay", which truly fits the above description, although quite many things come along with it, so expect progressive thrash out of the ordinary, with numerous alternative breaks, surreal sections, non-metal references, and of course intense moshing at more and less expected places: quite a cool way to say good-bye, although later on there is a bonus track, which beats in eclectism everything heard here up to that point, but fortunately the guys know where to stop before stepping over the border beyond the good taste. The band have made sure to satisfy all their fans, and for that reason this work sounds both similar and different from their old output since it puts together both the more direct and the much less ordinary approaches resulting in one of the better comeback albums of recent years.
"Transhuman" would be quite a cold shower over the band fans: this is progressive power/post-thrash metal which sticks to mild semi-balladic patterns for at least half the time ignoring everything that was labelled "thrash" on their older output. There's no need to go into any further analysis of an album which simply doesn't belong here; this is a very unpleasant surprise coming right after the comeback effort showing the band taking an entirely new direction looking to expand their fanbase (but will there be any left from the old one?)...

Extraction from Mortality Full-length, 1989
Sanity Obscure Full-length, 1990
Dimensions Full-length, 1993
Gabriel Full-Length, 2009
Transhuman Full-length, 2011

Official Site

My Space

BELLADONNA (USA)

After having made a name for himself in Anthrax, Joey Belladonna decided to try his hands on something outside the shadow of his former band. Apparently both his new band and Anthrax themselves were not willing to pursue the hard thrash course of previous releases, and each took a long (and still going) break from thrash metal. Belladonna has chosen to preserve some thrash elements of the old school, but mixed with the more modern parts as well as a few hard'n heavy tracks (and ballads), they lose much of their initial power. Belladonna is in fine form carrying on in the vein of the vocals he used on "Persistence Of Time". Although far from all-out thrash metal efforts, his band's releases are much more satisfying than the alternative/modern works of 90's Anthrax.

Belladonna Full-length, 1995
Spells Of Fear Full-length, 1999
03 Full-length, 2003
Artifacts 1 Full-length, 2005
Artifacts 2 Full-length, 2006

Official Site

BELLZLLEB (JAPAN)

Based on the self-titled debut: this band comes up with a fairly original mixture of thrash and doom metal; the thrashing follows on the step of early Celtic Frost and the Canadians Slaughter on the faster sections which are not too many. This is slow-ish music, with quite a few quiet acoustic moments, and heavy doomy ones. The vocals are quite varied the basic ones being low-pitched semi-melodic, but quite effective are the harsh blask-ish rasps which are also given quite a space. The thrash metal fan might not be enormously entertained, but this is unconventional stuff, which is worth hearing at least out of curiosity. Like with many Japanese acts around the same time, expect something out of the ordinary.

Bellzlleb Full-length, 1989
Section II Full-length, 1990

BELSEBUB (SWEDEN)

Based on the single: this band pulls out mid-tempo thrash/death metal, along the lines of the Canadians Slaughter, or Slayer's "Hell Awaits". There is one brutal, grindcore section on "Masses to Reveal" to scare the listener away. "Chemical Warfare" is not a Slayer cover although it might remind you of the Slayer's song with its energetic headbanging delivery.

Lord of Lucast Demo, 1990
Disemboweled Demo, 1991
Elohim Single, 1992

BELTFED WEAPON (USA)

Based on the "Peacekeeper" EP, this band plays decent modern thrash mixing fast and slow rhythms on every song concentrating more on the heavy pounding side, with sparce blasting sections which sound kind of misplaced. The same can not be said, however, about the several retro riffs ("Brutalizer") which give a nice boost to the music.

Beltfed Weapon EP, 2001
Peacekeeper EP, 2009

My Space

BENEATH (SWEDEN)

With a band who have a relatively long-ish history of demo-releases, one could ask what the possible reason might be that these guys never managed to impress any label. Based on the "Time Hysteria" demo, the answer comes easy: this is nothing more than the practiced by hundreds of bands modern Swedish thrash/death metal, with no attempts for any deviation from that formula.

