The 10 Greatest Thrash Metal Albums Of All Time!
Simply the best!
It’s high time Worship Metal selected our greatest thrash metal albums of all time and while there will be many familiar faces included, that’s because this is a breakdown of the 10 greatest thrash metal albums of all time…..and this is hardly a new concept!
We’re not interested in the best underground thrash albums – nor the most under-appreciated albums in thrash (we’ve covered that subject numerous times!) – so you will get a sense of deja vu but these are our picks for the 10 greatest thrash metal albums of all time……and we’re standing by ’em!
Suffice to say, tough choices led to some true thrash classics falling victim to the cull but the comments section is available for you to right any perceived wrongs.
On with the show!
10. Vio-Lence – Eternal Nightmare (1988)
Quite simply one of the most fearless, ferocious and downright feral thrash albums ever recorded, Vio-Lence‘s debut, Eternal Nightmare, is the thrash connoisseur’s album of choice and ranks as high in both the aggression and sheer insanity stakes as Slayer’s Reign In Blood, Exodus’ Bonded By Blood and Dark Angel’s Darkness Descends!
Originally home to Machine Head men Robb Flynn and Phil Demmel (but you knew that already), just 7 tracks of thrash perfection was all it took to announce that a new breed of thrash maniacs were in town – that ‘town’ being, of course, San Francisco’s Bay Area – and with the likes of “Kill On Command”, “Bodies On Bodies” and “Calling In The Coroner” in their arsenal, Vio-Lence were on a collision course with underground notoriety and unending acclaim.
Sean Killian’s vocals remain an acquired taste but those ‘in the know’ understand that without him, Vio-Lence were nowhere near as unique nor as thrilling a prospect.
As great thrash debuts go, Eternal Nightmare still takes some beating!
9. Kreator – Pleasure to Kill (1986)
A landmark moment in thrash history, this precociously vicious shitstorm instantly struck a chord with thrashers worldwide as Kreator found themselves suddenly leading the way in the Teutonic scene.
An inspiration to countless bands – grindcore legends Napalm Death covered “Riot Of Violence” and even they couldn’t match the intensity and ferocity of its original incarnation – Kreator’s proto death metal slab of pure evil was a shock to even the most hardened thrasher. Here was a band who not only competed with the likes of Slayer and Metallica but took thrash to another level entirely, one where endless pain was guaranteed and new levels of brutality were being explored.
Unhinged to the point of incarceration, Pleasure To Kill‘s track-list borders on a greatest hits selection with the wall of noise maelstrom of “Ripping Corpse”, the unforgettable “Pleasure To Kill”, the death metal influencing “Riot Of Violence” and the epic and surprisingly complex “The Pestilence” all meriting immediate classic status.
Kreator altered not just the German thrash landscape with Pleasure To Kill but thrash metal (and death metal) in general and, frankly, mayhem of this calibre never sounded so good again!
Honourable mention: 1989’s Extreme Aggression would prove to be Kreator’s commercial peak and warrants particular mention!
8. Exodus – Bonded By Blood (1985)
Exodus should have had it all; the fame, the fortune and their fair share of thrash metal’s spoils.
As it turned out, one of thrash’s most legendary albums comes from a band who hovered on the periphery of The Big 4 without ever making that leap into the big league. A bullshit situation! It’s fairly common knowledge that Bonded By Blood was actually recorded in 1984, but was held back for a ridiculous 9 months due to record label wrangling and that lost time proved to be more than just significant.
Instead of spearheading the scene they helped to create, Exodus found themselves endlessly playing catch up and they simply ran out of puff; forever chasing the pack and never actually gaining ground. But, Exodus were at the forefront of thrash, capable of out-riffing their Bay Area peers and, pound for pound, they were the heaviest, most dangerous, most unpredictable and most ferociously adept outfit on the block.
“Bonded By Blood”, “A Lesson In Violence”, “And Then There Were None”, “Piranha”, and “Strike Of The Beast” are all thrash gold, tarnished by bad timing but true treasures in thrash’s trove. While many bands would try to tap into the virulent violence that positively oozes from each track, none could match the intensity conjured by Paul Baloff, Gary Holt, Tom Hunting, Rick Hunolt and Rob McKillop.
A one-off moment in thrash history that would never be repeated.
7. Testament – The New Order (1988)
We maintain that The New Order is Testament‘s greatest album, a full-bodied statement of intent from a band who knew they had an opportunity to not only compete with The Big 4 but surpass even their accomplishments!
History tells us that Testament would never quite break through to the same level as Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax and Slayer but their recorded output defies that fact, and The New Order remains one of the most potent and consistently thrilling thrash albums in existence.
