Educate me on scummy thrash metal.

[Eoin McLove]

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.

[Maggot Colony]

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'.

[Eoin McLove]

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.

[Bürggermeister]

Early Voivod might be what you're after, War & Pain, Roooooaaaaarrrrr

Possessed - Seven Churches too, if you don't know it

[Eoin McLove]

Yep, I have those. Actually, I don't have Roooaaarrrr. Must check it out.

[Maggot Colony]

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.

[Bürggermeister]

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

[Eoin McLove]

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.

[open face surgery]

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.

[Eoin McLove]

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.

[Black Shepherd Carnage]

Kind of after the stuff that could be considered precursors to black and death metal

You should check out... Black Shepherd!   

Try the United Evil Forces demo and their only full-length, Immortal Aggression

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGu8QP5T4lk

And, of course, Hellhammer.

[open face surgery]

Only came across Black Shepard lately and am yet to fully delve into the album but it def fits the bill.

Protector - Golem

[Trev]

Demolition Hammer - Tortured Existence

https://youtu.be/pFgA1KgCGKw?si=iIm_GGdyLXSu1z6o

[Ducky]

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.

[open face surgery]

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.

Both amazing albums.