Earn Demo, 1995
The Weight We Carry Demo, 1998
Everything Ends Demo, 1999
Demon Seed Demo, 2000
Time Hysteria Demo, 2002

Official Site

BENEATH THE REMAINS (CANADA)

Modern technical thrash, with not many musical references to Sepultura (except, of course, the band name), full of interesting, intriguing riffs, and at some point the listener may get lost, partially "found" by the more straight, but quite cool leads ("A Fitting Home"). The music seldom speeds up, and when that happens, the next complex section is very close, to disorient you again ("Misery Suffered, Misery To Come"). "Electric Funeral" is... yes, guys, you guessed right again, a Black Sabbath cover, quite faithfully done, which is a downpoint, since the guys could have benefited from inserting some of their staple vortex-like riffs in it.

Screaming Demons EP, 2008

My Space

BENT SIRKIS (USA)

Based on the "Kill Your Immediate Family" demo, these obscure guys, who may be considered the first ones to use the satanic scary black and white make-up which later every second black metal act used to use in the 90's, pull out speedy raw thrash in the vein of Hallows Eve and early Whiplash, and things could have been better if they hadn't tried to make themselves more "attractive" to a wider crowd by including bland insipid hard'n heavy numbers ("Shut Up") although this "betrayal" can be forgotten when listening to blistering sincere thrashers like "Serious As Death" and "Fire Up" which come with abrasive guitars and gruff declamatory semi-death metal vocals.
The "S.E.E.D." demo is a typical product of the 90's, a slightly more dynamic take on the post-thrash idea reaching almost intolerable death metal heights on the final "Spit In Your Face", the latter also featuring a nice lead section. Not terribly bad, but having little to do with the band's more sincere classic approach from the past.

Kill Your Immediate Family Demo, 1986
Thriving on Chaos Demo, 1989
Rise Up Demo, 1991
Freak of Nature Demo, 1993
Impure Demo, 1994
S.E.E.D. Demo, 1994

My Space

BEOWULF (USA)

The band has been sticking to their thrash'n roll style ala Motorhead and Tank throughout their career; not extreme or brutal at all, but enjoyable and catchy enough.

Beownlf Full-length, 1986
Lost My Head... But I'm Back On The Right Track Full-length, 1988
Un-Sentimental Full-length, 1993
2 Cents Full-length, 1995
Westminster and 5th Full-length, 2007

Official Site

My Space

BEQUEST (SWITZERLAND)

Based on "Corruption", these guys pull out the typical for the time groovy thrash. It's not too bad, actually, because apart from the chunky groovy parts, one could catch more up-tempo riffage ("New World", "Invasion of Death"). The rest is mid-paced and uneventful if we exclude the cool balladic instrumental "Snlze".

Corruption Full-length, 1996
No Fear Full-length, 2000

Official Site

BEREAVED (JAPAN)

This band features two members from the thrash metal masters Ritual Carnage. The style is more aggressive being old school thrash/death metal with nice guitar work and a certain Gothenburg-influence. With Damian Montgomery (the founder and frontman of Ritual Carnage) going back to the States, this band might turn into the other guys' full-time project.

The Spirit Driven By Hate Full-length, 2006

Official Site

BERSERK (SALVADOR)

These guys are a cool "thrashing machine" offering entertaining old school speed/thrash which will grab you from the beginning (minus the intro) with the speed/thrash metal hymn "Berserk" before switching onto jollier speed metal ala early Exciter on "Living A Lie". Then "Thrash Attack!!!" will try to justify its title, and will succeed serving blitzkrieg Destruction-like stuff which will stay around for the two remaining songs.

Thrashing Machine EP, 2008

My Space

BERSERKER (GERMANY)

This obscure demo from the German underground will pleasantly surprise you with its tight diverse delivery. "Rebellion" is a longer more complex composition which will remind you of Rigor Mortis, but later on the guys start moshing in a straight fashion producing entertaining speedy thrash, which loses steam for the hard'n heavy roller-coaster "The Oath". The instrumental "Arriving of the Hellish Army Troops" is more on the power/speed metal side, but features numerous melodic hooks and a very good bass bottom, plus the obligatory aggressive thrash section at the end.

