As I delve into proper scummy old thrash I call upon the egg heads of Metal Warfare to give me some pointers. I have never really gotten into thrash despite the obvious stuff that we all got into early in our metal lives like Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, ST...
Lately I have found myself interested in delving a bit more into 80s stuff like Kreator, Destruction and Sodom. I'm mostly interested in that stuff that bordered on death and black metal over the leaner, cleaner stuff. But fuck it, give me all your recs and I'll see what grabs me.
This mightn't be quite what you're after, but two bands that immediately sprung to mind when I saw scummy thrash metal are Overkill and Razor. They both play very aggressive, sleazeball, no frills thrash metal. Overkill throw in the odd ballad but even these are brutish as fuck.
I'd recommend 'The Years of Decay' and 'Horrorscope' by Overkill. If you like that then definitely check out 'Ironbound' which was a later highlight.
For Razor I'd recommend 'Violent Restitution' and 'Shotgun Justice'.
Been meaning to check out Razor so I'll get on it.
I actually have an original LP version of The Years of Decay by Overkill that an ex gave me nigh on 20 years ago (along with The Real Thing, both were her brother's) but I had zero interest in it back then being on a total doom and black metal buzz, which I still mainly am. I must give it another go.
I picked up Bonded By Blood a year ago and it kicked my hole. I heard it back in the early 90s but it was probably a bit too wild for me at that stage. Metallica were the be all and end all for me at that point.
Early Voivod might be what you're after, War & Pain, Roooooaaaaarrrrr
Possessed - Seven Churches too, if you don't know it
Yep, I have those. Actually, I don't have Roooaaarrrr. Must check it out.
Shotgun Justice would definitely do the job if you're looking for another album to kick your hole. It's a fucking rabid thrash album.
I'd also recommend 'Illusions' by Sadus, 'Spectrum of Death' by Morbid Saint, and 'Epidemic of Violence' by Demolition Hammer.
Holy Terror - Terror and Submission, Mind Wars
Dark Angel - We Have Arrived, Darkness Descends
Whiplash - Power And Pain, Ticket to Mayhem
Hobb's Angel of Death
Cryptic Slaughter - Convicted, Money Talks (big hardcore influcne but still scuzzy)
Prong - Primitive Origins
Deathrow - Satan's Gift
Harter Attack - Human Hell
Gammacide - Victims of Science
Kind of after the stuff that could be considered precursors to black and death metal but I'll check out some of those who I haven't heard yet. Cheers.
Some good recs. I'll also back Razor but go with Evil Invaders or Violent Restitution. Dark Angel - DD, Sadus - Illusions, Morbid Saint - Spectrum of Death and add Merciless - The Awakening.
I have Sabbat- Dreamweaver on YouTube now. I have struggled with Walkyer's vocals in the past but in my current mood I'm feeling more receptive. I actually have History of a Time to Come on CD so I've grabbed it off the shelf for the drive to work tomorrow.
Quote from: Eoin McLove on March 27, 2024, 10:10:41 AMKind of after the stuff that could be considered precursors to black and death metal
You should check out... Black Shepherd! :abbath:
Try the United Evil Forces demo and their only full-length, Immortal Aggression
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGu8QP5T4lk
And, of course, Hellhammer.
Only came across Black Shepard lately and am yet to fully delve into the album but it def fits the bill.
Protector - Golem
Demolition Hammer - Tortured Existence
https://youtu.be/pFgA1KgCGKw?si=iIm_GGdyLXSu1z6o
Ya probably know them already, but Desaster fits the bill. Dirty as fuck blackened thrash. There's a wee cover of Kreator's "Tormentor" on one of their albums (Divine Blasphemies, I think), and it's filthy.
80s thrash, but always loved Apocalypse's sef-titled jobby from 1987. Produced by Rasmussen, so it's got similar Sonic properties to 'Tallica's classics.
