22 Albums That Define THRASH METAL | nolifetilmetal

What's Spinning #124
I polled 50 people from heavy metal bands or who are big heavy metal fans and asked them to give me ONE album that defines heavy metal. This list contains the Top 22 albums chosen.
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[@RobertWeingher]

Most of the bands on the list and the exact albums that were chosen are overrated albums, like reign in blood, the 3 albums of metalica, bonded by blood by exodus and so on, the debut album of annihilator is better than most of the albums on the list and sure better than refresh the demon, i would put one album by metal church, their four first albums are better than most of the albums on the list and there is a must album to add to the list, welcome to the ball by vicious rumors, most of the albums on the list are predictabale, it shows that the people who contributed their opinions for the poll are product of the media, i believe that 15 out of the 22 albums will appear on any poll of thrash metal regardless who is making the poll, perhaps other albums but the same bands.

[@nolifetilmetal1]

No. The people who put this list together are not "products of the media." I grew up with this stuff! Bought Kill Em All as a new release and was blown away by it. There was no Annihilator or even "Bonded by Blood" yet. It was a vicious album from 1983. Name another album like it that year. There wasn't one. Metal Church was probably the closest and would have been a great inclusion as well but no one picked them in this round. And guys like Katon DePena (Hirax), Glenn Rogers (Hirax/Steel Vengeance), Ron Rinehart (Dark Angel), Jimmy Brown (Deliverance), Rodney Dunsmore (Devastation), etc., who gave these answer, helped create and form thrash, so I'd say their answers are valid. Yes, these albums became the standards. Yes, some of them are probably overrated, but if you truly think that Bonded By Blood, Kill Em All and Reign In Blood aren't important to the history of thrash metal and were not important in the evolution of the music, then you don't know the history of the genre.

[@RobertWeingher]

@@nolifetilmetal1 I know the history of rock/metal, i listen to music since 1975, i was only 12 years old, their answers are not valid, it's not science, only their opinions, and this is all about, we are only exchanging our different points of view, i meant that i knew from the start that the number one will be reign in blood, it is a great album, but so are all the albums of slayer till 1994, perhaps in 1983 the debut album of metalica was mindblowing for you but we already had venom before them so we had speed and aggressive metal, so one can ask what was so special with the debut album by metalica?it had one great thing, the bass, the drums are generic speed drums and the guitar solos of kirk were played with the wah wah efect mostly, the fact that kirk use the wah wah efect till present says one thing, he didn't progress as a guitar player, we don't have to agree, take it easy.

[@dmitryowens]

@@RobertWeingher Huh? How does using a wah pedal mean that a guitarist didn't progress? I think Jimi Hendrix (one of Kirk's biggest influences) would have something to say about that. And actually, Kirk used wah less on the first four albums than he did after - he didn't use it much on ...And Justice For All. The top thrash metal bands and albums are not overrated at all - they're perfectly rated, because they're widely considered to be the best. The bands and albums you mentioned are all lower tier bands in terms of originality, songwriting quality, vocal quality, and in numerous other ways.

[@dmitryowens]

@@RobertWeingher Also, you overlooked the "one great thing" that Metallica had on Kill 'Em All (and on subsequent albums) - killer fucking songs. And really good vocals. Which are the two most important qualities in ANY genre. You can have great musicianship, but without great songs and great vocals, it's only going to be mediocre. Far too many bands forget or just don't realize this simple yet all-important thing.

[@RobertWeingher]

@@dmitryowens Don't get me wrong, i love the debut album of metallica but the band didn't bring nothing new to the thrash metal style, as i said on my original comment we already had speed, aggressivness and brutality from bands like venom, yngwie malmsteen said once that kirk doesn't know to choose the right tones for solos, he use the wah wah effect more than any other guitar player in thrash metal, the use of wah wah effect in thrash metal is very rare, take care and take it easy.

[@sargentd6780]

I’m a simple man. I see SOD and I click

[@nolifetilmetal1]

And your on his list!

[@relicreapers571]

😂

[@Disco_Breakin]

I think some of the lyrics on the sod album haven't aged well. 17 year old me fucken lived it and I still do

[@jesserapkin2660]

I came into the comments section to write that exact same message!! Don't see that album enough on metal lists

[@SolomonIsGod1]

Sepultura - Beneath the Remains

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Good choice.

[@jedsteelwell2354]

Forbidden - twisted into form! Best thrash riffs ever! I'll put it up against any thrash record.

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Good choice! I would easily include that one a personal list of favorite thrash albums. This video was a bit tough as I relied totally on the poll.

[@seagullpoet]

Forbidden have damn hot releases.

[@peggs1]

Agree

[@MetalHeart8787]

Awesome album. But I wouldn't say best riffs. What made that lp for me was russ screaming vocals

[@nikkisixx6042]

I'm gonna check them out right now, which one should I check out first

[@kyledimeff441]

I can't believe kreator wasn't picked

[@GopherGuts2000]

Right? Coma of Souls is definitely in my top 5 of all time thrash albums.

