Top 10 Best Thrash Metal Bands

Megadeth... The name itself is great!

Anyway, Megadeth succeeded by forging a distinct approach to thrash metal. Take a look at the "Countdown to Extinction" album and "Cryptic Writings". You can also find other great albums like "Rust in Peace" and "Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?" After "Peace Sells," came "So Far... So Good... So What!" which was another unique album.

"Killing is My Business... And Business is Good!" and "Risk", which leaned more towards rock, still performed well. "Youthanasia" was perfect, with some calling it "Alternative Metal." Check out their later albums like "Super Collider," which is closer to a blues style, and "TH1RT3EN", which is amazing for its combination of heaviness and speed.

"The System Has Failed" is heavy too. "Endgame" was both amazing and mixed. "United Abominations" was fast with a unique solo and "The World Needs A Hero" is... indescribable!

Wow, are Metallica only famous for their first four albums? What about The Black Album, which has sold as many copies as every Megadeth album combined? And is Dave Mustaine truly staying true to his music? You're joking, right?

What about albums like Youthanasia, Cryptic Writings, and Risk? It's strange to hear that Megadeth aren't sellouts because Dave Mustaine himself stated that Risk was supposed to be Megadeth's breakthrough into the commercial rock scene, aiming to be a number one album. Moreover, Megadeth aren't even truly thrash metal. They're closer to speed metal as they aren't very heavy.

Anyone who says Metallica isn't heavy should listen to the opening riff of Fight Fire with Fire and then try to claim they aren't heavy.

Slayer hasn't changed their sound as much as Metallica or Anthrax. They're still doing fast paces and angry lyrics.

Megadeth's music is still fast-paced and angry, but their lyrics aren't as violent as Slayer. But Megadeth and Slayer are the two best Thrash Metal bands overall. I'm not saying Anthrax and Metallica suck. It's just that they're more Alternative Metal than Thrash Metal in this day and age.

Slayer NEVER made a ballad, so they're the most Thrash Metal.

Megadeth has such a pathetic fan base. Megadeth is corny, and Dave talks in his songs.

Megadeth is overrated, and they are more speed rock and roll. All their fans talk about is how much Metallica sucks when they have nothing to show themselves. Metallica rules, but I choose Slayer for my number one thrash band.

Megadeth isn't thrash. Leave them out of this.

The first couple of albums are amazing, and while other bands were going more mainstream, Testament still released killer albums like Low and The Gathering. Besides Demonic, which sort of stands out less, their recent work remains strong.

As much as I love bands such as Metallica, they really haven't released anything super memorable since Justice and some of the Black Album. The same goes for bands like Anthrax and Megadeth, in my opinion. I'm not saying these bands have released garbage since the '90s, but nothing sticks out for me.

Meanwhile, Testament's latest three albums have been great. I would say Kreator, Sodom, and Overkill also deserve more recognition.

Why is Metallica first place? Metallica was a really great band with awesome songs, yeah, but they aren't thrash anymore. Kreator also had its ups and downs, but they were thrash, they are thrash, and they will be thrash for all times.

I think this list should look like this:

1. Kreator
2. Sodom
3. Megadeth (also no more real thrash, but more than Metallica)
4. Slayer
5. Metallica
6. Sacred Reich (one of the most underrated bands)

And for the end, only one question:
Who put Venom, Machine Head, Suicidal Tendencies, and Soulfly on this list? Also great bands, but not thrash.

Personally, my favorite band of the Big Four is Anthrax because they embody the sound that comes to mind when the words "thrash metal" are mentioned. They shaped my tastes in modern party and crossover-thrash bands like Municipal Waste and Violator. I much prefer their first four albums to the first four albums of the other bands in the Big Four.

Without them, I would not have gotten into the harder and heavier thrash bands with similar styles like Overkill, Exodus, and Destruction. I love the chanty brotherhood-style backup vocals that Anthrax has, paired with their more street hardcore sound. They spoke to me as they reminded me of the streets I grew up on. True thrash with street and adolescent themes.

I grew up with the thrash movement and experienced the birth of speed. I still buy every new release by the Big Four and their (supposed) little brothers: Testament, Exodus, and Overkill. However, Overkill wins on pure consistency. While others were breaking up, taking long hiatuses, or releasing albums like 'St. Anger', Overkill weathered the storm and continually produced quality thrash albums.

While the next generations were paying ridiculous prices to watch Linkin Park lip sync, I was paying twenty bucks a ticket to watch Bobby Blitz scream his heart out. They never disappoint. Overkill is the true thrash band in every sense of the genre.

Alongside Anthrax and, to an extent, Metallica, Exodus is one of the most influential heavy metal bands out there. They, along with Metallica, are the earlier documented band of the thrash metal movement, being formed in 1980.

Not only did they help get the thrash movement out of the Bay Area, but some of Exodus's members would go on to do bands such as Possessed, which is the first death metal band. This means that Exodus started thrash, death, and to an extent, black metal.

Thrash metal is known for speed and aggression, and Exodus shows it perfectly with any of their singers (Zetro being my favorite). Metallica used to be good, but after the Black Album, they dropped and still haven't come back with anything good. Megadeth did the same thing, but at least they came back to the thrash genre.

Slayer pretty much made the same song over and over again, but at least they stayed with thrash the whole time. Exodus, having been through three lead singers, each with their own style, has maintained a variety while still keeping true to thrash.

Persecution Mania, Agent Orange, and M16 are all bona fide thrash classics. Tapping the Vein, Code Red, In War and Pieces, and their Self-Titled Album aren't too far behind. Their worst albums are infinitely better than the Big 4's worst albums.

