Copyright (c) 2007 THE THRASH METAL GUIDE
0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Z-SECT (JAPAN)
This is another band to enjoy the vocal abilities of one of the most prominent Japanese metal voices: Nov (also Volcano, Aion). This band play good speed/thrash of the more melodic variety, resembling the Aion debut album. The EP boasts some really cool heavy thrashers ("Emergency") and some nice speed metal pieces ("Inori"). The guitar sound, however, is too buzzy, and might annoy a bit.
N.O.V. EP, 1989 ZADKIEL (JAPAN)
Based on the debut EP, Zadkiel brought first in Japan the black/thrash metal sound of bands like Venom and Celtic Frost. The music is actually quite energetic, sounding like a mix of Venom and Exciter, with only "Hell's Bomber" carrying the dark, brooding character of the Celtic Frost sound.
Hell's Bomber EP, 1986 Vibrations of Doom ZARATHUSTRA (GERMANY)
With an intelligent name like this (I guess you know who Zarathustra is, if not-check it out!) one might expect that this would be a progressive metal band or something at least more technical. Well, the truth is that we have mostly black metal not too far from Darkthrone, but mixed with a fair amount of thrash riffs (mostly on their last work) with a slightly dragging and monotonous feeling; would be of bigger interest to black metal fans.
Dogma Antichrist Full-length, 2000 Official Site ZATARRAS VENGEANCE (AUSTRALIA)
Modern groovy thrash, with less conventional guitar work, offering some more energetic moments ("Wasted Youth"), which come with good melodic hooks.
Demo Demo, 2008 ZATMENIE (RUSSIA)
Melodic thrash mixed with some more traditional heavy metal tunes. There are the obligatory for such mixtures balladic moments, but when the guys thrash, they pull out some awesome heavy riffs: the 8-min monster epic thrasher "Lubov".
Hatred (Nenavist') Full-length, 2004 Official Site ZEITGEIST (UK)
Despite the relative length of the songs (some are 5-7min long, and there is one monstrous track-"Paradise Lost", which is almost 10-min long!), this is nothing more than pure thrash/crossover, the way it was played by more famous representatives of the genre like D.R.I., Rumble Militia, Lawnmower Deth. There is nothing technical here, and the music is not very heavy, but delivers the goods; "Suspended Animation" is a fairly good attempt at crossing crossover with a ballad, highlighted by the excellent lead guitar. The aforementioned "Paradise Lost" offers different deviation from the formula, this time crossing doom metal with crossover, and surprisingly, this also works well.
Mindstorm Demo, 1989 ZERO OPTION (CANADA)
Melodic thrash meets power metal on this album. The music is surprisingly modern for this early stage of the decade, and is quite heavy at times, but the bad news is that thrash metal is only used sparingly, and is never of the exciting, energetic variety; comes close to the future Flotsam & Jetsam transformation during the 90's, but less original and memorable.
Gates Of Utopia Full-length, 1991 ZERO TO BALLISTIC (USA)
This band is actually only one man: Ali Sugerman. He does a fairly good job, offering progressive metal, with certain nods to thrash. The opening "...Bring on the Pain" is a marvellous progressive thrasher, which will keep you enormously entertained within its 8-min, hitting both with force and technicality in almost equal dozes. "Epiphany in Black" is another masterpiece of technically-minded music, concentrating on the complex side, coming up with some the most head-spinning riffs one might encounter on the contemporary metal scene. "Hope Springs Eternal" is a nice piece, mixing slow, atmopsheric sections with more aggressive ones, ably supported by brilliant technical, melodic guitars. "Indomitable" is a very eclectic, anantgarde number, with no ties to thrash, but is very enjoyable as well, maybe a bit too log (12-min). After that the album loses its edge almost completely, following the example of this "monster", coming with a couple of abstract, "out there" progressive tracks, permeated by brilliant genuine Oriental atmosphere, which even the best Middle East acts could only dream of. "Nails in Your Coffin" returns to the thrashy patterns from the beginning, and is a great intense technical song, reminiscent of Mekong Delta even. "The Guns Fall Silent" is in the same vein: aggressive thrashing piece of complex stuff, followed by the fine balladic closing "The Plains of Abaddon". Although the middle of this album might stretch the thrash fan's nerves a bit, with the sudden and lasting exit from the more hard-hitting side of metal, it is by all means a truly satisfying work of complex metal, with enough intense moments to please the hard-boiled audience.
