The ‘Forgotten’ Thrash Albums Of 1986! (Part 2)
1986....the greatest year in thrash for good reason!
With 1986 often regarded as the greatest year in thrash history, we have decided to cast our eye over the huge number of thrash albums that seem to be overlooked in favour of the likes of Slayer‘s Reign In Blood, Metallica‘s Master Of Puppets, Megadeth’s Peace Sells…But Who’s Buying?, Dark Angel‘s Darkness Descends, Nuclear Assault‘s Game Over, Kreator‘s Pleasure To Kill, Flotsam And Jetsam‘s Doomsday For The Deceiver and Destruction‘s Eternal Devastation etc, etc.
While those aforementioned classic albums of 1986 fully deserve all the endless plaudits sent their way – hell, we’ve waxed lyrical about ’em numerous times over the years – but ’86 was such a pioneering year for the burgeoning thrash scene because of the sheer wealth of quality releases that arrived in just one 12 month period. 1986 saw thrash explode and amongst the also-rans were some exceptional releases that often find themselves cast aside. This list isn’t exhaustive, it’s certainly not ranked in any order and its existence is to simply highlight why 1986 was such an important year for thrash, without resorting to analysing the same ol’ releases.
The Forgotten Thrash Albums Of Part 1 already tipped its hat to the likes of Exumer, Razor, Hirax, Onslaught and more and Part 2 delves ever deeper into the archives.
At War – Ordered To Kill [USA]
Akin to the brutal hammering of Paul Speckman’s Abomination and early Sodom (by way of some serious Motörhead and Slayer worship), At War may not have been the equal of these bands but they still rattled through a fine selection of primitive thrashers on their debut release, Ordered To Kill.
Alluringly naive, it’s as though At War were more concerned with channelling Motörhead than forging their own path but, either way, they could certainly thrash as hard and as fast as the best of ’em. Like an 80’s Chuck Norris B-movie vs an Arnie or Sly Stallone classic, At War may come across as a second rate thrash band but there’s still some joy to be had if you throw yourself into the spirit of things.
Don’t like it? Eat lead!
Voivod – Rrröööaaarrr [Canada]
A huge step up from their primitive debut, Voivod’s Rrröööaaarrr may have been a 100% thrash album but the seeds were already being sown for the progressive metal majesty that was to come.
Unashamedly raw, sonically abrasive and totally unique in construct; futuristic thrash was perfected while the genre was still finding its feet and “Thrashing Rage”, “Ripping Headaches” (the two go hand in hand, right?) and “Korgull The Exterminator” have rightfully gone down in history as Voivod classics.
Rrröööaaarrr – the first sign that Voivod were to become a truly progressive and enduring global force – may be an abrasive experience but its merciless, mechanised and monstrous sound remains an enthralling and engrossing listen 38 years on!
Détente – Recognize No Authority [USA]
The late, great Dawn Crosby’s (1963-1996) unhinged vocals lift this cult curio into the realms of cult classic and Détente‘s ferocious punk/thrash/hardcore hybrid marks out Recognise No Authority as a must hear thrash album from 1986!
Détente may be renowned for housing nu-metal producer extraordinaire Ross Robinson (guitars) but in ’86 it was all about the breakneck blue-collar thrash. Storming through the likes of warp-speed slug-fests such as “Losers”, “Shattered Illusions” and the sublime “Holy War”, Détente could never be accused of world-changing originality but they did whip up one hell of a storm on their only 80’s release.
The world would wait a further 24 years for a follow up (2010’s faithful but ironically titled Decline) but it’s Dawn Crosby’s raw shriek that elevates Recognise No Authority above the also rans of 1986.
Holy Moses – Queen Of Siam [Germany]
Female thrash singers in ’86 were firmly making their mark on the scene and Holy Moses‘ Sabine Classen was no exception. At this stage, Holy Moses were no great shakes in the songwriting department but what they lacked in dynamics was made up for with blunt force riffing and those throat-shredding vocals!
The rapid fire Venom-isms of “Walpurgisnight” and opener “Necropolis” indicate the influence the more ill-refined members of the NWOBHM had on these Germans and coupled with the unholy racket conjured by Sodom etc at the time, these ‘black’ metallers (Holy Moses‘ words ,not ours!) were already catching up with the Teutonic three of Sodom, Kreator & Destruction.
While Queen Of Siam could never be described as the definitive Holy Moses release (that honour surely goes to 87’s rabid Finished With The Dogs), there’s a primitive charm on display here that rewards the listener to this day. Finally, this may be a throwaway comment, but could Queen Of Siam be described as one of the earliest death metal releases? Sabine Classen’s vocals would certainly suggest so!
Cro-Mags – The Age Of Quarrel [USA]
A legendary debut, The Age Of Quarrel saw the Cro-Mags define the hardcore movement in 15 easy lessons!