Quote from: Eoin McLove on March 27, 2024, 11:03:08 AMI have Sabbat- Dreamweaver on YouTube now. I have struggled with Walkyer's vocals in the past but in my current mood I'm feeling more receptive. I actually have History of a Time to Come on CD so I've grabbed it off the shelf for the drive to work tomorrow.
Both amazing albums.
Devastation- Idolatry
Deathwish- Demon Preacher
The first few Sodom albums are the best ones for me when it comes to that thrash sound bordering on black or death metal.
I'm a bit biased as I think the early Sodom releases are better than Destruction and Kreator combined.
Having said that I've giving very little time to Destruction.
Are Nifelheim thrash? I've never really listened but I'm sure I'm missing out.
Quote from: leatherface on March 27, 2024, 03:40:15 PMDevastation- Idolatry
Deathwish- Demon Preacher
Deathwish are great, both Demon Preacher and At the Edge of Damnation are killer albums.
There is a US Blackened Thrash band called Sauron. Only heard one of their albums, Thrash Assault, but it is vicious.
Deathrow - Raging Steel
Quote from: Anvil on March 27, 2024, 04:23:55 PMQuote from: leatherface on March 27, 2024, 03:40:15 PMDevastation- Idolatry
Deathwish- Demon Preacher
Deathwish are great, both Demon Preacher and At the Edge of Damnation are killer albums.
Got 'Demon Preacher' recently on vinyl, wasn't cheap !
I'll definitely echo the recommendation for Razor. Literally any 80's album.
Also -
Sacrifice - Torment In Fire
Whiplash - Power And Pain
Assassin - The Upcoming Terror
Hirax - Raging Violence/Hate Fear And Power
Overkill - Feel The Fire
Holy Terror - Terror And Submission/Mind Wars
Beowülf - Beowülf
Detente - Recognize No Authority
Hallows Eve - Tales Of Terror
Znowhite - All Hail to Thee
Blessed Death - Kill Or Be Killed
At War - Ordered To Kill
Also, they are probably more speed metal early on, but definitely the s/t by Nasty Savage. And again, more speed than thrash, but I would always recommend Exciter 'Heavy Metal Maniac' 'Violence And Force' and 'Long Live The Loud' for anyone interested in that early - mid 80's period.
Kat - ,,Metal and Hell" or ,,666", the latter being an english version of the former. The original version sports a cheesy title, the english version is the original ponglish metal recording. Choose your poison, the music is deadly.
Loads of great recommendations but I don't know if they really fit what, I presume, you meant by scummy.
Either way, any excuse to post Infernal Majesty.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UQK70IZ6PI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1qFbtOllc4&t=47s
Exumer - possessed by fire
Dark Angel - Darkness Descends
Death Angel - the ultra violence
Holy Terror- terror and submission
Hydra Vein - rather death than false of faith
Morbid Saint - spectrum of death
Whiplash - power and pain
Sadus - chemical exposure/illusions
Rigor Mortis - debut
Nuclear Assault- game over
Would be a few of those I go for when on that thrash buzz aside from the more typical Exodus, Sodom, Destruction, Slayer stuff...
Check out the first 2 Mefisto demos, 2 of the best ever. In the same realm of as Obsessed by cruelty. Ancient thrashing Black/Death. Both from 1986.
https://youtu.be/4OXsi7P2QeU?si=kB_vaCmCaJo5CGm8
https://youtu.be/XH4tgcb5YGo?si=AtvQCS3C4i9kB0FD
Quote from: Eoin McLove on March 27, 2024, 10:10:41 AMKind of after the stuff that could be considered precursors to black and death metal but I'll check out some of those who I haven't heard yet. Cheers.
In that case you have to check out Nasty Savage. It's a terrible band name, but absolutely straddles the line between heavy thrash and proto death metal
Quote from: open face surgery on March 27, 2024, 08:06:27 PMLoads of great recommendations but I don't know if they really fit what, I presume, you meant by scummy.
Either way, any excuse to post Infernal Majesty.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UQK70IZ6PI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1qFbtOllc4&t=47s
In my top 3 thrash records of all time.