Brachial Metal Demo, 1987

BERZEKER (COLUMBIA)

The full-length shows a band with a sound deeply rooted in classic thrash: fast intense stuff of the more straight variety. The guys mix the more listenable proficient side of the 80-s Brazilian thrash scene (Chakal, Taurus, MX) with the speedy German school (Paradox, Toxic Shock, early Destruction: the excellent smasher "Written End"). The music of the Colombians is infused with more melody with catchy hooks gracing almost every song, but there is never slowing down even to mid-pace ("Dead Skunk In The Trunk" and "Bleeding To Death" contain one longer mid-tempo section): all the songs are blistering speed/thrashing bullets. "Constant Pain" and "Dead And Gone" introduce more technical riffage near the end, along with epic-like tunes, which nicely mix with the intense speed/thrashing moments. This is an entertaining entry from Colombia done by boys in their late teens: a promising young talented band who will hopefully continue getting the needed support.
"Penitentiary" is a commendable folow-up nailing you down from the very opener "Terrorist" which is a smashing headbanger with sparce semi-technical tendencies and the odd heavy break. "Traitor to the State" is a mix of slow modern and fast classic sections. but "Pull It" will "pull it" through with edgy thrash/crossover rhythms. "Penitentiary" is another confident speedster which is replaced by a string of more moderate less energetic numbers until the arrival of the final two songs: "Narcophobia", an intense jumpy composition, and "Behind the Mask" which is a brutal lasher with death metal shades. The boys sound like a well polished machine now, and despite the signs of settling in their comfort zone, there is more to be expected by them in the future.

Bleeding to Death EP, 2005
Aggressor Full-length, 2006
Penitentiary Full-length, 2010

Official Site

BESIEGED (CANADA)

These guys pull out awesome aggressive thrash in the best tradition of Sepultura's "Beneath the Remains" and Devastation's "Idolatry". This is fast relentless music with fine melodic leads. The singer walks in Max Cavalera's shoes, maybe a bit more shouty, and these moments also recall the later Chuck Schuldiner (R.I.P.) style a bit. The guitar performance of the Canadians is more technical perhaps, reminding of the band's country of origin, but not in a very overt way. "Dying Wave" shifts into a slower, heavier direction for a while, similar to Sepultura on "Arise" (the album). The guys' idols are honoured with a cover of "Troops of Doom" at the end: a vicious and brutal take on the Brazilians' hit, the only piece on the album which smells death metal all the way.
"Victims Beyond All Help" will split you at the seams really bad within a bit more than 30-min, with its merciless aggressive approach which inevitably comes death metal-decorated at times. So you will have no choice, but join the mosh which begins immediately with the blistering "Internal Suffering". Then some will gape wide on the next "Death" which sees such an uncompromising delivery also sounding pretty technical in a way similar to Expulsion and the lost legends Hypnosia. "Buried Alive" is a neckbreaker: a super-fast piece with lashing, weirdly technical, riffs. "The End" is not "the end", although to some of you this may be indeed the end feeling pretty exhausted after such a downpour, this cut being another raging offering with a clear death metal edge. "Victims Beyond All Help" races with the speed of light as well, but is more technically-charged and kind of more melodic. The speedy technicality, especially the latter, reaches its climax on the pen-ultimate "Trapped Inside", with the closer "Black" being more laid-back and complicated, the guys thrashing wild with the utmost precision, making this short effort a surreally beautiful affair with a blend of speed and technicality seldom achieved. The Sepultura influences are not as clearly heard this time, the band moving towards a more individual "face", with a more technical edge which only benefits from the all-out speed aesthetics.

Visions of Pain Demo, 2007
Victims Beyond All Help Full-length, 2010

My Space

BESIEGER (USA)

Abrasive pounding guitars dominate this rough slab of retro thrash/death metal which is one-dimensional up-tempo bashing for most of the time, but there are a few interesting surreal technical moments ala Immolation and Morbid Angel ("Honor In Obliteration") which could definitely turn into something special later.