When an album reads like a greatest hits set you know you’re on to a winner and with the title track, “Trial by Fire,” “Disciples of the Watch and the iconic “Into the Pit” making up the core of this legendary album, The New Order‘s credentials speak for themselves.
Reeking of quality, Testament’s The New Order is mandatory listening for anyone with even a passing interest in thrash and epitomises why thrash dominated the 80’s like no other genre!
Honourable mention: Testament’s debut, The Legacy, is also beyond reproach and utterly essential.
6. Sepultura – Beneath The Remains (1989)
Brutal yet catchy in equal measure, thrash metal and death metal collided to thrilling effect on Sepultura’s 3rd full length album.
Produced by renowned death metal producer Scott Burns (Obituary, Death, Morbid Angel) it was evident, when compared to their previous releases, that a monumental leap forward in Sepultura’s musicianship and composition skills had occurred.
A brutal indictment of growing up in the favelas of Brazil, the ‘Seps’ harnessed their experiences and produced a visceral, primitive sound; bringing world music to the thrash scene and setting themselves up as one of extreme metal’s finest ever bands.
Beneath The Remains always was and always will be the real fuckin’ deal and it’s game-changing influence should never be under-estimated.
Stronger than hate, indeed!
5. Megadeth – Rust In Peace (1990)
With Rust In Peace, Mega-Dave finally realised his vision for Megadeth by recording the pinnacle of precision thrash and attacking with a force to rival a nuclear detonation. Backed by a weapons-grade, crystal clear production job, Megadeth’s intricate riffing and earth-shattering speed created an album that was machine-like, yet never soulless.
Rust In Peace ushered in an era where the likes of Voivod, Annihilator and Coroner could showcase their virtuosity without fear. These were Thrash musicians who could really play and Megadeth were at the forefront; primed and ready to unleash their arsenal of tricks.
The band were at their peak in 1990, Mustaine recruited shred legend Marty Friedman (Cacophony) to provide the stunning guitar acrobatics while the rhythm section of Dave Ellefson and Nick Menza locked into a relentless groove; technique and ruthless artistry combining to produce incomparable Thrash Metal with no let-up and no mercy.
Listing highlights would be unnecessary, the album is as clinical as a military operation and no track should be skipped.
In 1990, the greatest line up in Megadeth’s history produced the greatest album in Megadeth’s long, illustrious career; it still sounds futuristic today.
Honourable mention: Spoiler alert! It pains us to say it but Peace Sells… but Who’s Buying? does not show up later in this list. It’s obviously essential but we just couldn’t find room for it on this particular list.
4. Metallica – Master Of Puppets (1986)
Still recording music on their own terms and not bowing to record label pressure to adopt a more mainstream approach – that particular compromise was still 5 years away – Metallica’s third album remains an intense, passionate and progressive high-water mark in thrash history.
The track listing speaks for itself. “Battery” does exactly that, it batters you senseless, while “Master Of Puppets is a stone-cold-crazy classic and requires no further evaluation. “The Thing That Should Not Be” still hits like a brick to the gonads and conjures imagery of leviathan-esque, Lovecraftian monsters hell-bent on destruction; a rival to “For Whom The Bell Tolls” in imagery, atmosphere and execution.
The remainder of the album is no slouch either, the band crafting a record that has rightfully gone down in history as a true metal classic, regardless of sub-genre.
So, why not higher, you may ask?
There’s no denying this is one of the greatest records in heavy metal history but it actually plays it safe in many aspects. By following their Ride The Lightning formula to the letter, (hell-for-leather thrasher followed by epic title track, followed by atmospheric, slow-burner etc), Metallica diluted Master Of Puppets impact with over familiarity and quasi-sequel status. That’s not to say this album isn’t anything less than an absolute triumph, but a little bravery with dynamics and song order could have elevated it even further.
With that in mind, the album nestled at Number 3 may not be too surprising….
3. Metallica – Ride The Lightning (1984)
The argument to end all arguments; which is the greater achievement, Ride The Lightning or Master of Puppets? Both are outstanding, groundbreaking albums and both follow the same 8 track format in dynamics and construct but Ride The Lightning just edges it (for us, anyway).
Released almost a year to the day after their genre defining debut, Kill ‘Em All, hit the shelves, Metallica’s monumental progression was palpable and Ride The Lightning should be revered as Metallica’s greatest achievement.
From the misleading medieval acoustic intro to “Fight Fire With Fire” – which culminates in one of Metallica’s most neck-wrecking songs – to “Creeping Death”, a song that deserves its place in the metal hall of fame, Ride The Lightning remains virtually untouchable.
This album slayed the competition during the genre’s formative years and laid down an insurmountable challenge to their peers; this is thrash, Hatfield, Ulrich, Hammett and Burton roared in your face…..can you beat it? Unsurprisingly, not many could!