[@kevinw8688]

While my persoanl favorite by Kreator is Extreme Aggression or even Violent Revolution from the 21st century, Pleasure to Kill deserves mention, due to it may have been the heaviest, most frenetic album that came out prior to 1986 or so.

[@FDHChidori]

Some missed bands worth mentioning: Artillery - By Inheritance, such an intricate masterpiece Dark Angel - Darkness Descends Xentrix - For Whose Advantage Coroner - Mental Vortex Destruction - Infernal Overkill Kreator- Pleasure to Kill Morbid Saint - Spectrum of Death Nuclear Assault - Handle with Care Sepultura - Arise Toxik - World Circus Whiplash - Power and Pain Watchtower - Control and Resistance

[@nolifetilmetal1]

All good choices. Some of them are personal favorites. I was a bit disappointed that Dark Angel didn't make the list.

[@magnuswesterfalk1482]

Yes, Infernal Overkill, By inheritance, Pleasure to kill and Power and Pain awesome records!

[@Disco_Breakin]

Handle with care is an amazing album. NA were the only thrash band that dealt with more political issues back in the late 80s

[@stevenvalenti3722]

My personal favorite Thrash albums of all times is actually #1 - RIDE THE LIGHTNING. #2 - REIGN IN BLOOD. #3 - PEACE SELLS BUT WHO'S BUYING. Verygood video \m/

[@antondzajajurca7797]

Prior to Sepultura's Beneth the remains I would pick same 3 albums, just in different order 1. RiB 2. PS 3. RTL :D

[@nolifetilmetal1]

All good choices.

[@melvinramone2605]

Really enjoyed this video! S.O.D. are a perfect example of Crossover Thrash to me which is distinct from Thrash in general. No arguing what a great album it is. I got to tell Dan Lilker what that album meant to me a few years ago. That dude was in S.O.D., Anthrax, Nuclear Assault, and Brutal Truth. Hard to bear that resume! I would have picked Exodus - Fabulous Diaster or maybe Power Trip - Nightmare Logic if I wanted to represent modern thrash. Thanks!

[@bvdaussiemetalhead9338]

Great vid 🤘Viking are getting a couple of reissues on High Roller soon 🤘Slayer Seasons would be my pick.

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Good! I need the first two albums on vinyl.

[@petermill3909]

Sodom -Persecution Mania ...one of my alltime faves! Great Video, need to check some albums I didn't know before.

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Good choice! Glad Sodom made this poll list. Many seem to be "upset" that Dark Angel and Kreator didn't make the cut, but you never know what you are going to get when you do a poll.

[@SuperDriven1]

Ride the Lightening is the best album by Metallica imo

[@nolifetilmetal1]

I wouldn't argue that. Love Ride the Lightning. Kill Em All will always have a special place in my heart as I bought that album as a new release and loved it. Nothing sounded quite like that in 1983. But Ride The Lightning was an improvement in every way.

[@stevenvalenti3722]

RIDE THE LIGHTNING is my most favorite from them also. Followed by M.O.P. and I.J.F.A. and then KILL'EM ALL. In my opinion.\m/

[@antondzajajurca7797]

I don't know why , but myself always favored RTL over MOP

[@nolifetilmetal1]

@@antondzajajurca7797 I tend to like Kill Em All best but any of the first three Metallica records are prime examples of thrash metal IMO.

[@toasttoasted3492]

Trapped Under Ice...my fav

[@brutalplanet7BoonesOverstock]

Tremendous video! I thought about selecting RIB, but I figured many would choose it as well....Believer - Sanity Obscure is pure thrash brilliance....I had to go with that one....

[@jeffreywebb7932]

Great vid.Heres a more obscure pick I like,Flotsam&Jetson/No Place for Disgrace

[@nolifetilmetal1]

No Place for Disgrace would EASILY be in my personal top list.

[@bazg6668]

Stoked to see Sacrifice on here. Extremely underrated band who have produced consistently quality albums

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Agreed!

[@jrob7794]

Flotsam and Jetsam Doomsfay for the Deceiver

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Excellent choice!

[@2112res]

Absolutely love the album. I find the title track the weakest. Sounds best on vinyl, of course. I wish they would have remastered the hell out of it instead of redoing it.

[@nolifetilmetal1]

@@2112res I have the remastered CD box set on Metal Blade. Sounds pretty darned good.

[@2112res]

@@nolifetilmetal1 That is cool, but it's really the only album of theirs I like. I got the album in the Columbia House days but no longer have a 'table. )8

[@jrob7794]

@@2112res Actually I'm a pretty big fan of their newer stuff also. Can't touch that debut though.

[@aaronmuthaalamare4165]

Great video , all of these choices are killer!! Peace Sells would’ve been my pick👍🤘🤘

[@nolifetilmetal1]

And I should have asked you. Next time I will.

[@aaronmuthaalamare4165]

@@nolifetilmetal1 haha cool thanks Scott! 👍🤘🤘

[@stephenfraser280]

I saw Sanity Obscure in the thumbnail so I had to watch. Really cool list, lots of great albums on here.

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Made this list. Great GREAT album!