While many major thrash bands were busy playing radio rock in the 90s, Sodom continued to experiment with different blends of thrash, speed, and extreme metal. They also had a huge influence on the emerging Black and Death metal scene. For my money, they are the embodiment of what thrash metal is all about.

Pantera is the best out of all ten of these bands due to their unique and original style of music. Phil Anselmo kicks ass, Vinnie Paul kicks too much ass on drums, Rex Brown is one of my favorite bass players.

And last but not least, Dimebag Darrell is my favorite guitar player. His style is perfect for Pantera's fusion of groove metal, thrash metal, and heavy metal. R.I.P. Dimebag.

They did something nobody except Metallica could do: get a number 1 CD. And they even did something that nobody at all could do: stop grunge dead in its tracks.

'Walk' is one of the greatest songs of all time, if not the best. I would even dare to say that they eclipsed every other thrash band in history, including the ones who influenced them. R.I.P. Dimebag.

Love this band! First off, they have insane talent. Their first album was recorded when they were very young. Their former drummer, Andy Galeon, was only 14 at that time!

I also love the topics that they explore aside from the standard thrash metal topics. They delve into relationships in some of their later work, and they also have a good sense of humor. I like that they leave a slight ambiguity in their lyrics so you can apply your own meaning to the song to some extent. Probably my favorite thrash band, next to Metallica.

These guys should be in the top 5. The fact that they're even this low is enough to let me know that these people aren't listening to their music.

Listen to their songs Alison Hell, Phantasmagoria, Annihilator, Human Insecticide, Imperiled Eyes, Schizos Are Never Alone, Set the World on Fire, King of the Kill, Warbird, etc., and tell me they aren't deserving of a much higher spot.

This band is just so awesome. I've never seen a band that plays their songs so tight live. Sure, it isn't that cool that it's only Jeff's band, but he's just pro. Listen to 'Alison Hell,' 'King of the Kill,' 'The Fun Palace,' 'Set the World on Fire,' and 'The Trend.' If you're a real thrasher, you will have to like one of these tracks.

Amazing how their aggressive, impetuous music is so sophisticated at the same time. Despite the fact that their career was just about seven years long, they evolved from being just a thrash metal band to a very high level of musicality.

Just check their albums 'Mental Vortex' and 'Grin,' compare them to Metallica's '90s sloppy stuff, and you'll see who's the boss here!

I can't even express how happy I am just to see this band even featured within the top 100, let alone 13th!

Criminally underrated! Arguably one of the most underrated bands, that term is overused but Coroner is honestly the epitome of the word. Not to mention they are a trio on top of all. If you like Rush and thrash metal, this is the band for you.

It's unfortunate that these guys (along with the other bands in the German Big Four) don't get much attention. Their albums are full of some of the most delicious, evil riffs you'll ever hear.

Destruction is the perfect band for Thrash. Metallica can't be compared with Destruction. Destruction is the best of Thrash.

Good back then. Still good. They are the gods of thrash (maybe next to Exodus... maybe).

Easily the best thrash metal band to come out of Canada. Give their album Violent Restitution (their best work) a listen, and you'll see why.

Trivium ignores all pigeonholes, and with 'Vengeance Falls', they have become a classy modern metal band. They're not the best of the best, but they have countless influences to draw upon. The longer metal evolves, the less you will be able to label anyone. They're a thrash band, and a damn good one.

When all thrash metal bands are dead, Trivium will be the last one alive. Trivium is all thrash metal bands in one. Speed riffs, fast drumming, distorted bass-wah solo, killer, fast, technical guitar solo! Trivium is a good symbol of modern Thrash Metal.

Nevermore is way more creative and talented than Slayer and Anthrax put together.

Nevermore has plenty of thrash elements in their music to be on this list.

Surprised to see them this high.

Best new wave of thrash band. Should absolutely be top 10 at least, they're in my top 3. Vektor IS the future. The way they transcend the line between thrash and death, death and black, black and thrash, all with progression, is beautiful. Not to mention it's all very sci-fi feeling. Terminal Redux was the best album of 2016 by far. This band is amazing, and you should absolutely check them out. This band lets me be both a prog snob and a 4/4 pleb (no, that's not a bad thing) at the same time, and I love it for that.

For modern thrash, these guys are surprising. Usually, modern thrash riffs sound watered down, boring, and recycled. These guys' riffs are literally extraterrestrial. I hate prog and pizza thrash, but their final album is a 10/10 masterpiece. Give it a listen.

Nuclear Assault should be higher and at least in the top 10. They are not my favorite thrash band, but they are definitely up there in my favorites!

With great songs like Fight to Be Free, Brainwashed, and Critical Mass, they deserve more recognition. Pantera is not thrash. It's groove metal. Still an awesome band, though, but in the wrong category.

Should be in the top 5!

Danny Lilker is one of the most awesome bassists ever. Undoubtedly, Nuclear Assault beats Anthrax any day. Don't agree? Just listen to their albums Game Over or Handle With Care for some very special thrash!

Masters of thrash, man. These Satanic slayers are truly awesome and should totally be in the top 5. The guitar work, bass, and drumming paired with the lyrical themes are stunning, fun, and exhilarating.

Easily one of the most influential bands in all of metal. Their first three albums were a big influence on thrash, black, and death metal.

They practically created thrash for God's sake. Get them to the top ten!

I absolutely love Metallica, but they are getting old, and you've got to keep up with the times, man. Havok is the future of thrash metal.

They are wicked fast, insanely heavy, and they have AMAZING guitar solos. My vote goes to Havok, simply because of the fact that, as much as I hate to say it, Metallica is no longer thrash metal. Just heavy metal.

Best thrash these days. You can hear a lot of old thrash in their riffs. Very Slayer / Exodus influenced. If you haven't checked them out, do yourself a favor and do it. You won't be sorry!