Honor In Obliteration Demo, 2011

BESTIAL (ARGENTINA)

The band's style clings between Sepultura's "Arise" and "Chaos AD", so we have a mix of classic and modern thrash. The music is nicely balanced between the two styles, with slight preferences towards the classic sound; this is mostly mid-tempo stuff, with longer for the style songs (5-6min), among which one might find some fine thrashers ("Demencia").

Bestial Full-Length, 1998

BESTIAL (BRAZIL)

Based on "Final Presage", this band comes up with a combination of the three basic metal genres: black, thrash and death. The concentration is perhaps on death metal, and there are quite a few very intense and fast sections, but one could easily catch cool thrashy riffs here and there.

Final Presage Full-length, 2004
Phalanx of Genocide Full-length, 2005

Official Site

BESTIAL COLONY (SINGAPORE)

This is one of the earliest thrash/death metal acts to come out of Singapore, and as such don't expect any high level of musicianship. This is actually pretty amateurish stuff, based on the rehearsal, which can hardly be called music, but is a constant mess of barely heard guitars, awfully-sounding drums, and terrible shouty vocals which one may turn off well before the end of the 1st song. This mess is more on the faster side: at least this can be defined based on the drum rhythm; but that's all that can be said....

Universal Decay Rehearsal 90 Demo, 1990
Universal Decay Demo, 1991

BESTIAL CURSE (BRAZIL)

Early Bathory-worship down to the -T-; the raw primal sound quality is also quite well imitated as well as the blend of fast and slow tracks. Only the singer falls behind with his deeper death metal-laced tone. "Evoked Damnation" deviates into semi-doomy black ala early celtic Frost, and "Masters of Mayhem" is a nod to the new 90's black metal school with more melodic, almost epic, arrangements. The two band members are also busy with other acts: the classic heavy metallers Raw Raze, the doom metal outfit S.m.a.c.k., etc.

Masters of Mayhem Full-length, 2009

My Space

BESTIAL DEATH (ISRAEL)

A hellish trio from Israel providing raging thrash/death metal, a more aggressive elaboration on Possessed's "Seven Churches" with very vicious guttural vocals. The guys lash pretty fast and wild, and this underground recording (the sound is really bad) could pass for one of the earliest, and most brutal, attempts at death metal, pretty much on one level with the Messiah debut, and even Protector's "Misanthropy": seriously! If it wasn't for the raw sound quality and the very little exposure back at those times, this effort could have by all means been cited as an influence on the more extreme side of metal.

Suicide of the Immortal Demo, 1986

Official Site

BESTIAL DESECRATION (GERMANY)

Old school thrash in the vein of early Sodom and Kreator; the sound quality is bad with a very thin guitar sound, and spoils the impression from the otherwise energetic delivery.

Soldiers of Death EP, 2000

Fan Site

BESTIAL DEVASTATION (FINLAND)

Black/thrash metal of the old school, mostly heavy and mid-paced, similar to later-period Barathrum and early Celtic Frost.

Hostele Revenge Demo, 1999
Fist Of Steel Demo, 2001
Final Solution Demo, 2004

Official Site

BESTIAL HOLOCAUST (BOLIVIA)

Based on "Final Extermination", these Bolivians pull out aggressive old school black/thrash with vicious witch-like vocals. The tempo is fast, often branching out into spasmodic blasting black ("Impostor"), and generally the guys are fonder of the black metal idea, also expressed in the slower nods to Celtic Frost and Hellhammer ("Sentencia De Muerte"), which are not too many, but bring the desirable shift from this otherwise pretty intense listening experience.