[@timothyarmour1788]

Dan Lilker in bass for SOD 👍

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Yea sir. Total brainfart. Sometimes I turn the camera on and get stupid! Haha!

[@darcysixstringsninelives3493]

Awesome to see Bonded By Blood high up on the list ! Jürgen is bang on about what he said about The Legacy , actually both these thrashterpieces would be my #1 & #2 picks , put them in any order you want , those two crush !

[@nolifetilmetal1]

I sort of expected to see Bonded by Blood high on the list. It tied for #1 with Slayer. For me, I actually think the two follow-up Exodus albums were better, but regardless I think Bonded is an obvious and choice.

[@darcysixstringsninelives3493]

@@nolifetilmetal1 The first Exodus song I ever heard was Chemi-Kill , hooked me right then & there !

[@abstractheory1]

The underground... from Overkill is one of my favorites. Love that you have it on vinyl

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Love it. Great album.

[@beagledogrecordguy7259]

another great video sir, would be interesting for you to do the same poll choosing post 2000 albums

[@nolifetilmetal1]

YES! Agreed! I may do that.

[@juliangitarre4196]

Hey Scott! Thank you so much for this inspirational video. Even though I've been a Thrash Metal fan for years I discoverd new material. I am especially grateful for discovering the band "Believer". Sanity Obscure is unbelievable. Great Album! What do you think about DEMOLITON HAMMER? Why are they not on the list? Are they too much on the border to Death Metal or did they appear too late in the evolvement of the genre? In my opinion "Epidemic of violence" is a genre defining album! I think it is very remarkable and unterrated.

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Yes, love Demolition Hammer. Great band. Glad you discovered Believer. I highly recommend Extraction from Mortality.

[@C-Ro]

I miss KREATORs Pleasure to kill and Darkness Descends of Dark Angel.

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Two great choices. I would have included either of those if anyone had chosen them. Personally I like Leave Scars a bit more than Darkness Descends but you can't go wrong with either.

[@stevenvalenti3722]

COMA OF SOULS \m/

[@sargentd6780]

I’m really surprised I didn’t see spectrum of death by morbid Saint on the list

[@nord.blut666]

I wanted to wright the same where tf is pleasure to kill at😂

[@stevegrant4760]

This list is amazing and all these albums should be on here. Even learned about a couple new bands from this. Thanks!! However, I was disappointed to not see pretty much any album from D.R.I. 🤟Keep thrashing🤟

[@nolifetilmetal1]

D.R.I. is a great choice and if anyone had chosen them I would have had no problem. I'm sure if I had polled 50 different people I would have had a similar list to this one but D.R.I. may have made the cut. Was a fun project for me to do. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@METALBENSCHRONICLES]

I think my pick would easily be Exodus Bonded by Blood! Excellent idea for a video! 🤘🏻

[@nolifetilmetal1]

You would be in good company with that pick.

[@METALBENSCHRONICLES]

@@nolifetilmetal1 all of these releases were great there were definitely a few in here that definitely surprised me.

[@ole7146]

Never been the biggest Anthrax fan but “Among the living” did get my head banging some 25 -30 years ago. S.O.D was so cool, a solid combination of thrash and punk.

[@nolifetilmetal1]

I don’t think Anthrax ever topped Among the Living.

[@ole7146]

@@nolifetilmetal1 defo, the “I am the man” stuff etc was awful. By the time “speak English or die” hid Denmark, I was the drummer in the Danish thrashmetal band Imperial and the whole crossover concept just hid me right in the face.

[@stevenvalenti3722]

I personally rather SPREADING THE DISEASE actually more. Just saying.\m/

[@2112res]

@@stevenvalenti3722 That seems to get lots of praise, but I'm not onboard. I much prefer State of Euphoria, which gets trashed a lot. If Fistful had been recorded like it was music, it would be tops for me.

[@anthraxrocks2003]

I am just glad thrash is alive and kicking in 2021

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Indeed it is. Cheers.

[@kmikmi1311]

Excellent episode! Agree 100% with Jurgen Aumann concerning Testament. Thought Bonded by Blood would be No 1

[@nolifetilmetal1]

And Bonded by Blood was tied at #1. Not surprising really. I mean it is a seminal thrash album even if I do like the two follow-up albums a bit more.

[@jameshoey69]

Pleasure to Kill or Seasons in the Abyss could well be up there for me. Great video!

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Both are good choices.

[@donnieharrison2337]

Can't argue with this list. Very good choices.

[@nolifetilmetal1]

A few bands missing that could have been included like Kreator snd Dark Angel but overall a very good list.

[@CluelessMorgan]

Would have a hard time picking just one album, but it would be among one these albums. Violence - Oppressing the Masses Demolition Hammer - Tortured Existence Slayer - Hell Awaits Overkill - Horrorscope Metallica - Master of Puppets Megadeth - Rust in Peace Exodus - Bonded by Blood Fates Warning - No Exit Torture - Storm Alert Forbidden - Twisted Into Form

[@nolifetilmetal1]

All excellent choices! (Though I would argue that Fates Warning are not "thrash."

