Copyright (c) 2007-2010 THE THRASH METAL GUIDE
0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.
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 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 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.
Gazing At The Winter Moon Full-length, 2005 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 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 to the heavy pounding riffage.
Death Becoming Force Full-Length, 2010 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 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 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 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, 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.
No Answers Full-length, 1991 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).
Satanic Metal Attack Full-length, 2006 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 My Space 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.
Seguimos Avanzando Live album, 2006 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 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 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 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.
Blasting All Rotten Fuckers Demo, 1990
Tumulte Full-length, 1992
Ignorance Chaos Suicide Full-length, 1993
Surprise... Full-length, 1995
Catharsis Full-length, 1998
Confusion of Tongues Full-length, 2008
Demo 2 Demo, 1987
Demo 3 Demo, 1989
Demo 4 "Live and Learn" Demo, 1990
Prolonging The Misery Full-length, 2004
Mailbox Full Of Mouse-Traps Full-length, 2007
Final Strike Full-length, 1986
For the Weird by the Weird Full-length, 2002
Lynch the Weirdo Full-length, 2004
Window Full-length, 1991
Striges Full-length, 2009
Caminos Inhumanos EP, 2008
"Perfection" offers a more abrasive guitar sound, and an increased presence 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.
Perfection Full-Length, 2010
Warhead Full-length, 1997
Destroy Full-length, 2000
"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.
Latest Jesus Full-length, 1992
Trust Full-length, 1994
"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 proved 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 afore-mentioned 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.
Second Strike Full-length, 2008
Metal Damnation Full-length, 2009
Gutterbound Full-length, 2009
"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.
Heavy Metal Resurrección Full-length, 2007
Hell Is Back on Earth Full-length, 2009
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
Immemorial Demo, 1992