Here is the best album by 15 legendary thrash metal bands.
For over 40 years, thrash has been a dominant force in heavy metal. The ’90s proved to be challenging as the musical tides shifted in both rock and metal, threatening an extinction of many once thriving ’80s sounds and styles.
But, with the new millennium came a resurgence on fronts both old and new. Some veteran bands reformed while others awoke from a haze of experimentation, all hell bent on retooling the subgenre for the modern day. Meanwhile, Municipal Waste brought a fun, exciting new edge to thrash and rest atop the heap of new era thrash battalions.
The best part? We’re still getting high quality albums from all of these bands, which demonstrates not just the staying power of thrash, but how timeless this brand of metal is.
READ MORE: Best Thrash Album of Each Year Since 1983
With this list, we’re surveying the thrash landscape and looking at some of the biggest bands that have dedicated their lives to playing neck-wrecking metal. For some, such as Metallica, identifying the best album couldn’t have been easier. Elsewhere, it was quite challenging as we even dared to name a 21st century album by an ’80s band as the apex of their catalog.
Others, however, if you asked us again tomorrow, maybe the answer would be different. When you’re dealing with greatness and near-perfection, there’s cases to be made for either LP in question. But, right now, here’s how it stands!
Keep scrolling to see our album choices. Feel free to disagree — that’s all part of the fun.
The Best Album by 15 Legendary Thrash Metal Bands
Loudwire singles out 15 legendary thrash metal bands and names the best album by each.
Gallery Credit: Loudwire Staff
Every Thrash Metal ‘Big 4’ Album Ranked
Every album by Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax get ranked worst to best.
Contributions by Philip Trapp, Ed Rivadavia, Jordan Blum, Ayron Rutan and Joe DiVita.
Gallery Credit: Loudwire Staff
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