[@CluelessMorgan]

@@nolifetilmetal1 Yeah I know. But imo No Exit is a very thrashy album... but on the more proggy and technical side of thrash. And a very underrated album.

[@rogercardenas111]

Cool Rush shirt by the way. Great, amazing content. Thrash metal 🤘🤟🤘🤟

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Thanks. Rush rules!

[@XX-mx4jt]

Great albums all. Glad Legacy made the list. Three albums I'd recommend to anyone as an introduction to thrash would be these: At War - Retaliatory Strike Mortal Sin - Face of Despair Shah - Beware Each for me epitomizes thrash and is listenable from start to finish. It's difficult to not list fifty albums, as there are many solid releases beyond the radar of the casual or novice listener.

[@nolifetilmetal1]

At War is a GREAT choice! I only allowed people ONE CHOICE for an album that defines thrash metal. At War is one of my personal favorites.

[@m.b.6129]

2 albums i prefer over many others in your list are Demolition Hammer's "Epidemic of Violence" and Wargasm's "Why Play around". Greetings from Germany

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Two classics.

[@2112res]

Wargasm....nice!

[@a.killian6749]

Don't for get their EP Necrology. And Sodom would of got my vote

[@damaco78]

That Believer album is great, specially the song Dies Irae

[@HankStellae]

Your collection is inspiring Thanks for a great video man, hails!

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Cheers.

[@metalmogul]

Some great picks in this list. We did a top 5 thrash debuts live stream on our Contact In Blood channel recently and Testament's Legacy came in top and i'd probably choose that but it would be closely followed by Master Of Puppets, Eternal Nightmare, Utlra-violence and Bonded By Blood. Mind you after watching Jurgens recent video and reconnecting with Product Of Imagination by Paradox I may well be changing my mind soon... Reign in Blood wouldn't be anywhere near the top for me, a clasic for sure, just not a top favourite of mine.

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Reign isn’t even my favorite Slayer albums. I far prefer the first two but I understand how important it is in the history of thrash as well.

[@kaosmonger73]

Holy Terror "Mind Wars" Absolute masterpiece.

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Good choice!

[@kaosmonger73]

@@nolifetilmetal1 Thank you!🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼

[@chrisberg2083]

Terror and Submission is Killer as well.

[@kaosmonger73]

@@chrisberg2083 Oh absolutely!

[@mh7611]

USA for MOD

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Good choice. Pushes closer to the hardcore sound than many on this list but I would have had not problem including them if they had been chosen.

[@cristianosorio2517]

Hi Scott!! what a cool list of big classics thrash albums, i think my pick would between Megadeth's Rust in Peace of Ride the Lightning..... but also cool to see some bands i'm not aware of like Viking, Vengance and Razor. cheers and be well

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Yes, Rust In Peace is awesome IMO. I was surprised it only received one vote but glad it made the list. Ride The Lightning is probably my favorite Metallica, perhaps tied with Kill 'Em All. Was glad to see Vengeance Rising in the list. If this had been my personal list I would have included them.

[@dwaynegarfield1551]

AMAZING VIDEO! HANDS DOWN! THANKS FOR A KILLER VIDEO SCOTT! ❤🙏🎼👊💯👍🤘🌹💀

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Thanks brother.

[@peggs1]

Vio-lence takes some beating. Timeless classic.

[@2112res]

Love Oppressing the Masses

[@RobRoyNV]

impossible choice but I'd have to go with "Hell Awaits" when that came out it was mindblowing, me and a couple of mates traveled 7 hours to London to see them play the Marquee Club it was a killer show and we ended up traveling around the country think we caught every show on that tour

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Great choice! I could not agree with you more. It is still my favorite Slayer record.

[@dmitryowens]

I used to listen to that album like 3 times a day in 1985, and I was lucky enough to see them at a small-ish venue in the LA area (the Country Club in Reseda) and interview them backstage. Abbatoir and D.R.I. (I interviewed them too) opened. Killer show. I got to watch from the upstairs balcony in the V.I.P. section.

[@speedking4951]

Would have picked up Slayer - South Of Heaven 🤘. Great video. Made me realize I have a couple of holes I need to fill in my collection.

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Great choice! No one picked it and was surprised that only one Slayer album was chosen.

[@guiltyforgiven7167]

Great list man! I'm gonna pull ALL of those and put em in my CD carousel for the week! \\m// Had you given me enough time, I would've chose SOD as well - that album is THE epitome of thrash!

[@nolifetilmetal1]

I've been on a thrash kick lately. If you get the chance, I will be live at 3pm your time on The Metal Round Table discussing thrash with members of Havok and Madrost.

[@jimfarrar4925]

A few of my favorites Anthrax..Persistence of Time Sepultura...Roots D.R.I..Definition M.O.D. USA for M.O.D

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Good choices.

[@harrycollins3248]

Sacrifice are an underrated metal band. I been into them for years.

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Yes, they are. Unfortunately many great thrash bands were left in the underground because people refused to look outside of the mainstream. Still happens today.