Pacto Con Satan EP 2005
Final Extermination Full-length 2006
Primigenium Invocation EP 2006
Temple of Damnation Full-length 2009

My Space

BESTIAL HORDES (MALAYSIA)

This act provides old school Germanic speed/thrash metal "ornated" by spasmodic blacky hyper-blasts resulting in music which is both melodic and brutal crossing early Destruction with the Swedes Defleshed and allusions towards the Japanese movement (Sabbat, Barbatos, Abigail, etc.). The end comes in the form of an intense cover of the early Bathory hit "Die in Fire". Some of the musicians here also explore the fields of death metal with their other project Benefection.

Nuclear Metal Lust EP 2011

BESTIAL MOCKERY (SWEDEN)

This band appeared at around the same time with Cranium, both bands intent on bringing back the glorious 80's' sound. This band's style is different from the other band being black/thrash metal, sounding like a vicious mixture between early Kreator and early Bathory. The music is fast and aggressive with the very appropriate, typical for the early 80's, "dirty" sound. The vocals are suitable to the music, being vicious black-ish rasps. The band doesn't offer much variety throughout their career, but fans of the more extreme side of classic thrash will enjoy these guys' works a lot.
"Christcrushing Hammerchainsaw" is by far the band's most extreme offering blasting out in a chaotic uncontrolled manner quite a bit, now also resembling their neighbours Impaled Nazarene and beyond, especially on the moments when the music turns to pure hyper-fast grindcore. The slower much calmer numbers come as a revelation: the doomy sinister "Chainsaw Inkarnated"; the playful heavy metal joke "Raise The Chalice" although by the time he reaches them (both songs are placed near the end), the listener may be totally exhausted.

A Sign of Satanic Victory EP, 2002
Christcrushing Hammerchainsaw Full-length, 2002
Evoke the Desecrator Full-length, 2003
Gospel of the Insane Full-length, 2006
Slaying The Life Full-length, 2007

Official Site

My Space

BESTIAL NOISE (FINLAND)

Intense old school thrash metal with both heavy and speedy riffs topped by brutal deathy vocals. There are sparce hyper-blasting moments belonging more to the black metal camp ("Libation", "Warfare Noise"), but they hardly serve the guys right being a bit more than just senseless bashing done for its own sake.

Demo Tape Demo, 2010

Official Site

BESTIAL POSSESSION (PERU)

Fast blitzkrieg thrash/death of the old school with early Kreator and Rigor Mortis the main influences; good stuff with a slightly dirty sound, short screaming leads and gruff death metal vocals which transform into hellish screamy ones at times akin to Tom Araya (remember "Black Magic"). The aggression goes over the edge on "Thrash Bestial Attack" which goes straight into an early Sarcofago territory with the brutal blasts. "Believer Of Hell" is a cool cover of the Brazilian underground legends of the 80's Mutilator here played considerably faster turned into a furious black/death/thrash metal amalgam. The end comes in the form of the best track on the album "March Into Hell", vintage early Destruction with echoes of both "Mad Butcher" and "Confound Games".

Duros, Ebrios y Lujuriosos Full-length, 2009

My Space

BESTIAL REVILER (RUSSIA)

This trio from Moscow pulls out merry straight old school thrash, fast and dynamic with gruff drunken death metal vocals, not too far from the Japanese models in the genre: Abigail, Barbatos, etc. "Horned Woman" is a tad more melodic, a jolly thrash/crossover piece.

Hellthrashing Warriors Split, 2009

My Space

BESTIAL TORMENT (SWITZERLAND)

The compilation sees a band operating on a wide scale, covering thrash, black and death metal in almost equal dozes. The guys have ties to the Swiss death/thrash legends Excruciation, from which camp came a few musicians. Hellhammer and early Celtic Frost have very obviously been a big influence on the guys during their spawning stages, before switching onto more dynamic speed/thrash ala Whiplash and Possessed later on, without losing completely their black/doomy (and also "bloody") roots. Their last period is more in the doom/death camp, with shades of Asphyx and early Messiah, but the musicianship is less impressive than before. The vocalist doesn't change his gruff low-tuned deathy tember, singing in the same manner all along, sounding a bit lower on the more death metal-based material, and his rendings often get lost in the musical barrage. The band members are also active in a few more musical areas: with the black metallers Ghost Kommando; and the retro black/thrash formation Forgotten Chaos.

