40 Best Thrash Metal Guitar Riffs (4K)

[@Anne.Tarkyin]

0:00 Strike of the beast - Exodus 0:23 Battery- Metallica 0:56 Angel of Death- Slayer 1:18 Tossed Away- Forbidden 1:40 A.I.R. - Anthrax 2:06 into the pit- Testament 2:40 Good mourning/Black friday- Megadeth 3:03 Thorn to the wolves- Death angel 3:30 Alice in hell- Annihilator 3:47 Piranha- Exodus 4:11 World in a world- Vio-lence 4:34 Alone in the dark- Forbidden 5:07 Raining blood- Slayer 5:32 Pleasures of the Flesh- Exodus 5:56 Shattered- pantera 6:16 Damage inc. - Metallica 6:41 Through eyes of Glass- 7:20 Madhouse- Anthrax 7:46 Metal militia- Metallica 8:09 Over the wall- Testament 8:25 You cant bring me down-suicidal tendencies 8:53 Blackened- Metallica

[@Im_Guitarist]

Where are the rest?

[@CizerKedi]

9:24 Impaler - Exodus 9:49 The New Order - Testament 10:15 Schizos - Annihilator 10:27 Kill On Command - Vio-lence 10:49 Morbid Curiosity - Heathen 11:13 R.I.P. - Forbidden 11:37 Lucretia - Megadeth 11:57 Disposable Heros - Metallica 12:18 Rust In Peace…Polaris - Megadeth 12:30 F***ing Hostile - Pantera 12:56 Step By Step - Forbidden 13:19 Creeping Death - Metallica 13:39 A Lesson In Violence - Exodus 14:04 Dyers Eve - Metallica

[@Jack_Krauzers]

I don't think Alone In The Dark was Forbidden

[@vaggoswing5037]

Ohohhhhhhh!!!!!!!! Thrash on strat, amazing tone, single coil attack.

[@erojerisiz1571]

Thrashocaster

[@rohantiwari7801]

Looks like he has seymour duncan on bridge. The Jb.jr

[@dylan6200]

@@rohantiwari7801 yeah it looks like their single sized humbucker

[@bastianmaoro8278]

It's not a single coil, omg guys are you blind ? It's a mini humbucker.

[@xd._.7091]

Is hot raíl

[@hambungers]

I was so happy when you got Forbidden in there

[@_tugr4]

Awesome but Anthrax - Caught in A Mosh should be on the list

[@cronometal2586]

Fax

[@bronzerapollo9081]

Death rider

[@MenaceMetal]

don't forget among the living... in fact every riff on that album slapped

[@nacholaz9024]

@@MenaceMetal facts

[@spiritinblack370]

Sodom, Kreator, Destruction,Overkill, Sepultura???

[@Boku_Wa_Mukanjyo]

+++

[@dftns]

What about classic thrashers like Sacred Reich, Metal Church, Overkill, Artillery, Coroner, Toxik!?

[@alnikur87]

Annihilator's 1st album is a damn treasure chest of awesome riffs

[@Huddle_House56]

If Jeff Waters wasn’t such an asshole he’d probably get the recognition his playing deserves.

[@HellbillyHalloween]

Human Insecticide and Powerdrain are awesome and fun riffs to play on guitar

[@alnikur87]

@@HellbillyHalloween Yeah!

[@RoRo-vr6wx]

@@alnikur87 never neverland is annihilators best albums for me

[@Mr.H0LLYW00D]

Dude, one of the best Thrash albums! 🤟 Top 10 for sure

[@ThibautKurt23]

Some european thrash are missing: Coroner - Masked Jackal, Sudden Fall, Metamorphosis (so much good technical thrash riffs) Artillery - Khomaniac, By Inheritance Xentrix - For whose advantage, Crimes Destruction - Curse the gods, Mad Butcher Sodom - Agent Orange, Sodomy and lust Kreator - Tormentor, Awakening of the gods Holy Moses - Near Dark And some Overkill too : Elimination, Horroscope etc...

[@Adebobbyblack]

and EXUMER

[@ThibautKurt23]

@@Adebobbyblack i didnt know this band . Thanks I will check

[@sonicexperiments]

Everything from your playing to your tone to the recording is of absolute fineness... It's sad why so few people admire stuff like this...