[@relicreapers571]

Hell yeah, I still have an original fringe label LP of Forward to Termination still in the shrink rap. The ones I condemne is freakin fast lol. My friends met them back in the 80's Scarborough dudes. Oh another cool fact, there was a meteler in my home room class who's brother was in a band called Slaughter ( different Slaughter lol) so anyway his bro was at the downtown record store where he got talking to the dude from Sacrifice where he gave him the idea to record an album. I think the studio may have been in that same record store, not sure on that

[@sargentd3125]

Love Vinyl, Superior Sound Quality..Great Channel ...New Sub.

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Thanks you. Cheers.

[@karabinerstudios]

Loved seeing Death Angel on the list. My favorite of the 80s thrash bands, even above Megadeth for me. And they are still putting out killer music. Thank you for this! :-)

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Cheers.

[@joshalan5125]

Kreator: Pleasure to Kill is still the heaviest thrash album I have ever heard to this day and it gets my vote. It makes most other thrash look like glam metal by comparison.

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Pleasure to Kill is a classic!

[@patk6669]

Granted it came out 5/6 yrs later i think Demolition Hammer's Epidemic of Violence is that album for me 🤘😁

[@joshalan5125]

@@patk6669 I dont think ive listened to that, I'll check that out.

[@patk6669]

@@joshalan5125 hopefully you like it! That and Morbid Saint's 'spectrum of death' are pretty heavy 🤘

[@joshalan5125]

@@patk6669 Ive also gotten into a lot of heavy crossover thrash lately. Power Trip, Enforced, High Command and Plague Years are all super intense.

[@niklaseriksson3343]

"Doomsday for the Deceiver" by Flotsam and Jetsam is well worth a mention in my opinion!

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Indeed. Great album. I am going to do a follow-up video with choices from people posting on this video. It will make that list.

[@thomasfarmer1730]

“Lizzy Borden took an axe...gave her father 40 whacks...when she saw what she had done...she gave mother 41” lyrics from ‘She Took an Axe’.😮

[@metalheadedone]

Thanks for the shout out, brother! (Michael Campbell here, for those who don't know). Yeah, Peace Sells was the one that popped right into my head, for whatever reason other than the fact that yes, it is indeed a definition of true thrash, and is one album I wouldn't hesitate to show anyone who wanted to know what thrash metal was...but so are SOOOO many others from those days. It's a nigh impossible task to choose just one that is MORE of a thrash album than another, so I figured it was best to just go with the first one I thought of rather than wringing my hands and twisting my mind trying to decide on the absolute best one. Thrash metal forever!!! 🤘🤘

[@nolifetilmetal1]

I did the same, went with my first thought which was Metallica - Kill 'Em All. Vic Stown had a very persuasive argument but I stuck to my initial thought. Agree with you that it's a near impossible task to chose only one, but we did it and came up with a stellar list IMO. (Though the absence of Kreator and Dark Angel is a bit disturbing. Ha!)

[@cat_bicycle12]

Scott, your personality makes me happy, your muscles scare the shit out of me...lol love the video LONG LIVE SCOTT!

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Haha. Well glad I could bring a little joy.

[@andrewbintang4591]

tbh i'd pick nuclear assault (game over) & celtic frost (morbid tales!) over a lot of these bands.

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Both good choices.

[@andrewbintang4591]

@@nolifetilmetal1 i don't know if you remember them, but there was a band called warfare with an album called metal anarchy. they were like a true mix of heavy metal and hardcore punk, the definition of trash metal. also bands like the crumbsuckers, ludichrist and rich kids on lsd (rkl) that always remained more on the hardcore punk side but definitely showed some metal influences in their music.

[@Godflesh88v2]

Sacred Reich should be on the damn list!

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Yes, Sacred Reich is awesome! No one chose them for this list. They were a little late in the game for a band that "defines thrash".

[@Godflesh88v2]

@@nolifetilmetal1 1985? They sure define a chunk of it

[@bloodstone2k]

The nachos story cracked me up! Liked and subscribed!

[@eddiemaiden4751]

Great review Scott

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Thanks Brother!

[@mikemedina9235]

Kreator. Extreame aggression

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Great choice

[@MetalHeart8787]

Testament the legacy is my pick. Awesome album

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Indeed & great pick!

[@FanFanBessie2]

My favorite album by them and one of my absolute favorites of all time.. I rocked it in my car a couple weeks ago and it was even better than I remembered.👍

[@BawesomeBurf]

Lots of great albums here, and I expected the number one spot to be taken by either Reign In Blood or Rust In Peace. I'm actually shocked Rust only got 1 vote. It definitely would have gotten mine. My favorite thing about that album is how they managed to create such strong songs without using typical song structure for the most part. Even tracks like Hangar 18, which does begin with the typical verse/chorus progression, ends up going a totally different direction in the last half with the dueling guitar solos and that great, out of left field feel change. It also does something very un-thrash by not using a single power chord until nearly 3 minutes in to the tune.

[@chronomancer6665]

I would have picked Rust in Peace also. So good.

