Top 10 Founders of Thrash Metal
Metallica is an American Heavy/Thrash Metal band formed in 1981. The original lineup was James Hetfield (Vocalist and Rhythm guitarist), Dave Mustaine (Lead Guitar), Lars Ulrich (Drums), Ron McGovney (Bassist). The group came into mainstream from their Self-Titled album and the hit single "Enter Sandman"... read more Influential and popularized, but they're too high on this list. They're not founders.
Kill Em All and Ride The Lightning popularized Thrash in the early 80s
Pure thrash metal forever and ever and ever
Venom are an English extreme metal band formed in 1979 in Newcastle upon Tyne. Coming to prominence towards the end of the new wave of British heavy metal, Venom's first two albums—Welcome to Hell and Black Metal—are considered a major influence on thrash metal and extreme metal in general. This may be surprising, but 'Welcome to Hell' was actually the first true Thrash Metal album ever released after ally research.
Witching Hour is the first thrash song ever...
The inventors of trash metal.
Megadeth is an American thrash metal band from Los Angeles, California. Megadeth was formed in 1983 by guitarist Dave Mustaine and bassist David Ellefson, shortly after Mustaine was fired from Metallica. They have released 15 studio albums to date, and have gone through many lineup changes, with Dave Mustaine being the sole constant member... read more Any of the big four could be said to have developed the genre.
Slayer was an American thrash metal band from Huntington Park, California, formed in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. They rose to fame with their 1986 album Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the big four of thrash metal bands, the others being Metallica, Megadeth, and Anthrax... read more The embodiment of evil and thrash in 80s and just because some idiot in a very known magazine claims that Kill em all is the 1st thrash album... lies ask Hellhammer, Venom and others. Slayer the most influence band in NA!
They released Show No Mercy right after Metallica released Kill Em All. Wasn't as viral as Metallica but it still was the angriest and fastest album.
Overkill is an American thrash metal band, formed in 1980 in New Jersey. They have gone through many line-up changes, with singer Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth and bassist D.D. Back in 1981 these folks were already doing speed-thrash in clubs (also playing metalized covers of punk songs... sonic reducer anyone? ). Then there were all that crap with the revenue of their EP and the promotor vanishing with all the money, wich postponed their 1st record (Fell the Fire)... and what a record it is!
They formed before any of the other bands, but they didn't release their first album until 1985. Before then however, they were doing covers of punk songs, but in a faster tempo.
Overkill and Exodus are the oldest thrash bands. But the first thrash releases were by Slayer and Must-allica (Metallica with Mustaine).
Anthrax is an American thrash metal band from New York City, formed in 1981 by guitarist Scott Ian and bassist Dan Lilker. The term thrash came from their song 'Metal Thrashing Mad'.
Before that James Hetfield used to call Metallica style/genre Power and Speed metal.
Their debut album 'Fistful of Metal' was released in 1984. Anthrax by far had the most punk influence in their music
Exodus is an American thrash metal band formed in 1979 in Richmond, California. Spanning a career of 37 years, Exodus has gone through numerous lineup changes, two extended hiatuses, and the deaths of two former band members.
Motörhead were an English heavy metal band formed in June 1975 by bassist, singer, and songwriter Ian Fraser "Lemmy" Kilmister, who was the sole constant member; guitarist and songwriter Larry Wallis; and drummer Lucas Fox. The band's harsh vocals and fast paced tempos helped inspire speed metal and thrash metal.
Diamond Head are an English heavy metal band formed in 1976 in Stourbridge, England. The band is recognised as one of the leading members of the new wave of British heavy metal and is acknowledged by thrash metal bands such as Metallica and Megadeth as an important early influence.
Tygers of Pan Tang are a heavy metal band, part of the new wave of British heavy metal movement. They formed in 1978 in Whitley Bay, England, and were active until 1987. The band reformed in 1999 and continue to record and perform. A very obscure band - I heard of them in 2011 in a metal documentary (Metal Evolution). I got the impression they were pretty popular in The UK in the late 70s/early 80s and kinda influential.
They are not a thrash band but they sound very thrashy and I was pleasantly surprised. Their songs were covered by thrash bands and this confirms my impression.
Try:
Hellbound (1981) - covered by Heathen, American thrash metal band.