[@Erdling1312]

👍..... ja ist fast Perfekt..... 👍........ aber ich auf Vinyl und der endsprechenten Boxen z. b. Klipsch 💣

[@zacharymorrison1370]

"You ain't cool unless you pee your pants!" -Billy Madison

[@zacharymorrison1370]

Trees were harmed at the making of this video!!! All human babies survived!!!

[@s.f.morris7331]

well consider him Miles Davis then! @@zacharymorrison1370

[@lifeisdead01]

I caught the disposable heroes bug last year, and I'm helplessly addicted to this style riffing

[@andreiandrey9584]

Me: Mom, I want to listen to *Jump In The Fire* Mom: We already have *Jump In The Fire* at home *Jump In The Fire* at home: 3:01

[@mist-eerie-music]

Me: Mom, can we have Seek and Destroy? Mom: We already have Seek and Destroy at home Seek and Destroy at home: 9:23

[@thedjentleman1662]

@@mist-eerie-music joke's on you, this song was written by Exodus when Kirk was still in the band so it would be "can we have Impaler at home" "we have Impaler at home" *Seek And Destroy starts playing*

[@impolaris1398]

@@thedjentleman1662 really🤔 Then where is the proof?

[@impolaris1398]

@@thedjentleman1662 the song already exist before Kirk was in Metallica lol.

[@thespagatchewanfromsaskatc4245]

Also, I believe the “Die By My Hand…riff from Creeping Death was another example of Kirk recycling Exodus riffs… The fact D.R.I. Didn’t make that list….shows lack of effort.

[@KM-sr71]

Destruction - Bestial Invasion Without a doubt

[@strawhousepig]

I'd add Life Without Sense to this list, too.

[@plciferpffer3048]

Seems like this dude only know North America band's only.

[@TheCondorjc]

@@plciferpffer3048 too much Metallica, Testament, and Exodus.

[@plciferpffer3048]

@@TheCondorjc Yep. How about some Sodom, Kreator, Coroner, Deathrow, Sabbat etc..?

[@TheCondorjc]

@@plciferpffer3048 maybe these are just his favorites 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@gastongennari2292]

Piranha riff is a masterpiece! Nasty, fast and thrashy. Good job mate, love your work.

[@michaelscott1658]

Right on! The entire Bonded By Blood LP is killer. That release & Overkills Feel The Fire are the 2 greatest debut albums in heavy metal history IMO. Coin flip which is better - I lean towards Overkill but you can't go wrong with either one!

[@abigaillkruss8823]

One of my favorites in thrash metal 🤘

[@socialxperiment3162]

I think it’s absolutely criminal that I didn’t see Questions by Xentrix. Gotta be one of their best riffs ever

[@TheGalilee416]

The fact you did them all flawlessly on a Strat has earned a sub 🤘

[@Kumiko7734]

Agree that this is great playing, but that's a mini-humbucker on the bridge

[@madmetalking11035]

Tasty riffs, good selection, precise playing and that's all on an absolutely gorgeous Sea-Foam Fender. Man! You're a One-of-a-Kind Awesome

Good job, man... The list was limited to American thrash metal, though. Missed the Germans (Kreator, Destruction, Sodom, Tankard, etc.). Lots of incredible riffs there. Some early Sepultura too.

[@jomarkwh]

What fantastic taste in music you have! That just kept getting better and better. I couldn't believe when you threw in a Forbidden track, no-one ever does that. Then amongst all those other awesome tracks you threw in a few more Forbidden for good measure. I had just gone to bed and you had me headbanging dude. Haha.. Nice.

[@rafaelporcher8049]

"What fantastic taste in music you have!" NICE!! HAHAHA I think the same!!!

[@s.f.morris7331]

you know Forbidden got back together with Craig and Matt of course and Steve. with Chris Kontos on drums and Norm Skinner on vocals. my band Envirusment has played shows with Forbidden three times but not with Chris and Norm. Norm is perfect replacement for Russ and singers are hard to replace.

[@jomarkwh]

Great news thanks.