Idiom Full-length, 2006 Official Site ZERO VISION (BRAZIL)
Based on the "Ultimate Encore" demo, this band play modern thrash, with an industrial edge, but with a strong presence of the authentic guitar sound, mostly mid-tempo, and sligtly monotonous. Some expected groovy sections are also present ("Worms"), but they are of the more dynamic, Pantera-like type. This is actually cool stuff, especially to those who are fans of the modern, industrial 90's trends.
Under Confusion Demo, 1991 ZEROED (GERMANY)
Thrash/death metal with the classic and the modern sound mixed well together. There are some stomping numbers which will remind you of Bolt Thrower and Benediction, but the thrash assaults are predominant, having the aggressive Devastation, Sepultura-flavour.
Death Notes Full-length, 2002 Official Site ZEROFOUR (AUSTRIA)
Based on "The Downfall of Humanity": this band play quite good modern thrash, with some classic insertions, and hoarse death-ish vocals. The music packs a punch, offering some really cool headbangers: "Dishumanized Society". "Warfaith", but the slower, heavy numbers are by no means less worthy: the atmospheric, doomy "Where Is Your God Now?", which boasts nice Oriental hooks, and really brutal, low-tuned growls; the balladic "Zeronation", which again, comes with a nice melodic guitar work, and more melodic, semi-clean vocals. The last song: "The Dreadful Genocide", is a 12-min progressive opus, which begins like a gothic track, with atmospheric melodic passages and female vocals, before it switches onto full-blooded intense thrash in the middle, and carries on like that for a while, giving place to the great acoustic outro. Bands from Austria are a rarity, especially those playing thrash (there is a big gothic/doom scene there), but this one is more than worth checking out, providing great, diverse stuff, which would appeal to a wider range of metal fans.
The Desert of Reality Full-length, 2006 Official Site ZEROZONIC (SWEDEN)
This is a side project of the mastermind behind the great Scariot Daniel Olaisen. The style here is nothing like the technically-exuberant one of the other band; this is modern, groovy thrash with a slight alternative twist, which owes a lot to bands like Pantera, Machine Head and GZR.
Demo 2005 Demo, 2005 Official Site ZHELEZNY POTOK (RUSSIA)
A noteworthy thrash metal band from Russia who, unlike the majority of the Russian bands who appeared at around the same time (Aspid, Koma, Valkyria, Mafia, Mortifer), didn't change radically their sound, or split up after just one album. Their first two releases were energetic, but not very skillful, Bay Area-influenced thrashers, maybe longer for the style, and graced by some cool melodic leads.
Black Force (Chernaya Sila) Full-length, 1988 ZIMMER'S HOLE (USA)
This is thrash metal played strictly for laughs. A side project of two members from Strapping Young Lad, Zimmer's Hole mix many styles on their efforts, covering almost anything you can think of from the metal spectre. Thrash is the most consistent style, but there is also death, gothic, classic heavy, doom: you name it. The tracks are very short in the 1-2 min-range, with almost everyone being dedicated to a different style; could be enjoyable, if not taken too seriously.
Bound by Fire Full-length, 1997 Official Site ZIONS ABYSS (CANADA)
A very interesting one-album wonder mixing doom with thrash metal: imagine Solitude Aeturnus with a more thrashy approach to song writing, and you'll know what Zions Abyss sound like. The concentration is more on doom; that's why some thrash metal fans might find it too slow for their taste, but this is a very worthy effort from the less ordinary side of the genre.