Gangland (1981) - covered by Kreator in 1987, German thrash metal band.
Possessed is an American thrash/death metal band, originally formed in 1983 in the San Francisco Bay Area. Noted for their fast style of playing and Jeff Becerra's guttural vocals, they are routinely called the first band in the death metal genre. Possessed is the sometimes credited with being the first death metal band, and some credit them for coining the term "death metal". One band thath expande the horizons of metal and defines the thrash, death and occultism in lyrics Becerra is a true visionary!
Anvil are a Canadian heavy metal band from Toronto, Ontario, formed in 1978. The band consists of Steve "Lips" Kudlow, Robb Reiner and Chris Robertson.
Queen are an English rock band formed in London in 1970. The original lineup was Freddie Mercury (lead vocals, piano), Brian May (guitar, vocals), Roger Taylor (drums, vocals), and John Deacon (bass guitar, vocals). Before forming into Queen, Brian May and Roger Taylor had played together in a band named Smile. Freddie Mercury was a fan of Smile and encouraged them to experiment with more elaborate... read more Stone Cold Crazy is just one of the Proto Speed/Thrash songs they did. Their debut featured Modern Times Rock N Roll and Queen II had Ogre Battle, both of which came before Stone Cold Crazy. While the latter is really the closest to Thrash, the other two are honourable mentions in the category. Also, you got Dead On Time from the Jazz album which came out three years before Venom, quite possible the fastest Queen song they ever released!
I laughed at this, just hearing that queen helped make thrash sounds a little too weird
Stone Cold Crazy is the first thrash metal song
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. They are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although their musical approach changed over the years. Originally formed as a progressive rock band, the band shifted to a heavier sound in 1970. Deep Purple, together with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, have been referred to as the "unholy trinity of... read more Just listen to Hard Lovin Man the riff is quite thrashy is the first gallop riff,and the song is called as the first speed metal song but it has some Proto -thrash elements too.
How are they not higher?
Testament is an American thrash metal band from Berkeley, California. Formed in 1983 under the name Legacy, the band consists of vocalist Chuck Billy, guitarists Eric Peterson and Alex Skolnick, bassist Steve DiGiorgio and drummer Gene Hoglan.
Exciter is a Canadian speed metal band from Ottawa, Ontario, formed in 1978 as Hell Razor. In 1980 they changed the name Exciter. They are widely considered to be one of the first speed metal bands and a seminal influence of the thrash metal genre.
Metal Church is an American heavy metal band. They originally formed in San Francisco, California in 1980 before relocating to Aberdeen, Washington the following year and briefly using the name Shrapnel.
Lääz Rockit is a thrash metal band formed in San Francisco, California in 1982. Although one of the lesser-known groups of the Bay Area thrash metal scene, each album in their career has received high critical marks. One of their signature elements were Ibanez guitars adorned with elaborate airbrushed scenes of warfare.
Death Angel is an American thrash metal band from Daly City, California, initially active from 1982 to 1991 and again since 2001. Death Angel has released seven studio albums, two demo tapes, one box set and two live albums.
Dark Angel is an American thrash metal band from Los Angeles, California formed in 1981. Their over-the-top style (extremely fast, heavy and lengthy songs with lots of tempo changes, lyrics and extended instrumental parts) earned them the nickname "the L.A. Caffeine Machine". Although Dark Angel had never achieved a mainstream breakthrough in their initial career, their 1986 album Darkness Descends... read more
Suicidal Tendencies is an American crossover thrash band founded in 1980 in Venice, California by vocalist Mike Muir, who is the only remaining original member of the band. The band is often credited as one of "the fathers of crossover thrash".
Voivod is a Canadian heavy metal band from Jonquière, Québec. Their musical style has changed several times since the band's origin in the early 1980s. The band's current line-up consists of Denis "Snake" Bélanger, Daniel "Chewy" Mongrain, Dominique "Rocky" Laroche and Michel "Away" Langevin.
Accept is a German heavy metal band from the town of Solingen, originally assembled by former vocalist Udo Dirkschneider, guitarist Wolf Hoffmann and bassist Peter Baltes.
Artillery is a Danish thrash metal band. They participated in the early development of the genre, and their highly energetic, riff-centric and often fast-paced music is similar in style to that of Voivod, Coroner, Megadeth and Sabbat from the same era.