[@emersonbarreto492]

Very good! I liked the Surf Green Strat! 😂👊🏻🇧🇷

[@rjc7289]

A very good sampling of classic thrash riffs. If you do a Vol. 2, may I suggest the following... "Bonded By Blood" -- Exodus "Darkness Descends" -- Dark Angel "Rise" -- Pantera "Hello From The Gutter" -- Overkill "Souls Of Black" -- Testament "Time" -- Anthrax "War Ensemble" -- Slayer "Symphony Of Destruction" -- Megadeth "To Live Is To Die" -- Metallica "Climbing The Walls" -- Wrathchild America

[@OmarMoralesSs]

More Megadeth mmm Kreator? All german bands.... Also Dark Angel, Sepultura, Overkill, Coroner mmm maybe Voivod

[@badtypeomixes6359]

Here's a list of great thrash riffs that also rarely get mentionned: Nuclear Assault - Emergency Deathrow - Events in concealment Nuclear Assault - Brain Death Nuclear assault - Wired Realm - Second coming Xentrix - Desperate remedies Intruder - Face of hate Vio-lence - Oppressing the masses Carnivore - Race war S.O.D. - Fist banging mania M.O.D. - Man of your dreams Nice playing and selection anyway!

[@OriginalKingRichTv]

Crossover thrash 🤔

[@krafgeetar4013]

Also Nuclear Assault - Surgery. Everyone forgets that one

[@humanperson3779]

Brain death is such a good song

[@nhoodfan]

I gave up on learning Events in Concealment, holy shit that's a hard song

[@dan9337]

Came for the thrash. Stayed for the seafoam green single coil strat. Respect my bro.

[@jinx8279]

Great riffs in there. Twisted Into Form is such an amazing album and it was also great to see Vio-lence, Suicidal and Testament represented as well. I probably would have tossed in Deliver the Suffering by Devastation, Sepultura - Hungry, Exhorder - Legions of Death, either The New Priesthood or An Ancient Inherited Shame from Dark Angel's Time Does Not Heal and Deliverance's chugging Weapons of our Warfare. Thanks for making this video and sharing all this great music with the KZbin masses!

[@Jack_Krauzers]

I'd be agree with Deliver The Suffering because it's one of my fave song! it feels amazing somebody mentioned the song, which is a super rare ocassion

[@j-dizzle2946]

Deliverance 💪 solitude is also very good off their second album

[@gavinsanford3576]

That’s exactly how I hold my pick, with a balled fist. Everybody I play with thinks it’s weird, but it works.

[@umeshpatel3606]

Bernth the Austrian guitarist holds it like that so do I

[@CM-ng9kv]

@@umeshpatel3606 Bernth plays with more of a monkey paw. A few of his videos he clearly states not to play with a closed fist. It limits you and increases bad habits.

[@umeshpatel3606]

@@CM-ng9kv can you explain your ballad grip v monkey paw grip please!

[@THSBIAJKK]

They're all from the same 6 albums. Got it.

[@TheSuffocater]

Great video ! Nice sounds and cool you did not pick only the obvious riffs and bands. Stratocaster with small headstock looks cool too !

[@Captainkota]

For raining blood, for everyone else , don’t need that much pinch harmonic. This man right here was just jamming out and feeling the music and it pumped him up, I hope my fellow guitarist know that feeling when your turned up max volume and just jamming to whatever comes to mind then just going all out.

[@HeyBeavis-bf4kx]

Sacred Reich - Death Squad. Excellent opening riffs.

[@dirt1376]

The tone is legendary

[@goslava101]

Great job! Where are all the angry German bands?

[@hoodratsent]

KMFDM, Rammstein, Slick Idiot

[@TheCondorjc]

Yup

[@cjh0751]

Cool man, it takes me back. I noticed that your right hand little finger was placed on the scratch plate during Annihilators riffs. More control. I like it ❤

[@doctorjules187]

the pick squeals on Raining blood are so delicious

[@doctorjules187]

+ I've never heard a song that provided so much of the inspiration to the classic DOOM theme as Through the eyes of glass

[@dan_kay]

And all that on a strat :D good job!

[@doc1912]

main riff from Whiplash's Red Bomb, all of Killing Is My Business (album, not song) riffs are amazing too, I really like main riff and chorus of Loved to Deth, main riff from Kreator's Toxic Trace, that beginning riff from Destruction's The Ritual, main riff of Mad Butcher is amazing too. Man, too many amazing riffs in thrash.

[@guitarmang64]

Anyone know how to get this tone on a Strat? I can’t get a good chuggy tone on mine

[@TheSchemer1]

Mate, is there no chance you could do a full cover of Exodus - Strike of the Beast. Cause I think your take on it sounds better than the original older track, the faster tempo and tighter guitar tone! Everything about it is purely riveting my friend!