Terror From Below EP, 2001
Revelations of Morbid Warfare Compilation, 2011

Official Site

BESTIAL TORTURE (FINLAND)

Based on "Hellthrashing Warriors" split, this band plays speedy retro thrash in the spirit of the Portuguese Alastor and the early models from the 80's German scene. The vocals are more in the black metal camp recalling Mika Lutinen (Impaled Nazarene).

Blackened Metal Damnation Demo, 2008
Hellthrashing Warriors Split, 2009

My Space

BESTIARIO (BRAZIL)

This is a modern blend of post-thrash and doom/stoner; holds water with more inspired melodic moments ("Horrendus et Horripilantis"), those sounding closer to doom. There are certainly more aggressive moments to be heard (the short explosive "Balaclava"; the short speed/thrash cut "Hospício Azul do Sol Poente"), but overall it's the doom metal fans who would be happier with this effort.

Bestiário Full-Length, 2011

BETHRAYER (CZECH)

The demo is modern thrash, sounding like a mixture of Sepultura's "Chaos Ad" and Machine Head's "Burn My Eyes". The instrumental "Despair" is particularly good with its technical riffs and flute tunes. By the time the guys got lucky to record a full-length the style has already changed into nu-metal.

Manipulation Demo, 1996
Ray Of Hope Full-length, 2004

Official Site

My Space

BETRAYAL (BRAZIL)

A 5-song demo of cool Germanic speed/thrash with proto-death ornamentations ala their compatriots Bywar; the style is actually quite close to the one of that act the difference coming mostly from the dual vocal attack: one hysterical rasp, the other low-tuned brutal, and the more frequent use of extreme hyper-blasts. Otherwise this is fast relentless music nicely reaching "speed of light" heights at times ("Protestation").

Human Destruction Demo, 2005

My Space

BETRAYAL (USA)

A Christian thrash metal band; the band's debut is a very ambitious attempt at progressive thrash, but the final result is quite confusing with its awkward time changes, numerous influences from other sides of the music spectre (balladic, orchestral, funky, industrial passages, etc.), and weird riffs. Still it has its moments, and would have been better, if the guys didn't have the tendency to speed up to a death metal intensity on many songs ruining the preceding monolithic thrashy sound. On the shorter tracks the band obviously had no time to insert many influences, and those songs are the best, and the more immediate: "Assassins in the Midst", "Prophets of Baal".
All this is gone on their sophomore effort which is commendable technical thrash, the only irritation being the distorted, computerized vocals. "The Passing" is a textbook on sharp technical riffs; the very first track ("Renouncement") shows that this album will be a different story. There is no unnecessary elaboration here, just direct steel technical guitars. The music is not openly aggressive; slower compositions are included ("Carnival of Madness"), and the atmospheric moments work much better ("Forest of Horrors"). "Whispers of Chaos" comes with an almost death metal-like aggression, and is the best song here. For the end the guys have preserved the shortest, but also the most effective tracks, bringing a great package of intensity and technicality squeezed in no more than 3-min. With a bit more focused and less pretentious approach these guys can work "miracles".

Renaissance by Death Full-length, 1990
The Passing Full-length, 1993

BETRAYED (CHILE)

This is one album as you have noticed, been re-released in 2006. Betrayed play awesome technical thrash ala Ulysses Siren and Have Mercy, with sharp guitars and mostly a quite energetic tempo, often considered the finest thrash metal album from Chile, and rightfully so. The album starts aggressively with "Fight For Your Land", graced by really impressive technical riffs and clever tempo changes. The speed never drops, intercepted by slower breaks. The exception is "Human Madness", which is a nice mid-tempo instrumental with a more simplistic and less aggressive guitar work. The only complaint is the vocals, which sound indifferent and declamatory as though the guy doesn't really sing, but recites. It was probably original back in the days, but now it sounds downright funny and... annoying. With a more capable singer, these guys could have reached the very top of the ladder; now they have reached very close.