Top 10 Best Thrash Metal Songs
Back in the early '80s, amidst the neon lights and big hair of the glam metal scene, a new breed of metal emerged from the underground. It was faster, angrier, and more aggressive than anything that came before. This was thrash metal, a relentless sonic assault that fused the raw energy of punk with the technicality of heavy metal. Bands like Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax led the charge, unleashing a torrent of riffs, solos, and guttural vocals that ignited a global movement.Thrash metal wasn't just music. It was a lifestyle. It was about rebellion, individuality, and nonconformity. The lyrics tackled social issues, political corruption, and the darker side of human nature. It was a soundtrack for a generation disillusioned with the status quo.
Crank up the volume, let your hair down, and get ready to celebrate the music that made thrash metal a force to be reckoned with. This is your chance to pay homage to the pioneers, the innovators, and the legends who shaped the sound of a generation.
The thrash era started with just a bunch of people experimenting with heavy palm-muted riffs and intense drumming. The pioneers, Mustaine, Lars, and Hetfield, later divided into two powerful bands and reigned supreme in their tenure (mid-80s and early 90s). This song will come to the top of the list for its skillful songwriting, intricate sledgehammer riffs, and for the variety of arpeggios - lightning-fast guitar solo by Mustaine in the outro. This song wins hands down because it has all the ingredients of exploiting thrash metal to its finest.
Master of Puppets, The One, Enter Sandman, and Blackened by Metallica, In My Darkest Hour, Tornado of Souls, and Hangar 18 by Megadeth, Angel of Death, Raining Blood, Seasons in the Abyss, Dead Skin Mask, Catatonic, Disciple, and Mandatory Suicide by Slayer are other finest examples.
Holy Wars is good. I actually really love that song, but seriously, Master of Puppets totally blows Holy Wars out of the water. It is better with lyrics, vocals, and has one of the coolest guitar solos I have ever heard. It is so much more complicated and pleasing to listen to.
Really, it has to be the best one here. But I have to admit, Kill 'Em All and Ride the Lightning are probably more thrash sounding, but this has to be the best. Hetfield and Hammett really did amazing on guitar too.
There are tons of good thrash songs out there (I couldn't name them all if I wanted to). But Master of Puppets wins. Not only are the lyrics meaningful (if you look between the lines), but it's a musical masterpiece.
If you look at any of Metallica's work from the first four albums, they all feature very complicated songwriting, yet it still sounds good. In other words, Metallica are master songwriters, and Master of Puppets is the epitome of their skill.
Oh well, I love Metallica and Megadeth, but I think that (on the big 4 at least) there isn't any metal band who has left such an influence on the metal world. And Raining Blood is the perfect example of this. Even though I love Metallica (for me, their best song is One), they are very overrated, and Megadeth are too pretentious (even if Holy Wars would be my second choice). Sorry for my bad English.
This is the song that gave rise to what would become the extreme heavy metal genres. Say all you want about Metallica, but few bands have had the same influence on heavy metal as Slayer and this song. Without Slayer, there would be no death metal, grindcore, or anything else of the like.
Geez, half of this list is Metallica! Certainly, "Master of Puppets" deserves a high spot, but not the entire list! I've got to give it to "Angel of Death" just because this was possibly the heaviest and most violent song of its time, not to mention the huge influence it had on death metal. Also, kind of disappointed to see Exodus - "Piranha" not getting much love either.
As far as thrash metal is concerned, Angel Of Death is way better than Holy Wars and Master Of Puppets. Angel Of Death is the greatest thrash metal song ever made. It is probably the heaviest and fastest metal song ever. Stop voting for Metallica and Megadeth just because they are more mainstream.
So epic. It's just that the creativity that went into the song with the war themes and the epic chorus has made the song have an emotional punch that is hard to ignore. Whenever I listen to it, it's difficult to think about anything else. The song is that original and impressive for that effect to occur.
It may take a while to get going, but once it does, it succeeds at being incredibly awesome. A slow-burning first half descends into absolute thrashy, intense, and visceral metal at the end with great solos to cap it off. Add to that a dark subject matter, and you have a great song on all counts.
Metallica has too many great songs to name, but the top spot for this list should go to none other than Megadeth. Absolutely spectacular guitar work by Dave and Marty. The combined effect of the pounding drums, perfect bass, crunchy guitar tone, and Dave's tormented vocals screams THRASH!
To top it all, Tornado of Souls has perhaps the best guitar solo ever composed in metal history. Just listening to each track on the Rust in Peace album confirms that Marty Friedman is nothing short of a Guitar God.
This song is so fast and literally beats the heck out of you. Hetfield's growl makes it that much better. My ideal thrash metal song.
The acoustic intro that transitions into the distorted electric... Pure bliss. Better than Master of Puppets.