As electrifying today as it was nearly 35 years ago.
2. Slayer – Reign In Blood (1986)
29 frantic minutes, 10 blistering tracks.
This pinnacle of thrash perfection was created by a band who epitomised the scene like no other. Dave Lombardo’s aggressive and revolutionary drumming, Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman’s piercing, puncturing riffs and Tom Araya’s growling bass and vocals, somehow merged to create extreme metal which transcended genre and solidified their position among the thrash elite.
Slayer played harder than anyone else , they played faster than anyone else and Reign In Bloodwas more ruthless and more clinically effective than any thrash album that had come before it. And, while it may be no easy listen, Reign In Blood remains an endlessly rewarding experience and its insistent and incendiary nature never fails to surprise.
Backed up by Rick Rubin’s (Metallica/System Of A Down/Slipknot) pristine, significantly ahead of its time production, Slayer crafted an album that has arguably never been equaled in ferocity – although Dark Angel’s shockingly savage Darkness Descends and Kreator’s Pleasure To Kill came damn close!
Reign In Blood changed the shape of thrash overnight…..and even Slayer themselves would never surpass it!
1. Dark Angel – Darkness Descends (1986)
Unbridled ferocity, technical supremacy and relentless aural battery….is there a more succinct description of the greatest thrash metal album of all time?
Featuring the likes of the rampaging “Merciless Death”, the incendiary “The Burning Of Sodom” and the progressively minded “Black Prophecies“, the first indication of the 100+ riffs per song and epic song length mentality the band would explore on later releases was writ large on Dark Angel‘s terrifyingly tenacious, genre-defining, debut.
The eerie yet elegant bass intro to the aforementioned “Merciless Death” aside, moments of respite were few and far between on Darkness Descends, as Dark Angel focused on thrashing harder, faster and with more gritted teeth malevolence than any other band on the planet…..and that includes the mighty Slayer!
This immortal entry in the history of thrash metal has lost absolutely none of its power.
Honourable mention: 1991’s Time Does Not Heal is a technical masterclass and deserves every accolade thrown its way!
More honourable mentions: Every album you feel should be included and hasn’t been! We acknowledge that no Anthrax (sorry), no Nuclear Assault, no Destruction, no Death Angel, no Overkill, no Sabbat, no Sacred Reich, no Annihilator, no Razor, no Suicidal Tendencies, no Voivod, no Possessed, no Forbidden, no Flotsam and Jetsam and no Heathen etc will upset many of you. And, you’d be right. There’s just too many milestones of thrash to squeeze into one Top 10 list!
So, whether you agree or disagree…. sound off in the comments below……
I love Sepultura, and “Beneath The Remains” is undoubtedly a masterpiece, but I honestly believe that place belongs to Anthrax’s “Among The Living”, who I reckon are PART of the big four. If there was only one Anthrax album to listen, then it is definitely “Among The Living”. And Vio-Lence, no matter how great of an album “Eternal Nightmare” is, that place belongs to either Sodom’s, “Persecution Mania” or Destruction’s “Eternal Devastation”. It’s
a tight list!
That’s the trouble with just 10….not enough room to include everything! \m/
Among the living by Anthrax and the years of decay by Overkill should be in this list!!!!! Other then that it’s a killer list
Consider them at numbers 11 & 12 \m/
Great list. I would only give one mention per band, so Metallica’s Ride the Lightning would be that one. I also concur that Destruction “Eternal Devastation ” should be added as well as Possessed Seven Churches should be on here. Very awesome that both Kreator and Sepultura are on this list!
Exhorder – Slaughter in the Vatican beats them all. Easily the best thrash album ever.
Eternal Nightmare IS the best pure thrash album bar none. The riffs are relentless and it never slows down. Dark Angel is TERRIBLY OVERRATED. I don’t get it. Riffs are as basic as it gets
Great and impressive list. Love that you have Eternal Nightmare, Pleasure to Kill and Beneath The Remains. I love Darkness Descends but I am not sure if it’s number one in my opinion. Also I prefer Testaments The Legacy even though The New Order is also a masterpiece… Great article!
By the time Kreator reached their fourth album, their youthful belligerence had mutated into something far more controlled and precise, but the ferocity that drove their early records remained in evidence on this gleaming monument to cutting edge thrash. As the incredible title track and the epic
When considering the Top 50 Thrash Metal Albums of all time, one of the questions that surfaces is, Well, what does thrash sound like anyway ?
Among all the headbangers across the globe, most simply could not thrash to the life-endangering extreme of the genre’s finest. From America’s Big Four to Germany’s Big Three and everything in between, thrash metal was and is (and probably always will be) music at its face-punching finest.
How do you have a top 10 w/ no PTK? The greatest thrash album of all time. Absolute joke
Nevermind didn’t see it there