25 Of The Most Under-Appreciated Albums In US Thrash History!
Forget The Big 4.....this is what you should be listening to!
Hirax – Raging Violence (1985)
Source // churchofzer.com
An anorexic production job does little to dent the ferocious nature of Hirax‘s powerful debut released during thrash metal’s infancy. A blistering crossover thrash/speed metal exercise in full-throttle riffing, Hirax may have been a little rough around the edges but their often undervalued contribution to the scene is actually undeniable.
With one of the most distinctive voices in thrash – as an ambassador for the genre as well as a vocalist – frontman Katon W. De Pena is a thrash icon. His melodic John Cyriis (Agent Steel) meets Eric A.K. (Flotsam And Jetsam) wail was the perfect foil for his bandmate’s hardcore punk infused bouts of maddening metal!
14 tracks in just over 30 minutes signals just how fast these guys actually played and precious few could match them for speed in ’85! Trading finesse for brute force, the likes of “Bombs Of Death” – an all time thrash classic – still managed to drip-feed a little melody into the mix, enabling Hirax’s barely in control barbarity to warrant repeat listening.
It’s raw, it’s passionate, it is thrash circa 1985 and Raging Violence still relishes using your head as a punching bag over 30 years later!
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!