Also Face of Sin album by Mortal Sin. "I am immortal" is a stone cold classic
Dark Angel - Darkness Descends. Album title says it all.
Exhorder - Slaughter in the Vatican. Dripping with riffs, filth and groove, criminally underrated always.
Nuclear Assault - anything. Was my gateway band into metal.
And of course this more recent release and an Aussie local for you,
Trench Hell - Southern Cross ripper
The only band I've ever seen do an encore of the song they opened with :laugh:
https://youtu.be/QVOAhX8_Rqs?si=D0apcMgn5w2JKUvw
Slaughter - Strappado
From 1987, Canadian thrashing madness verging on death metal
https://youtu.be/gyn9Euj58GE?si=RCPs5SnmZYYvTx8U
Don't overlook Dark Angels "Leave Scars", as unpopular an opinion as it may be. Muckier production tham DD (which I actually like) and a few moments of filler but I think it's a classic. Heavy as fuck. "The Death of innocence","The Promise of Agony" and the title track are particularly lethal.
Similarly Prong's "Force Fed" is sorely overlooked. Forget anything you know about them, it's a cold, harsh, weird record that charges along with some seriously cool riffs. You can hear the hardcore influence and even the early Swans/Sonic Youth nihilism, but it's straight up precision thrash.
"Suffering Hour" by Anacrusis is well worth a blast as well. Bit patchy but again, heavy and unique, fits well with the 2 above. These are all far better than whatever second rate generic Euro shite people have retroactively praised in the subsequent decades of Thrash/Black Thrash revival.
XYSTER. Horrible vocals, horrible production, absolutely amazing. Like if Repulsion or Slaughter Lord had been a UK Thrash band.
But yeah, Voivod, Coroner, Sabbat, "Obsessed by Cruelty", "Pleasure to Kill", Hexx's "Quest For Sanity"/"Morbid Reality",Vacant Grave, first Vio-Lence..can't go wrong
Loudblast: Sensorial Treatment, more thrash than death metal but nearly there. Massacra would probably fit there too.
Hellbastard: Natural Order, somewhere between crossover thrash and punk/grind.
On top of Black Shepherd and Hellhammer, another of the kind of bands I think you might be after is Incubus. Serpent Temptation is a must listen, if you don't know it.
On a similar subject, quute a lot of the bands mentioned here feature across the various parts:
https://www.worshipmetal.com/features/5-of-the-heaviest-old-school-thrash-metal-albums-in-existence-part-1/?fbclid=IwAR3mFeM2iYISVpOlTyDzKcvGcgWntbdw1J8psw9PdV-o_1Zfp96uEDA7quc
Pleasure To Kill, None Shall Defy and Darkness Descends...perfect thrash trilogy.
Darkness Descends has never grabbed me. I know people love it and rate it highly so I'll return to it again, but so far it hasn't hit the spot.
A lot of the essential stuff has been already mentioned.
Assassin, Exhumer, Poison (Germany), Morbid Saint, Bulldozer, Rigor Mortis, Whiplash and Protector are worth checking out.
You should do a trawl through the Noise and SPV 80's releases. The home of that Teutonic thrash sound.
Nuclear Assault, Sacred Reich, D.R.I, Sodom...
This feels like something Padre Pio John would excel at. Where is he these days, anybody know?
Some stuff already mentioned is essential; Infernal Majesty - None Shall Defy, Sadus - Illusions/Chemical Exposure, Whiplash - Power and Pain and Slaughter - Strappado.
Some others:
Incubus - Serpent Temptation is legendary stuff, really great raw, brutal stuff leaning in the deathy direction. The follow up, Beyond The Unknown is good too but more in the vein of BTR Sepultura and the likes. Go by the name Opprobrium these days and I think they re-released all the Incubus stuff under that name in the intervening years.
Darkness - Death Squad - More Teutonic stuff, scratchy and harsh sounding with a drummer who sounds like he's struggling to keep up. As all good thrash should be.