This is the fastest after Last Caress, but I like it more than that.
Epic song. One of the best thrash metal songs ever made. The riffs, vocals, and solos - everything is awesome.
Everything is badass about this song, but why is it at #10? Do people know anything about thrash metal?
One of the best songs from arguably the best thrash metal album of all time.
This was Megadeth's first epic on a global scale. One of the favorites to play and sing at concerts, an amazing anthem on par with Metallica's best work.
This song is plain classic. It should be higher. The order of the big four is: 1. Megadeth, 2. Metallica, 3. Slayer, and 4. Anthrax.
The fact that Master of Puppets is near the top of the list is honestly quite pathetic. It's a great song, but it's nowhere near as great as songs like Alison Hell and Raining Blood. Alison Hell is one of the most underrated thrash metal songs ever, and Annihilator is amazing! This song should at least be number three, and Angel of Death should definitely be number two, if not higher.
I'm glad this song is on the list because it's too great not to be recognized. When I think of thrash metal, this is the first song that comes to mind.
The Newcomers
Yeah, used to be a cool, thrashing, groovy nu-metal song.
Sabaton's cover is so much better than the original. The use of the guitar in the piece is incredible, connecting with the listener's emotions quite well.
Excellent lyrics, riffs, and solo on this masterpiece. And by the way, any Megafan who says Megadeth is heavier than Metallica is wrong. Listen to the opening riff of Fight Fire with Fire and just try and tell me that it's not the heaviest opening riff ever.
Great riffs, great lyrics, great solo... Just great. Maybe we would have more of this if Cliff and Dave were still here.
UNDERRATED! I don't care what people say, this one should be number one. As Heaven and Hell is the definition of heavy metal, Ride the Lightning is the definition of thrash metal. That's all.
Oh yes. This has to be the most invigorating metal song ever made. Who needs coffee when you have Caught in a Mosh?
Caught in a Mosh should at least be in the top 5. Now, which one of these words don't you understand?
The lyrics are badass, along with the drums. This is the best let-your-anger-out song EVER!
Certainly, if thrash is a measuring stick, this deserves a top 10 spot.
Metallica is the best and god of metal. Every list should contain more than 10 songs of Metallica. Metallica is the best band, and Ride the Lightning is the best album. All songs are perfect. This song is great, also covered by Bullet For My Valentine. But Metallica is Metallica.
Well, the second most popular song at Metallica's concerts speaks for itself. The riff of the popular chant "die, by my hand" is taken from Kirk Hammett's time in Exodus. Personally, I would put it in the number one position.
This just may be the awesomest song to see performed live. Just see the Cunning Stunts video. James Hetfield dominates the stage every time he's on it, and Kirk's solo is out to give me chills. Jason was also awesome live, super intense!
Dark, heavy, aggressive, scary, dark - all those good words define this song. Angel of Death, Holy Wars, Master of Puppets all combine to make this!
Testament is so frickin' underrated! They should definitely be in the big four instead of Metallica. This is one of the best thrash metal songs ever recorded. Everything about it is amazing!
The solo rivals Tornado of Souls and Ride the Lightning. Amazing guitar harmony. It reminds me of Iron Maiden harmonies, except it's thrash.
Easily a top 10, yet it's full of good tracks as opposed to great ones. There's no Overkill, Testament, Exodus, or Kreator in the top 10.
Great bassline, nice pace, heavy. A classic metal song and the first I learned when I started bass.
One of the songs that brought me to metal, and years later, to the bass guitar.
I agree, this song is off its face, but they have performed it live, on DVD. It's just because they're old and tired that it can't be performed the way it's recorded. None of their songs since 'Binge and Purge' have been performed in the manner they were recorded.
Underrated as hell. More people need to hear this song and get it to at least the top 3.
By far, one of the hardest thrash songs ever.
Best thrash metal album ever. Everybody thinks that in the first 10 should be the earliest thrash albums, but this is the most complete one. Hallowed Point, War Ensemble, Dead Skin Mask. Who can write such songs? Only Slayer.
Seasons in the Abyss this low!? Top 10 material right here! Slayer's best song, in my opinion!
As happy as I am with Anthrax making the top ten, I think this song is much more deserving than Caught in a Mosh.
This is the coolest Anthrax song with Joey Belladonna!
The best in my opinion, next to Master of Puppets and Holy Wars. The fact that it was written before them makes this song more significant in a way and leads me to believe that it is the greatest thrash metal song. What is more thrash metal than Metallica with Cliff Burton on this track and Dave Mustaine having written it?
An underrated song. I especially like the bridge just before the awesome solo.
This song is not #1 only because it is new. Objectively, it should be #1, no question.
Simply incredible. Right up there with the very best of Metallica.