T.A.L.E.S. Full-length, 1991 Official Site ZNÖWHITE (USA)
A speed/thrash metal band with a girl behind the mike (Debbie Gunn is the name- the same one who also sang for Ice Age, Sentinel Beast, and Brutal Groove; quite a career, isn't it!). She does a very good job, and seldom have I heard such good female vocals in metal. The music is simply amazing, especially the full-length which is one of the summits of the whole American speed/thrash metal scene. Fast, intense riffs with nice, memorable choruses which you might find addictive. This is so essential that I don't think that there is even a handful of fans out there who don't know this masterpiece by heart! Later some of the band members formed another very good, but less impressive band: Cyclone Temple.
All Hail To Thee EP, 1984 Vibrations of Doom ZOETROPE (USA)
Another fine band who never made a breakthrough. Their debut was a solid speed/thrash effort similar to Exodus' "Bonded By Blood". The second one follows in the same direction, but is a kind of less interesting. The band got lost for six years, before resurfacing again with the excellent "Mind Over Splatter", where, among the heavy Slayer-esque riffs, one could hear some more-light hearted ones, with a speedier, Exciter flavour ("New World Order"), as well as some with a cool crossover spirit ("It's My Life")- a diverse and enjoyable listen, which tries to be even technical at times, and succeeds ("Spilling on Blood", which, apart from the more clever guitar work, features the most aggressive riffs as well).
Amnesty Full-length, 1985 Vibrations of Doom ZOLTAR (BRAZIL)
Aggressive thrash with shades of death metal, especially in the vocal department. The tempo is quite fast most of the time with nice guitar work, both in the riff and the solo sector. This is classic stuff which was typical for the late 80's-early 90's (the French scene at that time, the Swedes Merciless (their debut in particular), even Massacre and Entombed could be heard in the more intense death-ish parts, and it's nice to hear this sound brought back with style.
Into The Dephts To Burn Full-length, 2002 ZOMBIE (USA)
Based on the Split, this is simpistic fast-paced thrash along the lines of early Slayer (before "Reign in Blood") and early Whiplash. The vocals are modelled on Tom Araya. The songs tend to be longer for the style (5-6min), but there is nothing complex going on, if we exclude some cool leads, not too typical for the aforementioned bands.
First Bite Demo, 2006 ZOMBIE RITUAL (JAPAN)
A nice young band from Japan who play a mixture of classic thrash and death metal, similar to bands like Ghoul and Frightmare, with the obligatory "duel" between deep growls and vicious snarls in the vocal department. The Japanese are more thrash-inclined, with their sound moving at times towards Venom and Bathory ("Zombie Axe Massacre", "Zombie Party").
Night of the Zombie Party Full-length, 2004 Official Site ZONA NEGRA (ARGENTINA)
Based on the full-length debut, this band are another fine addition to the growing Argentinian thrash metal scene. This is quite good classic thrash with slight nods to the Bay Area scene, but more along the lines of Viking's "Man of Straw" and their compatriots Nepal's debut album. The predominant pace is up-tempo, but there are quite a few sections where the music becomes quite aggressive and fast, recalling Slayer. "HaBitat Enferma" is a cool power/thrasher which slows down, but only for a while, followed by the album's highlight: the excellent headbanger "Interiores Nuestros" which also shows the band's more technical side. The rest of the songs are by no means less impressive; easily one of the finest thrash metal debuts of 2007.
Destino Estancado EP, 2004 Official Site ZOV (RUSSIA)
Classic thrash metal with some good melodic guitar work and excellent bass performance. The singer has a nice powerful mid-ranged voice, something which can not be said about most of the Russian metal acts where the vocals have always been the weakest link. The band's style has something in common with the one-album wonder Mafia (from the same country), but often the style takes a more melodic, slower turn, resulting in the demo's best moments: "Abyss", "Madness". Apart from those, there are enough marvellous faster numbers to satisfy the more aggressively-inclined fans. The Russian metal scene really needs talented bands like this one to put its name back on the metal map, and hopefully these guys would soon be given a chance by some label!
