25 Of The Most Under-Appreciated Albums In US Thrash History!
Forget The Big 4.....this is what you should be listening to!
Exhorder – Slaughter In The Vatican (1990)
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Exhorder were not only a huge inspiration on the world-conquering Pantera (a ‘you’ve heard it all before’ story that we cannot be arsed to go into!) but they also delivered two exceptional albums in the early 90’s.
1992’s The Law remains a stone-cold, mid-tempo groove monster but its Slaughter In The Vatican and its furious thrash and groove-metal establishing credentials that rank it as an absolute thrash classic….even if it is perennially under-appreciated.
Stripped down to the raw basics, Slaughter In The Vatican‘s 8 tracks never once come up for air. The low-end rumble, buzzsaw riffing and Kyle Thomas’ ravaged vocals culminating in a primal thrash experience that comes perilously close to utter perfection. One of the most unique thrash albums in existence, Slaughter should be revered as a landmark in metal. At the very least it should be spoken about with the same reverential tones reserved for Pantera’s Vulgar Display Of Power (an ironic yet unfortunately necessary comparison and not, we repeat not, a thrash album!)
Alternating between fast and slow tempos (the true ‘groove’ element of their sound), Slaughter In The Vatican still makes the majority of thrash bands sound utterly lost at sea and, as a non-stop thrash assault, it’s up there with the likes of Dark Angel’s Darkness Descends, Slayer‘s Reign In Blood and Razor’s Shotgun Justice!
Those in the know, will have noticed that Exhorder recently reunited and are touring again….dare we hope for album number 3? Oh, we fuckin’ dare alright! Bring it Exhorder, we’re ready for ya!!!
Worship Metal – thanks for the inclusion oh Aftermath
Eyes Of Tomorrow is top class….and often overlooked. It just had to be included! 🙂 \m/
In the studio today finishing up the follow up to Eyes of Tomorrow. More aggressive and filled with attitude. Chris can’t wait to get it to you.
Amazing news! Can’t wait to hear it!! \m/
Whiplash ‘Power and Pain’
Good call but I think it recieves more love than the majority of the albums on here 🙂 \m/
Vendetta – Brain Damage.
Every song has great thrash beats and machine gun speedy riffs. Two guitarist and both sing.
But Vendetta are German…..this is a US thrash list 🙂 \m/
Toxik’s ‘World circus’. Great list by the way, many discoveries to check out (same remark for the german list).
Another good call…..and many thanks for the compliments, glad you enjoyed both features! 🙂 \m/
OMG !! GREAT LIST …but you guys have seemed to forget…Blind Illusion’s The Sane Asylum…Hands down (in my humble opinion!!) the most UNDERATED album EVER !! in any GENRE even !! If you havent heard it go online & LISTEN …a THRASH MASTERCLASS from the warped mind of MARK BIEDERMANN Les Calypool & Larry Lalonde !!
Thank you kindly…..look out for Blind Illusion in a follow-up feature….there’s loads more under-appreciated US albums we want to shout about! \m/
Sacrilege bc’s “Party With God” this is one of the all time underrated Thrash LP’s crossover that quite possibly started the blackned thrash movement.
Great list! Honored to have Intrinsic on there.
Thanks Mike! \m/
Forbidden.DBC,Sabbat,Cyclone,Violence and Cyclone Temple to name a few more! 🙂
Cheers Scott! Sabbat are British and Cyclone are Belgian though, so they can’t be included in a US thrash list. I think Forbidden and Vio-Lence are generally rated high and discussed often but Cyclone Temple are a great shout! \m/
oops sorry!
No worries man! 🙂 \m/
Uncle Slam,Pissing Razors and Wrath. Or is Pissing Razors from Mexico?
Pissing Razors are from Texas I think, but always considered them to be groove metal. Sub-genres causing problems as always!! haha
Great shout when it comes to Uncle Slam and particularly Wrath….a follow-up feature is in the works and these could both be included 🙂 \m/
demolition hammer – epidemic of violence is one of the most brutal and relentless thrash albums of all time, it deserves a spot there imo
Can’t argue with you there! \m/
Can’t argue with that! \m/
Hey very interesting blog!