Kublai Khan - Annihilation is Pretty decent, raw stuff originally on New Renaissance. The main lad was in Megadeth for about 5 minutes around 83/83. Other new renaissance stuff like Blood Feast and At War are also worth checking out. Again, more death metal, but the First Necrophagia should get a look in too seeing as NR are being mentioned.
Mandator - Initial Velocity More leaning into the speed metal direction. But has an over the top sense to it that always appealed to me.
Hypnosia - Extreme Hatred. More recent (2000), but one of those ones that often gets mentioned when the subject of more 'recent' stuff comes up.
Everything by Havok is good. Good players too.
Quote from: Thanatos on March 28, 2024, 04:24:18 PMIncubus - Serpent Temptation is legendary stuff, really great raw, brutal stuff leaning in the deathy direction. The follow up, Beyond The Unknown is good too but more in the vein of BTR Sepultura and the likes. Go by the name Opprobrium these days and I think they re-released all the Incubus stuff under that name in the intervening years.
Quote from: Black Shepherd Carnage on March 27, 2024, 10:46:15 PMOn top of Black Shepherd and Hellhammer, another of the kind of bands I think you might be after is Incubus. Serpent Temptation is a must listen, if you don't know it.
That's two recs for Incubus Andy, get on it! :abbath:
Okie dokie 8)
https://www.classicthrash.com/reviews.html
A great resource, though nothing really modern, sticks to old school releases mostly.
I can't recommend Deathrow highly enough.
Riders of Doom and Raging Steel are fantastic albums.
Then they followed up with this absolute fucking masterpiece of progressive technical thrash metal.
Vektor lifted a riff or two from this beauty.
I suppose they are considered death/thrash, but MERCILESS - The Awakening is a savage album, which definitely owes a lot to German and Brazilian thrash, "proto black metal" etc.
https://youtu.be/IoYGJ89JAFs?si=DkXJPfq9Cd-al3qx (https://youtu.be/IoYGJ89JAFs?si=DkXJPfq9Cd-al3qx)
I gave Deathrow 'Raging Steel' a quick listen and it sounds like one I need to spend some time with.
Did I imagine it out was there a vinyl box set of the first two Sabbat (UK) albums released in the past year or two?
Quote from: leatherface on March 27, 2024, 05:22:07 PMGot 'Demon Preacher' recently on vinyl, wasn't cheap !
Only have it on CD though have the other album on vinyl.
There's a Facebook page called Worship metal that recommend an old thrash album each day.
Quote from: Eoin McLove on March 29, 2024, 02:40:14 AMDid I imagine it out was there a vinyl box set of the first two Sabbat (UK) albums released in the past year or two?
Yep. There was.
Was it out on Noise? I must give it a look.
Not sure but it looks good. Must pick it up.
It is on Noise, called Mad Gods and Englishmen. Was tempted at the time of release but didn't end up buying it as I already have both the albums and didn't think the extras were worth it.
Morbid Saint sound like just the stuff. I have to dig in.
Amazed you hadn't encountered MS before, mad the gaps we all have. Spectrum of Death is a masterpiece.
I wonder would the American Solstice tick your boxes too. Prob more DM than thrash but has an edge you might enjoy.
Lots of great recs in this thread, hard to know how many actually fall into what you're looking for.
I am familiar with every single band mentioned so far if only in terms of recognising the name and artwork. I have just never really been arsed listening to much of it until recently.
Not as filthy as Morbid Saint but Hellwitch should still be in the vein of what you're looking for
https://youtu.be/jN7t_6Am_Js
Hellwitch are mental, the one from last year blew me apart
Skeletonwitch have a death/black kind of influence. Might be what you're looking for.
Kinda more after 80s stuff ideally. The proto black and death stuff.
Metalium: Behind The Power
https://youtu.be/u8bKQfmPbEo
I still have this on tape somewhere. It's rough as fuck, might be what you're after (though it's from around 1990).
Never even heard of them. Rough as fuck sounds promising 8)
Turkish band, I'd never heard of them either until someone traded me the tape at the time. How rough are they? On the band pictures the drummer's sitting on a wooden milking stool.