[@nunogomes4954]

No need to suggest any songs, you covered some of my favourites. Especially with Vio-lence, and Forbidden, I just had to sing along with those ones.

[@zach9278]

That strat tone sounds incredible

[@peterbet5040]

THRASH METAL IS THE LAW

[@mynamemyers5914]

Fight fire with fire metallica, most underrated riff by them

[@stevedamien638]

Great,thx for sharing and teaching the youtube guitar players that the picking hand has to be...Metal. Many cover Testament songs(just to name a band here,)and their picking hands are as soft as the guitarist from U2 would be. Cheers bro!

[@viktorviktor3350]

Overkill ,Destruction ,Flotsam and Jetsam ?

[@jasonsmith2484]

Appreciate all the Forbidden, under-rated thrash band for sure

[@motoman9944]

Very cool! Would've been nice to see some Kreator and Overkill in there, but I still dug all the riffs!

[@zemlidrakona2915]

Cool! Lots of Forbidden. I used catch them in concert every chance I got.

[@amiralanal]

I love the bass drum on the backing tracks. 80s sounding

[@overkillforever1]

I dont know how you can compile a list of 40 thrash riffs and not include anything from Overkill or anything from overseas (Kreator, Sodom, Destruction, Tankard, Artillery, Onslaught, Etc.). Way too much of the big 4 for me, especially Metallica but thats me. Nice video though!

[@Reyeyawn]

You should make a video. It’s not too late

[@overkillforever1]

@@Reyeyawn ehhhhh not really interested in creating a video on this type of stuff. I’m more so interested in writing reviews than to make a video.

[@TomReed007]

@@overkillforever1 None of those bands can get close to Metallica though

[@TheCondorjc]

@@TomReed007 haaaaaaaaaaa. You’re funny. The only metric by which those bands can’t compete with Metallica is the sales. Otherwise, a bunch of those bands blow Metallica out of the water.

[@AcceleratingUniverse]

@@TomReed007 ok lol

[@matteocoda6368]

Single coil thrashing... It makes it more original and vintage at the same time.

[@asianaxeman]

Rig to record this? 🤟😎

[@zeldamage001]

Artillery - Khomeiniac next please!

[@garrettmetalman5008]

Awesome job! Great versatility in your song selection! If I had to make some suggestions, it would be Death riffs. Try Symbolic, Scavenger of Human Sorrow, The Philosopher, and Pull the Plug. Check out Sodom (Agent Orange, Epitome of Torture) and Kreator (Enemy of God, Hate Uber Alles) too.

[@ЫгыгыгГыгыгович]

death is not thrash metal

[@thrashmetalhead88]

Or Overkill

[@hapkidosaopaulo4574]

Amazing

[@leifhildebrandt1645]

All played from a Fender. Love it!

[@jazavz]

Solid strat, man. Honest man's axe 🤘

[@shawnodom4079]

Dude! Your sister’s Strat sounds great! LoL, I’m joking cause of the color…it’s very Cobain. But your right hand is surgical. Great pinch harmonics sound, especially from a single coil. Obviously, a Strat can do damn near anything you want as long as you know how to stroke her and you clearly know your girl. Wish I could like it twice.

[@Elliwantstobattle]

Love this tone and guitar i have a strat too actually though red bullet strat btw you deserve more likes and subscribers

[@Adrin1117]

Who says you can't do Thrash on a Strat lol... sounds great!

[@Adrin1117]

@@user-rc3ne4su6f My first guitar was a Squire Stratocaster... a little over 20 years ago. Played that thing forever, I mean years, until I eventually moved up to a Fender Mexican Strat (I was mostly into punk at the time). Some of those Chinese Strats are great guitars considering the price. Plus you can mod the shit out of em if their not... you're not gonna have any problems finding aftermarket parts for a Strat lol

[@jungleblobs5225]

@@user-rc3ne4su6f to be fair black metal tones sound like shit every time so you don't exactly need a high end setup

[@gitterich]

Great info, thanks.Our beloved old super bands are fantastic. However, it is also a fact that in recent years, measured by the TOP 50 hit lists of the largest music markets in the world, no human musicians were involved in more than 80% of the songs / hit recordings. And the computer-generated sound is still on the rise. So let's all support young musicians who make handmade music. Only if we buy their records, DVDs and merch do we enable the young bands and musicians to turn their passion into a profession and also to be able to make a living from it. The ROCK N ROLL is crying out for help folks...🤘🎸🎹🎷🎤🎺🥁🤘.