[@77perudo]

awesome list.. and super cool your a NJ guy.. me too.. parkway 117 here.. you still in NJ??? awesome channel.. i just subbed.. \m/... ps i got into metallica in around 85.. lightning was still there current album.. man awesome times.. seeing that stuff come out when it was new.. some kick ass metal albums in the early 80's

[@nolifetilmetal1]

No. Loved in New Mexico since 1989.

[@77perudo]

@@nolifetilmetal1 oh ok.. nice. i thought for some reason you were saying NJ.. my bad.. keep on rocking man..

[@cristinesalisbury63]

Jeff Walker of Carcass doin a record rating AWESOME

[@aaronazagoth6373]

SADUS-Chemical Exposure METAL CHURCH-Metal Church KREATOR-Pleasure to Kill

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Good choices.

[@cliffordthevinylcheapskate351]

Great video! Definitely not a bad album in the bunch.

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Thanks brother.

[@BigboiiTone]

Sorry if people already commented this. Danny Lilker from Nuclear Assault is who it is. Amazing musician and has some brutal side projects. Loved this video

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Yes, brain fart! Could not remember that name to save my life at that moment. Haha! Thanks.

[@andyg264]

Was just about to post - Who else was just yelling 'Dan Lilker!' at their computers? haha

[@2112res]

Cool to see some Lilker love instead of people going on and on about Burton.

[@tomaszwesoowskifromlechist6222]

Where is Hirax..?I love this band..I remember how long tortured my self with this same Razor album from cassette... Greetings from Poland

[@nolifetilmetal1]

No one chose Hirax and I even included two Hirax members (Katon & Glenn Rogers) in my poll! LOL! Greetings to you from the U.S. Cheers Metal Brother!

[@asiankaos5882]

The reason Thrash metal is my favorite genre of metal is that it mixes hardcore and metal. I love hardcore as much as metal and being from NYC where both are popular it is right up my alley. Just like crossover. A perfect example is imitation of life by Anthrax. That stomp groove at the end of that song always makes me lose my mind.

[@nolifetilmetal1]

I grew up in NJ so I know where you are coming from. I think that is also why I like early Anthrax so much. They had that blend of hardcore and metal. Like you said, Imitation of Life is a good example.

[@silentsounds791]

To me, maybe not my fav but definately the most metal Metal Genre. \,,/

[@lexicondevil1272]

More of a punk/hardcore dude but thrash metal def hits the spot for me!

[@dontpissoffraccoons]

Really happy to see s.o.d. especially because I got that album yesterday

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Classic album!

[@audiomule1976]

Love your content!

[@michaeluy114]

sod i used to be obcessed with that album... still fun to listen to

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Can you imagine if that album came out today? People would lose their minds!

[@Scotsmanthebedbug]

Death Angel. The Ultra-Violence

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Good choice.

[@michaellosert2285]

05:05: Dan Lilker, also in Nuclear Assault. I remember when Speak English or Die came out. Quite an impact, unfortunately I‘ve never seem them live on stage 😔😭

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Yeah man. Brain fart. Not to mention Brutal Truth. Legend.

[@quik65afx56]

Great list Bro, Thanks ! Your resemblance to Michael Anthony is awesome , or are you cousins . Lol 😀. Up the Irons \ ,, / and thanks again.

[@pathaden]

Death Angel is from the BAY AREA not SoCal...Dan Lilker is the bass player you forgot the name of for SOD. Surprised nobody chose Sacrilege BC 1st LP that could define thrash. AWESOME tie for 1st !

[@relicreapers571]

Ride the Lighting has become my favorite Metallica album. A really cool metal band from the 80's if some guys wanna discover although not thrash but very Sabbathy. A band called Trouble. My favorite album from them is psalm 9. Oh yeah btw my old bud was in Razor's Evil Invaders vid at Larry's Hidaway

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Trouble are great! Have all their albums and some bootlegs.

[@relicreapers571]

@@nolifetilmetal1 You lucky dog, I watch for them when the vinyl record shows come around. People who only listened to mainstream crap really missed out.

[@serpentsbane9166]

Cool video! Wasn't a fan of this list though; should have limited it to one release from each band so there would be a more diverse list of bands. I personally have not listened to much Thrash at all, but regardless my pick would be would be a tie between Hobb's Angel of Death self-titled album, and Exodus' Shovel-Headed Kill Machine album, 2 full-lengths which I have listened to the most in the genre. \m/

[@nolifetilmetal1]

I have not problem with Hobb's Angel of Death or any Exodus. It was just a fun exercise. I asked them to give me "one album that defines thrash metal" to them. The list was fairly diverse, even if it did have a lot of standards like Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer. I was surprised to see more obscure releases like Vengeance Rising, Believer and Sacrifice make this list. Regardless, I thought it was a fun exercise. Appreciate you watching and commenting. I may do a follow-up video and include albums by people listed in the comments.

[@iansalsbury296]

Some great albums here, I'd swap out Believer, Vengeance, Viking, Annihilator and the 90s Overkill album for Pleasure to Kill, Dimension Hatross, Darkness Descends, Hell Awaits and Game Over. But at the end of the day there were more than 22 great thrash albums so someone's favourite is always going to be missing! Really surprised no one picked Kreator though.