The second album is very Sodomy. They're still on the go, apparently.
Torr - Armageddon for Czech Frost influenced thrash. I enjoy this, never heard it back then, I came across it a few years ago on this blog. http://opiumhum.blogspot.com/2019/12/torr-armageddon-1990.html
I know KAT's "Metal and Hell" and "666" seminal albums have already been mentioned, but only recently I rediscovered their follow up "Oddech Wymarlych Swiatow" and it's a true riff fest...
Some of the songs are somewhat intriguing as both the studio album and "38 minutes of Life" live album where they open a Metallica gig precede AJFA, but some of the riffs in OWS can definitely be heard in Metallica's 4th album. I am not suggesting they copied it, as KAT members were openly Metallica fans and it certainly influenced their later career, but you can't deny the similarity. That said and production aside, I'd choose KAT's OWS over AJFA any day. Killer album.
https://youtu.be/MA_WSRLa3Bk?si=qXKtm0nUXbtBNX96
I found that later album way too Justice-y but 666 is the business.
Morbid Saint..... just out of bed hair dryer effect!
Think I'm awake now!
Don't think I've ever listened to KAT. Going to rectify that today.
Quote from: Eoin McLove on April 01, 2024, 11:10:30 AMI found that later album way too Justice-y but 666 is the business.
Yeah, 100% agree with this. I've recently got the reissue with the 3 versions of it and it's unreal.
https://youtu.be/HIYKxKEXwhA?si=4kYuhx0jZAPjU2oT
Quote from: open face surgery on April 02, 2024, 09:36:36 PMhttps://youtu.be/HIYKxKEXwhA?si=4kYuhx0jZAPjU2oT
Absolute banger! I paid the equivalent of 90 cents for that record from a guy whose entire collection was damaged in a flood. Half the cover is missing, but what kind of man would pass on such bargain? :laugh:
Classic album!
Yeah love a bit of Hellish Crossfire, gammy artwork and all...I have the first Angel Dust on right now, 'Into The Dark Past', classic German speed thrash from 1986
Another cracker. No interest in their later stuff, but that is a stormer.
Good call with Hellish Crossfire. Christ, haven't listened to this for years! :abbath:
Quote from: O Drighes on April 02, 2024, 10:18:41 PMQuote from: open face surgery on April 02, 2024, 09:36:36 PMhttps://youtu.be/HIYKxKEXwhA?si=4kYuhx0jZAPjU2oT
Absolute banger! I paid the equivalent of 90 cents for that record from a guy whose entire collection was damaged in a flood. Half the cover is missing, but what kind of man would pass on such bargain? :laugh:
:laugh: Nice. Absolute ripper anyway. Been a while.
Quote from: O Drighes on April 01, 2024, 11:07:28 AMI know KAT's "Metal and Hell" and "666" seminal albums have already been mentioned, but only recently I rediscovered their follow up "Oddech Wymarlych Swiatow" and it's a true riff fest...
Some of the songs are somewhat intriguing as both the studio album and "38 minutes of Life" live album where they open a Metallica gig precede AJFA, but some of the riffs in OWS can definitely be heard in Metallica's 4th album. I am not suggesting they copied it, as KAT members were openly Metallica fans and it certainly influenced their later career, but you can't deny the similarity. That said and production aside, I'd choose KAT's OWS over AJFA any day. Killer album.
https://youtu.be/MA_WSRLa3Bk?si=qXKtm0nUXbtBNX96
Been listening to KAT loads over the last week, having never explored. Quality metal! Haven't listened to anything beyond the 1996 album Róże miłości najchetniej przyjmują się na grobach, but even that is class to these ears. Funny though, the later I go forward, the wider a range of things their music becomes evocative of, including on this one the kind of crappy Spanish rock music I've been obliged to get accustomed to over the years :laugh:
I picked up a snazzy Kat logo t-shirt at the festival the other day. If you thought I was too sexy for my shirt before, you should see me now.