A sickle-sharp, metallic sound that was rooted to a blue-collar sensibility, the concise delivery of the hard-hitting “World Peace”, “We Gotta Know”, “Street Justice” and “Hard Times” brawled their way into your head; insistent, impossible to ignore and delivered with brass-knuckles on.
Few albums can capture pure rage and emotion as perfectly as this, the reality of street life rampaging through the very heart of each track and through each vocal frustration delivered by the incomparable John Joseph. Consider The Age Of Quarrel the crossover thrash equivalent of Slayer‘s Reign In Blood…because it’s that influential and that genre-defining!
Deathrow – Riders Of Doom (aka Satan’s Gift) [Germany]
In ’86, Deathrow were a whirlwind of hyper thrash and almost unrecognisable to the band that would release the more refined Raging Steel and the challenging progression of Deception Ignored just a few years later.
At this stage, Deathrow had more in common with the flurries of violence administered by Exodus, Razor and Dark Angel than the blackened fury conjured by their peers and perhaps that’s why Riders Of Doom – for the most part – remains a sadly undiscovered gem. Lost in the mire of high profile releases such as Kreator‘s Pleasure To Kill and Destruction‘s Eternal Devastation, Deathrow seemingly bubbled away under the surface releasing quality albums but to little or no avail. However, fans will know that with Riders Of Doom, the band had actually delivered an album strong enough to level the playing field!
The triumphant triumvirate of “Spider Attack”, “Slaughtered” and “Violent Omen” form an impressive centrepiece; the sinewy strands of “Spider Attack” entrapping the listener before “Slaughtered” ups the shred levels and “Violent Omen” offers mid-tempo respite that still leaves you bruised and battered. A truly imposing trio of tracks and enough alone to warrant semi-clasic status. The remainder of the album doesn’t disappoint either!
Cyclone – Brutal Destruction [Belgium]
Belgium’s Cyclone weren’t particularly active – just 2 albums in a 9 year career – but they were the instigators of some distinctive riffage and Brutal Destruction remains an underrated collection of tenacious, tightly focused and terrorising thrash anthems.
Admittedly, Brutal Destruction may sound antiquated to modern ears but this semi-forgotten title had some clout in ’86! Slightly dubious title aside, “Incest Love”(?!) remains one hell of a closer while the razor-sharp riffs and unrefined shrieks found on “Long To Hell” and “Fall Under His Command” still leave scars!
One of those albums that belongs in a true thrashers collection – even though it may not receive a regular airing – Cyclone‘s sound was more mid-level American than European and for this reason alone, Cyclone were up against it; they were never going to make an impact in the US when bands of this calibre were already ten a penny.
Carrion – Evil Is There! [Switzerland]
The perfect encapsulation of underground thrash in 1986, Swiss thrashers Carrion – you might know them better as Poltergeist(!) – released just one album before changing their name to the titular spectral house-wrecker.
Noticably less technical than the output of Poltergeist, Evil Is There! is a bare bones thrash release with any ‘frash-fat’ picked clean to leave a pure, straightforward and relentless experience.
Brutally simplistic and simply brutal, Carrion could still showcase a little melody from time to time – check out the intro to “The Avenger” – but it’s the lightning-quick riffing found on the the likes of “Demon’s Child” that retains its edge.
Anvil Bitch – Rise To Offend [USA]
To describe Anvil Bitch as anything other than thrash also-rans would of course be ridiculous but Rise To Offend does have its simplified charms.
While Rise To Offend will never be mentioned as an East Coast thrash milestone, to ignore its endless chugging insistency and primal groove would be a disservice to an album that ticks more thrash boxes than you may remember! Galloping rhythms, histrionic vocals and no end of chug, this is a primal experience no doubt but who doesn’t love a good old fashioned neanderthal thrashing every now and then?
Nearly 40 years later and nothing has changed. Rise To Offend is still ugly ass thrash and it’s still ideal for drinking cheap beer and moshing your saggy nuts off to!
Necronomicon – Necronomicon [Germany]
1986 was a bloody good year for German thrash and while the often neglected Necronomicon may have been finding their feet, their rough and ready self-titled debut still merits praise for blindly pursuing their own singular path.
Trebly riffs, tinny sound, rasping vocals and raw aggression….it’s all here! A proto black metal, early-doors thrash album that goes straight for the throat, unencumbered by expectation and programmed to punish with each shift in gear and maddening solo.
“Insanity” is Necronomicon‘s savage highlight, living up to its name with its extended drum intro and demented vocals courtesy of Volker “Freddy” Fredrich and while Necronomicon may be forever tainted by Destruction comparisons, to cast them aside for following prevailing trends would be churlish; this debut is a warts an’ all document of thrash challenging the mettle of extremity in 1986.
Draw the flaming sword!
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