The Top 50 Thrash Albums of All Time - 20 -11

Now we are down to the top 20 albums of what is the most influential sub-genre of  metal . It opened the door for bands to play louder, harder and faster thus spawning Death metal, black metal, grind core etc.. yeah doom stayed on it's own path. The bands that came out of it are now considered the biggest bands in metal...I mean Metallica and Slayer, come one end of debate. Normally I try to limit it to one album per artist. There are some artists that had much more of an impact so they might get another entry or two. There is thrash ranging from proto-death metal to hard core to power metal bands that evolved with the times. I grew up during the rise of thrash and listened to it through out highschool so some of this is determined by which albums did I listen to the most as they came out and which have endured the test of time. Lets face it none of your Toxic Holocausts or Revocations can touch these bands. They are pretty much tribute bands in comparison


20 - Suicidal Tendencies-" How Will I Laugh Tomorrow, When I Can't Even Smile Today"  1988

 This album finds them crossing over into metal in the best way possible. "Join the Army" found them heading in this direction and they perfected it here.


 

 19- Iced Earth -  "the Dark saga" 1996 


The aggression of this album is what makes it thrash rather than power metal. The songs are what makes it awesome. The guitar tone on this album is unreal. Matt Barlow gives what might be one of the top 5 vocals performances on this list.

 

18-Annihilator - "Alice in Hell" -1989


 I wore this rucking tape out back in the day. Jeff Waters is still doing it but this was the perfect storm with DOA singer Randy Rampage.


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17- Testament-  " New Order " 1988 


 The Perfect blend of power and frantic energy. Chuck Billy's vocals did not sound like every one else and had a commanding personality to them.

 

16 - Angkor Wat- "Corpus Christi" 1990 

Yes it opens with "Blue Velvet" samples and industrial elements. This shit is mindblowing. It is still ahead of of it's time.





15 -  Anthrax -"Spreading the Disease" -1985


 This album introduced singer Joey Belladonna , who would prove to be crucial to their sound. It is a madhouse

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14- Exodus- Bonded By Blood " -1985

 Of the band's on this list who were around in 85, these guys might be the heaviest. This album should be mentioned when it comes to thrash albums that influenced black metal.



 



13- Flotsam & Jetsam - " No Place For Disgrace" - 1988 



 If you have heard this album then you know why it deserves to be here. If you have not heard this album, then why the fuck are you even reading this? Listen to it now.



 


12-Gwar- Scumdogs of the Universe "1990

 The open track slays in a way that solidfies their place in the top 20. Known for their theactrics people often do not realize what an under rated band this is. They started off punk on their first album and bring the thrashing metal in a big way here.


 


11- Judas Priest - " Painkiller" 1990 

 Judas Priest came back to redeem themselves from a run of two duds "Ram It Down" and "Turbo" to show that they were still the metal gods. Preist arguably influenced thrash more than any other classic metal band. This album set them off into a heavier direction they maintained until "Nostradomus".