The Best Thrash Metal Albums Of All Time Ranked

Thrash metal (or simply thrash) is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its overall aggression and often fast tempo. The songs usually use fast percussive beats and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead guitar work. The lyrical subject matter often includes criticism of The Establishment and concern over environmental destruction, and at times shares a disdain for Christian dogma with that of black metal. The language is typically direct and denunciatory, an approach borrowed from hardcore punk. The genre emerged in the early 1980s as musicians began fusing the double bass drumming and complex guitar stylings of the new wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM) with the speed and aggression of hardcore punk. Philosophically, thrash metal developed as a backlash against both the conservatism of the Reagan Era and the much more moderate, pop-influenced, and widely accessible heavy metal subgenre of glam metal which also developed concurrently in the 1980s. Here are all of the best Thrash Metal albums.

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15. Alice in Hell – Annihilator

“Vancouver, Canada’s Annihilator brought a high level of technical refinement to thrash metal with 1989’s ‘Alice in Hell,’ with its metronomic instrumentation and intellectual lyrics (“Ligeia” was based on the works of Edgar Allen Poe!). None of which stopped frantic fare like the psycho-thriller “Allison Hell,” “Burns Like a Buzzsaw Blade” and lightning-fast “Human Insecticide” from teetering on the edge of control with all that pent-up viciousness.”

14. The Years of Decay – Overkill

“Here’s why this is their best record and line-up: it had one of thrash’s great young guitarists, Gustafson. He was so good that when Chris Poland went AWOL, Mustaine wanted him. It also contains Elsworth’s excellent vocals. He could be agressive, emotive, and had a pretty good range. The drums double kick ass, and it also contains songs like ‘Elimination’, ‘Nothing To Die For’, Birth of Tension’ and ‘Evil Never Dies’. Excellent and diverse album.”

13. Pleasure To Kill – Kreator

“It stands in line with Slayer’s RiB and Dark Angel’s Darkness Descends. A true timeless master piece of brutal thrash metal at it’s best and an influence for all kind of extreme metal like death and black metal. Raw, intense and crushing guitars, that rears its chaotic sound like a wall into a new dimension of violence – a necessary experience in the eighties.”

12. The New Order – Testament

“Testament’s sophomore effort, ‘The New Order,’ was really more of the same as their debut, ‘The Legacy,’ but the same was oh so great! As evidenced by decapitating cuts like “Trial by Fire,” “Into the Pit” and the colossal, Stephen King-inspired “Disciples of the Watch,” the band had only gained in confidence, with vocalist Chuck Billy blowing out windows with his gravelly roar and wunderkind Alex Skolnick growing into his guitar hero role (see “Eerie Inhabitants”).”

11. Beneath the Remains – Sepultura

“Beneath the Remains is actually not that raw. It’s a quantum leap from Schizophrenia and is one of the most fantastic riff-fests around. It is so damn creative it’s not funny, and Andreas’s solos were gold. The production needs a remaster is all.”

10. Seasons in the Abyss – Slayer

“‘Blood Red’, ‘Spirit in Black’, ‘Dead Skin Mask’, ‘Seasons in the Abyss’ are some of the best tracks Slayer ever made. Most mentioned were sinister, foreboding, atmospheric, and technical. Yes, ‘Reign in Blood’ is thrash personified, but do you know how many fans dug Slayer’s more restrained and thoughtful songs? Plenty! I think they’re too one-dimensional now and they should go back and reference their other 4 earlier albums for future releases.”

9. …And Justice for All – Metallica

“This album embodies everything that Metallica used to be. Blackened was the perfect opening to an album full of thrash metal extraordinaire. The first riff is still mindblowing after all these years. The title song…And Justice For All is the most valuable indictment of the Western monetary democracy. Eye of the Beholder is a perfect example of how a song can be both thrashy and slow at the same time. Grooving and pounding away this song paved the way for many groove metal bands to come. The fourth song on this album doesn’t require any appraise. One can be seen as the ultimate metal anthem ever and the epitomy of everything that made Metallica great. The Shortest Straw is an amazing song and made even better by Hetfield’s outstanding vocal performance. The story about Cliff Burton’s death is interlaced through this song and makes it a very genuine and emotional song. Harvester of Sorrow is simply outstanding.”

8. Kill ‘Em All – Metallica

“Metallica gave thrash its first true benchmark; a formidable yardstick that every other band busy pushing heavy metal’s speed limits in the early 1980s could aspire to and, if possible, exceed. But precious few ever did touch the saw-toothed frenzy of “Whiplash” and “Hit the Lights,” the riff smorgasbord of the “Four Horsemen” or “No Remorse,” or the infectious violence of “Jump in the Fire” or “Seek and Destroy.” This was precocious genius defined.”

7. Among the Living – Anthrax

“Among the Living is a thrash album delivered by a speed metal band. But, due to its brutal riffs, Benante’s syncopated double-kicks, Ian and Spitz’s frenetic riffing, and Bello’s groovy bass-lines it’s a hard album to pigeon hole. Spreading the Disease was definitely a speed metal album, but this must go down as one of the most brutal speed metal albums of all time that it’s basically a thrash album. I have a headache.”

6. Bonded by Blood – Exodus

“After taking their name from Exodus’ classic debut this group from Pomona, Calif., set out to reintroduce the Bay Area thrash kings’ brutalizing aesthetic to the children of the new millennium. 2008’s ‘Feed the Beast’ was intentionally and reverentially constructed in the mirror image of Bonded by Blood’s favorite archetype, except that songs like “Immortal Life” and “Self Immolation” were played even louder (thank you, compact disc technology) and faster than ever seemed possible, back in the 1980s.”

5. Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying? – Megadeth

“Dave Mustaine’s vows that he would have his revenge and find success after Metallica, started gaining some credence with the release of Megadeth’s career-defining sophomore album, ‘Peace Sells…But Who’s Buying?’ In fact, a lot of people were buying it, thanks to highly technical, yet infectious creations like “Wake Up Dead,” “The Conjuring,” and title track, though there’s really not a dud to be found here.”

4. Reign in Blood – Slayer

“One of the most influential albums in heavy metal history! Death metal wouldn’t even exist if it wasn’t for Reign in Blood. It contains some of the finest songs ever made (Angel of Death, Necrophobic, Jesus Saves, Raining Blood etc.) Dave Lombardo drums like a madman on this record, and Tom’s vocals are insane!”

3. Ride The Lightning – Metallica

“Ride The Lightning is a Metal masterpiece in a few ways. For Whom the Bell Tolls does everything right. Incredible intro, great riff that,s memorable and vocals from Hetfield that gives you goosebumps every time. The structure of songs throughout the album is very solid, fast and slow tracks that sound equally great. Ride the Lightning opening riff is literally close to perfect and the song in general works so well.”

2. Master of Puppets – Metallica

“Every single song on here is amazing. Even the more underrated ones like disposable heroes or leper messiah are still great! That just goes to show you how great this album actually is. Brutal guitar riffs, fast and exhilarating solos, and awesome vocals! Ride the lightning comes real close to Master, but I just feel that master of puppets was the pinnacle of what metallica could do! If you’ve never listened to this album, do so now!”

1. Rust in Peace – Megadeth

“Rust in Peace is just a phenomenal album, top to bottom. With its Superior production, the songs are unbelievable. Structure, intricate riffs and melodies, filled with guitar solos that no other thrash album can match, truly amazing. One of the rare occurrences where you do not say “one of the best”, you say “the best thrash album ever recorded.”