Quote from: Black Shepherd Carnage on April 09, 2024, 01:20:41 AMQuote from: O Drighes on April 01, 2024, 11:07:28 AMI know KAT's "Metal and Hell" and "666" seminal albums have already been mentioned, but only recently I rediscovered their follow up "Oddech Wymarlych Swiatow" and it's a true riff fest...
Some of the songs are somewhat intriguing as both the studio album and "38 minutes of Life" live album where they open a Metallica gig precede AJFA, but some of the riffs in OWS can definitely be heard in Metallica's 4th album. I am not suggesting they copied it, as KAT members were openly Metallica fans and it certainly influenced their later career, but you can't deny the similarity. That said and production aside, I'd choose KAT's OWS over AJFA any day. Killer album.
https://youtu.be/MA_WSRLa3Bk?si=qXKtm0nUXbtBNX96
Been listening to KAT loads over the last week, having never explored. Quality metal! Haven't listened to anything beyond the 1996 album Róże miłości najchetniej przyjmują się na grobach, but even that is class to these ears. Funny though, the later I go forward, the wider a range of things their music becomes evocative of, including on this one the kind of crappy Spanish rock music I've been obliged to get accustomed to over the years :laugh:
There is no need to venture beyond 1996 with KAT. Next album after that is half-bad and the things only kept rolling downhill.
Good to know!
Since we took a turn to the east here, check the Russian classic KORROZIA METALLA "Orden Satani" debut album. I wouldn't venture further than that in their career, but in my opinion that's the blueprint for Nifelheim's riff and lead distinct style, who 100% ripped the bridge section off the opening track "Spid":
https://youtu.be/k5q9HGOEehw?si=_DVqwileVzL6qRBE
Quote from: O Drighes on April 10, 2024, 10:18:26 PMSince we took a turn to the east here, check the Russian classic KORROZIA METALLA "Orden Satani" debut album. I wouldn't venture further than that in their career, but in my opinion that's the blueprint for Nifelheim's riff and lead distinct style, who 100% ripped the bridge section off the opening track "Spid":
https://youtu.be/k5q9HGOEehw?si=_DVqwileVzL6qRBE
The brothers have named them as an influence to be fair.
Quote from: The Wretch on April 10, 2024, 10:28:22 PMQuote from: O Drighes on April 10, 2024, 10:18:26 PMSince we took a turn to the east here, check the Russian classic KORROZIA METALLA "Orden Satani" debut album. I wouldn't venture further than that in their career, but in my opinion that's the blueprint for Nifelheim's riff and lead distinct style, who 100% ripped the bridge section off the opening track "Spid":
https://youtu.be/k5q9HGOEehw?si=_DVqwileVzL6qRBE
The brothers have named them as an influence to be fair.
Yes, they did. I think they mention Vulcano and KM as their main influence bar Iron Maiden.
Mefisto - Megalomania & The Puzzle
youtube.com/watch?v=ViQZTpAl2ko
These might fit the bill. Mostly mid/late 80's and early 90's stuff -
Recipients Of Death from L.A.
The Unsane from New York.
Korzus from Brazil.
Backwater from Germany. This is from 84. Probably more speed metal than full on thrash.
Sextrash from Brazil. Death/thrash I guess.
Dorsal Atlântica from Brazil.
MX from Brazil.
Necrodeath from Italy.
Cheers The Wretch, I'll work through those recommendations and see if anything catches my ear.
No bother. Hope at least some of them are what you are looking for.
Turbo from Poland . Maybe more speed metal than trash, but nice and raw.
Did we cover Sacrifice yet?
Pretty sure we did.
Thanatos from the Netherlands -
I pre-ordered a few Bulldozer LPs and CDs. Scummy thrash/proto BM. Good gear .
Those first few Bulldozer are the fucking business.
I've been sparked by those reissues myself having a similar experience to Mc Love as in always knew the name but never dived in.
Bought the Day of Wrath reissue CD last year (or the year before), it is ace, so I guess I will buying more now.
Some lovely lyrics across IX and Neurodeliri #metoo :laugh: