100 Greatest Thrash Metal and Speed Metal Bands of the 80s and 90s

Category :Music

Mention sub-genres of heavy metal and two that come to mind instantaneously are Thrash and Speed. Without doubt the 80s and 90s were decades that belonged to thrash metal and speed metal. This article takes you down memory lane bringing you some of the best thrash metal and speed metal bands from the 80s and 90s.

A striking similarity between thrash metal and speed metal is unconventional riffing and fast tempos. While speed metal is considered more melodic metal with a polished sound, thrash metal is known for its raw structure infused with guitar riffs and shred solos. Yes, speed and thrash bands did hog the limelight in the 80s and 90s alongside hair metal bands. From pubs, arenas, to stadiums, thrash metal bands ruled when it came to live performances. At music festivals in the 80s and 90s, headlining acts often featured thrash bands or speed metal bands.

History of Speed Metal

The roots of speed metal came into being influenced by The New Wave of British Heavy Metal, popularly known as NWOBHM. The speed metal sound was an amalgamation of heavy metal and hardcore punk that sprung a movement of its own.

Speed metal emphasized on fast tempo melodic riffing and groove techniques. A lot of speed metal and thrash metal drummers introduced jaw dropping double-bass- pedal techniques that floored audiences. Also, breakneck guitar riffing came under the spotlight in speed metal bands in the 80s and 90s. Speed metal bands are known for their technical versatility and time signatures. Exciter and Anvil were two bands responsible for getting wheels of Speed Metal rolling.

History OF Thrash Metal

Thrash metal gained prominence in the early 80s and since then has gone on to become one of Heavy Metal’s most popular sub-genres. Fast tempo, insanely beautiful guitar riffs accompanied with complex unstructured solos, and double bass drumming formed an integral part of the thrash metal sound. A number of thrash bands from the 80s and 90s brought to light aspects such as corruption, suicide, isolation, warfare, murder, alienation, corruption, injustice, and addiction through their lyrics. Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer and Megadeth are often referred as the ‘Big Four’ of thrash metal for their status as pioneering acts, and their immense contribution to the genre. The band Venom’s early work is considered to have influenced many thrash bands in the early 80s. Thrash Metal as a term was first coined as a reference to an Anthrax song, ‘Metal Thrashing Mad’ by Kerrang magazine journalist Malcom Dome in a 1984 issue. Crossover Thrash/Hardcore band Void is regarded by many as the band that paved the way for thrash bands in the 80s.

The Thrash Metal and Speed Metal Story

Although there were a large number of speed metal bands and thrash metal bands in the 80s, not all were able to attain the desired success commercially. Few bands found record deals with major record labels. A number of bands released self-produced albums and sold them at their concerts. Few bands managed to get significant airplay on music channel MTV in the ‘Headbangers Ball’ segment. Roadrunner Records and Noise Records were responsible for keeping the flag waving. Both these record labels signed many thrash metal and speed metal bands in the 80s thereby helping spiral an upward trend. While many speed metal and thrash metal bands faded away with the emergence of grunge and alternative in the 90s, post 2000 a large number have regrouped to release albums and tour. The thrash metal and speed metal era was definitely the 80s and 90s and it tells a story… the music’s never over.

If you love thrash metal or speed metal you will want to express yourself. Feel free to do so in the comments section.

The list below includes crossover thrash, death-thrash and progressive-thrash bands.

100 Greatest Thrash Metal Bands and Speed Metal Bands

Exodus
Anthrax
Kreator
Annihilator
Slayer
Metallica
Testament
Exciter
Death Angel
Voivod
Megadeth
Anvil
Destruction
Nuclear Assault
Overkill
Dark Angel
Forbidden
Agent Steel
Sodom
Cranium
Sadus
Raven
Sepultura
Metal Church
Cancer
Flotsam and Jetsam
Exhorder
Hirax
Malice
Hatesphere
Atomkraft
Sacred Reich
The Accused
Leige Lord
Holy Moses
Sabbat
Gwar
Znowhite
Virus
Angel Dust
Defiance
Mortal Sin
Korzus
Tankard
S.O.D (Stormtroopers of Death)
Xentrix
Heathen
Whiplash
D.R.I. (Dirty Rotten Imbeciles)
Artillery
Sacrifice
Exumer
Vio-lence
Agnostic Front
Laaz Rockit
Violator
Dorsal Atlantica
Evildead
Coroner
Razor
Epidemic
Cerebral Fix
M.O.D. (Method of Destruction)
Powermad
Atrophy
Crumbsuckers
Infernal Majesty
Blind Illusion
Iron Angel
Wehrmacht
Hobbs’ Angel of Death
Intruder
Loudblast
Rigor Mortis
Witchery
Body Count
The Crown
MX
Suicidal Tendencies
Believer
Mokoma
Cro-Mags
Meliah Rage
Onslaught
Cryptic Slaughter
Toxik
Dead Brain Cells
Paradox
Anacrusis
Executer
Demolition Hammer
Mekong Delta
Acid Reign
United
Necronomicon
Carnivore
Violent Force
Cyclone Temple
Deathrow
Vendetta

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