Çîâ Demo, 2005 Official Site ZVRATOR (CZECH)
"Asphyxiation" offers quite good thrash/death metal, reminiscent of the first two Pestilence albums, or No Return's "Contamination Rises". "Totální Masakr" is rawer and more simplistic, with a very heavy bass-bottom, which stifles the guitars a bit, quite fast and brutal at times, sounding not too far from early Messiah and Protector, featuring also one heavier, doomy song with the not very appropriate title: "Brutalica". "Hnijící Embryo" is apparently the band's first initiation into good quality music, as is not miles away from "Asphyxiation", but more aggressive and faster. The guys are better with less speed involved, as is evident from the best song on the demo "Hnijící Embryo", and the Sepultura cover "Troops of Death" (although it's also quite fast, but not too aggressive).
Totální Masakr Demo, 1991 ZWARTKETTERIJ (HOLLAND)
This is old school black/thrash metal which on its best moments recalls Bathory's "Blood, Fire, Death" ("The Black Fucking Heresy"), but there is also brutal bashing used so often by the modern black metal bands. Fortunately the guys don't stick to this side of their music for too long, and they are not strangers to some cool speed/thrash numbers in the vein of Nocturnal (Germany) and Alastor (Portugal) ("Jack Hellfire Necrotrash"). "Neslepaks" is a very faithful cover of the folk/black metallers Isengard, although it sounds awkward and offbeat, having almost nothing to do with the style presented on this album.
Sodomizer Dirty Sodomizer Full-length, 2005 Official Site ZYNC (USA)
Boring, tedious groovy semi-thrash, comins as a mix between Biohazard and Anthrax's 90's period, with some awful rap vocals. The music completely lacks energy, going for heavy, but unimaginative guitars.
Bring Forth The Element Full-Length, 2005 Copyright (c) 2007 THE THRASH METAL GUIDE
Highway Z Single, 1986
Heroic Zarathustrian Heresy EP, 2000
Nihilistic Terror EP, 2003
Perpetual Black Force Full-length, 2003
Contempt EP, 2005
In Hora Mortis Full-length, 2006
Zatmenie (Eclipse) Full-length, 2005
Ultimate Encore Split, 1994
Acrid Taste Full-length, 1994
War of Liberation Full-length, 2003
The Downfall of Humanity Full-length, 2008
"Infinite Pain" comes as a very pleasant surprise, showing the band in a new light, with much better musicianship. "Bloody Rain" comes with smashing intense, technical riffs to show that this will be a different affair. Among the stylish delivery some not very convincing, mellow tracks can still be found ("Don't Die"), although this is nicely compensated by the better moments. The guitars lose their technical edge here and there, going into straight speed/thrashing, and the jolly joke song at the end "Beer Passion" could have been more convincing, but this effort showed the band in another, better light, staying true to the classic patterns, with no hesitations towards the trends of the time.
It was interesting to see how long the guys would hold against the fashion of the day. "Callig Eternity" still sounded pretty classic for most of the time, and was even better (depending on the taste, of course): very well executed technical thrash, which would remind you of Equinox, Voivod, and even a more accessible Mekong Delta. The guitar sound is thicker and heavier, but the fast sections have been reduced to a minimum, and there are two cool melodic instrumentals: one balladic with a good acoustic Latino guitar, accompanied by a sax; the other being a bit faster with some nice leads, among other melodic, but interesting passages, scattered throughout the other tracks. The lack of many sharp guitars and the numerous more abstract moments might let the regular thrash metal fan down, but still more hard-hitting sections could be found. Seemingly having reached their creative peak, the band members scattered around the music field into bands with no relation to thrash.
Sign (Znamenie) Full-length, 1991
Infinite Pain (Beskonechnaya Bol') Full-length, 1993
Calling Eternity (Zovuschaya Vechnost') Full-length, 1995
Legion of Flames Full-length, 2001
Kick 'em When They're Down EP, 1985
Live Suicide Live album, 1986
Act of God Full-length, 1988
A Life Of Crime Full-length, 1987
Mind Over Splatter Full-length, 1993
Sacrificial Blood/Zombie Split, 2006
Zombies from Tokyo EP, 2007
Por Tu Misma Patria Full-length, 2007
Asphyxia Single, 1992
Hnijící Embryo Demo, 1992
Asphyxiation Single, 1992
Cult of the necro-thrasher Full-length, 2007