[@oldman713]

HOW IS THIS VIDEO NOT FAMOUS !

[@CzyDe]

Hey, great work! If you could add a list and timestamps to the description IT would help a lot.

[@gregoryvigneault1824]

Great video! Nice that Heathen is there, Morbid Curiosity is such a great song

[@calebbliss8626]

I was surprised to see a traditional strat in a thrash video. Also glad to see stuff besides the big 4

[@jameshansen8931]

We need way more Suicidal bro.

[@TheJinxandCosmoChronicles]

Rust in peace....polaris by Megadeth is such a fast and technical riff...!!

[@zakabrah]

deserves more views, very awesome dude

[@bradenallen7639]

The fact that you’re using a strat makes me so damn happy lol I’m the only thrash guitarist I know that plays a strat 😂

[@seanconnors1613]

1:40 "Welcome to your nightmare!!!" Most underrated Anthrax song of All Time

[@IronDuke_xX]

Nice to see so many Forbidden riffs! You might like Artillerys By Inheritance

[@mmrseed]

By your choice of songs you seem to be suggesting that Gary Holt has the riffs

[@damageinc81292]

He has all the best ones

[@davidadam2777]

Just subscribed rn :)

[@thrashmetalambassador]

Good job. Can't for wait for the other 60.

[@jmwasp]

Vio-Lence is one of the most underrated bands ever!

[@mike_lowndes]

Accept's Fast as a Shark pretty much defined thrash back in the day, shame you missed it.

[@lonnierincon7651]

great guitar work

[@TachyBunker]

yess those are headbangers man

[@propro5267]

Strike esta a destiempo!!!!!

[@uki112]

Over the wall is absolutely killer

[@АлександрМ-ж3щ]

So cool thrash on strat

[@johnsguitarmusicanddemos]

I like the way it sounds is very iron maiden, but it sounds modern. It’s gotta be the guitar but you’re playing style is really nice too.

[@ccoppolaphoto]

love that you are playing metal on a Strat! me too!

[@A.Sibiriak]

Thank you bro!!! Thrash till death!!!

[@ariasbotero]

Nothing from Europe? What about the great German thrash metal bands?

[@chrisbassman3936]

Nice! Love the 50s strat! I love thrash

[@dr.a.o.]

I came here to make fun of using single coil for thrash then I heard your tone. Wth man how did you manage to get this mean tone out of a freaking strat :)

[@voronOsphere]

Excellent selection and execution! Thanks! Subbed!

[@K0YOT3]

There's something so pleasurable about thrash metal on a common strat. Maybe because it's unusual

[@crankmosh]

this list is legit because it has Through Eyes of Glass

[@basskirkster]

Such an incredible song

[@demianseale501]

Lol teal strat. But great job man. Good choices. ESP impressed with “Tossed Away”

[@swarnikdebbarman3112]

I want to learn riffs from you sir

[@shannonjones3714]

Excellent job!

[@crackerjack8115]

#540 subscriber here. what pedals are you runnin?

[@CJoshuaJimenez]

'Take No Prisoners' by Megadeth 🤘🏽

[@jakelaprise]

hate to point it out but youre adding an extra muted low e 8th note into the blackened riff, right before the b flat power chord in the last measure that leads back into the start of the riff. took me a while to figure out why it sounded weird but the extra 8th note caused every other loop of the riff to be off beat

[@orion_ys8204]

NIce play with Fender!

[@yungrozy7524]

good song choices

[@Johnjohnlamenace]

Where is Overkill, Metal Church, Atrophy, Artillery, Kreator and Exumer ?

[@frankseyen9156]

Also Sodom, Destruction, Sepultura and Coroner are missing. 🤔

[@Cepblunayk]

@@frankseyen9156 Sepultura 1989 is full of awesome riffs

[@tory6733]

Through eyes of glass 🤘

[@robertorodriguezmonaco7751]

Chalice of Blood

[@haraldweidemann225]

Great ! Good Job !

[@Разное-п2т]

Sepultura, Sodom ?😢