[@nolifetilmetal1]

This isnt a list of all the great thrash bands. It was a poll of 50 metal musicians and metal fans and they were asked to give me one album that defines thrash metal to them. No one person knew what any other picked. So what album would define thrash metal to you? Personally I love Believer and think they certainly fit on this list. Kreator are a must too. Cheers.

[@skk7593]

I would replace Believer and Vengeance with Dark Angel's Darkness Descends and Kreator's Pleasure To Kill. How those two albums were left out here is a head scratcher for me. Those were more widely known than the other two bands and much more genre defining.

[@nolifetilmetal1]

This wasn't an all-inclusive list of thrash metal bands and albums. I polled 50 people, many of whom were in metal bands from that time period (Hirax, Heretic, Deliverance, Dark Angel, Devastation, Banshee, among others) and told them to pick ONE album that defined thrash metal to them. This was what came of that poll. No one person knew what any other person said. No one chose Kreator or Dark Angel, and I even asked one of the members of Dark Angel. It's not so easy when you can only pick one album. What one album would you have picked no knowing what any other person in the poll picked? And if this had been my personal list I would have picked Dark Angel - Leave Scars, Kreator - Pleasure To Kill, but I also would have included Vengeance - Human Sacrifice and Believer - Extraction from Mortality. All four albums are awesome IMO.

[@jaguardog]

I’ve been trying to find Extraction From Mortality on cd for years. It’s impossible to find. Any idea where to get it?

[@skk7593]

@@jaguardog Discogs has it.

[@nolifetilmetal1]

@@jaguardog soooo many labels looking to reissue that with no success.

[@ryanjsmith1973]

Nuclear Assault survive should have been in there

[@Godflesh88v2]

I would pick Handle With Care personally

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Great choice. When I do a follow-up video I will show your choice.

[@lr6884]

Very surprised to see Believer's Sanity Obscure on this list, but definitely well deserved. Freakin' great album!

[@nolifetilmetal1]

I was surprised by that one as well. I love it but did not expect it to be chosen. I totally expected that person to pick Slayer as I know Slayer are one of his favorite thrash bands.

[@silentsounds791]

Listened to that Sacrifice this morning ironically. For the first time in a while and to me it held up just fine over the years. Good sh*t.I'd choose Persecution Mania by Sodom, Extreme Aggressions by Kreator, or Signs of Life by Devastation . if you havent heard the Devastation album(s) please do. Texas thrash . thier album Idolatry is great, too.

[@chadappell2280]

Kreator Extreme Aggression

[@nolifetilmetal1]

A classic and a great choice.

[@chadappell2280]

Ok one more, Dark Angel Time Does Not Heal, and thanks for the great video🤘🏼

[@nolifetilmetal1]

@@chadappell2280 one of the best thrash albums ever!

[@jtm1979]

Sepultura Schizophrenia, Kreator Endless Pain, Possessed Seven Churches, Sodom etc.

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Good choices but what would your “one choice of an album that defines heavy metal” be? That’s what every I asked every person polled for this list.

[@dmitryowens]

I remember when I first heard that S.O.D. album in 1985 it blew me away with how fast and heavy it was. And a year or so later when I was learning guitar, my good friend would figure out the riffs (he had a better ear than me) and show them to me. Then as I got better I began learning Metallica and Slayer (my two favorite bands at the time) songs.

[@nolifetilmetal1]

That's interesting that S.O.D. was such a bit influence on you. Usually you hear people list Metallica or Slayer first. Thanks for sharing.

[@dmitryowens]

@@nolifetilmetal1 I was into Metallica and Slayer first - those were my two favorite bands since their debut albums were released, and Anthrax was up there too. The thing was, I had just switched from drums to guitar a few months before Speak English Or Die was released and S.O.D riffs were easier to learn than Metallica and Slayer riffs 😎 But a few months later I was learning Seek & Destroy and Black Magic 🤘

[@mathewcaldwell2945]

Among the living was the best small venue show i saw that year. They played at the old world German beer garden in Corona California, metal church and a few other local bands opened. People were climbing the light poles and swinging from the power lines into the pit. Can still remember how intense it was almost 35 years later.

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Wow! That's awesome. I saw Anthrax twice in the clubs on the Spreading the Disease tour and the pits were insane. Heathens Rage opened at the City Gardens and had an equally crazy crowd.

[@Disco_Breakin]

Among the living at Hammersmith odeon was one of the best gigs I ever went to.

[@Patrick13z]

Bands like Vengeance, Believer, Incubus and Deliverance clearly prove that it doesn`t matter what religion you have. Also for other genres the aformentioned Horde and Antestor, Trouble, Wytch hazel. You can still shred and make awesome stuff

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Agreed! I'm a big fan of those bands and many more. Seventh Angel, Detritus, The Moshketeers (who are playing in the background of this video), Sacrament, Thresher, etc.

[@satanertau2689]

Serpent Temptation!!!!!!!!

[@juliopires4029]

Nuclear Assault _ Handle with Care

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Excellent pick! Would have loved to have seen them in this list.

[@TheTigerQuoll]

Darkness Descends and Extreme Aggression sadly missing,glad SOD made it.Was lucky enough to have this era overlap my teens early twenties and vividly recall how exciting it all was and going to gigs on the weekend.

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Yes, surprising that Dark Angel and Kreator didn't make the list, but I am sure if I polled 50 more people they would have been there. You have to remember that this wasn't an all-inclusive list of the greatest thrash metal bands and albums. I polled 50 metal musicians (including members of Dark Angel) and metal fans and told them to "pick ONE album that defined thrash metal to them." No one person knew what any other person said. This list is was what came of that poll. What one album would define thrash metal for you?

[@danzemacabre8899]

I remember me and my friends being floored by S. O. D, those opening riffs still might be the heaviest ever. We started thinking, what if Scott and Charlie take that hardcore crunchiness and marry it with the writing and musical prowess of Spreading the Disease? We got our answer early 87, and i still think that has all the elements to a T of what the term thrash meant back then

[@samsonite7715]

I was surprised that Sepultura's Beneath the Remains didn't make the cut, but regardless, a pretty solid list. I'm not familiar at all with Violence or Razor, so I'll be sampling some of their stuff.

[@satanertau2689]

Two great bands!

[@antondzajajurca7797]

Beneath the Remains and Reign in Blood are two of mine favorite albums of all time.

[@2112res]

I've read that people weren't impressed with Vio-lence vocals. WTF?

[@mathewcaldwell2945]

I have a megadeth picture disc shaped like vic rattlehead, with wake up dead.

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Nice collectible. Cheers!

[@thomashubner697]

There is a new EvilDead album on Spotify which after 8 listens I love very much.Is this only a digital release or is it released in europe on cd and vinyl?

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Yes, the new EvilDead is available on CD and vinyl. I have the CD. It's very good. Looking forward to the new Anger As Art as well.

[@thomashubner697]

@@nolifetilmetal1 Thank you Scott for the answer! I will buy the CD. Don't know what it is but this album graps me.

[@micahnewby3482]

Great list and very definitive of the genre.

[@classicsound85]

Artillery "Terror Squad" (1987)... A riffs factory !

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Good choice.

[@Dave-fy9vp]

Exhorder Slaughter in the Vatican number one.

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Good choice.

[@karabinerstudios]

Personally, I think Kill Em' All has a good argument as THE defining thrash metal album because of it's release date. There were some killer thrash albums released in 1983, but Metallica's came out first. Also, the distribution of Kill Em' All, considering we are talking about the early 80s, was pretty good for kind of music it was. Even I had the album in my isolated West Texas town of 200 people. There is no doubt that the album opened up doors for bands like Slayer and Exciter to be accepted by a larger audience. Kill Em' All is not close to my favorite thrash album, but is definitely one that helped defined the genre.

[@nolifetilmetal1]

Kill 'Em All was my pick. Tough to only pick ONE ALBUM to represent a genre of metal, but Kill 'Em All is to thrash what Black Sabbath is to heavy metal IMO.

[@ericmetalec]

A few of My favorites... Slayer Rein in Blood... Tourniquet pathogenic ocular dissonance... Exodus Temple of the Damned... Metallica master of puppets...Death Angel Act III...Overkill Ironbound...Megadeth Peace Sells.. Demolition Hammer skull fracturing nightmare...Testament the formation of damnation

[@nolifetilmetal1]

All great picks. I would have been happy with any of those picks.

[@Gregbaltzer]

I'm one of those people who will never consider S.O.D. thrash metal. They're just closer to that NYHC sound than they are metal. Short songs and no solos doesn't define thrash metal for me. When I'm in a NYHC mood I put S.O.D. on my playlist along with Cro-mags, Agnostic Front, Crumbsuckers, Sick of It All, Biohazard etc. When I'm in a thrash metal mood it's early Metallica, Death Angel, Testament, Overkill, Megadeth, etc. Unless I'm in a darker thrash mood than it's Kreator, Sodom, Slayer, Venom, Celtic Frost, Coroner, and Possessed(who also go on my Death Metal playlist)

[@nolifetilmetal1]

I agree with you for the most part. I think S.O.D. was a little closer to metal than Crumbsuckers or even Agnostic Front but we are really splitting hairs. Like I said in the video, I was surprised to see it chosen.

[@Gregbaltzer]

@@nolifetilmetal1 I would say the second crumbsuckers album is closer to metal. It's pretty much a thrash metal album just with hardcore vocals. There's even an amazing instrumental on there called "Initial Shock" that a lot of metal bands couldn't even pull off. That instrumental should be held in the same regards as The Ultra-Violence or Orion.

[@danasallaz7877]

I just watched your video on 22 defining thrash metal and then I read the comments and someone mentioned crossover band why no one mentioned dirty rotten imbeciles (DRI) four of a kind I mean come on they even had an album called crossover and mod the album USA for mod and one more a band called sacred reich the album american way you could have probably put on your list five honorable mentions but overall it's a pretty good list

[@michaelmessina5341]

I have almost all of those on cd and they are the original first pressing's. Eternal Nightmare and the Legacy are two of the best thrash releases.