Best of the NON-Big Four Thrash Metal Bands
 

The Big Four are great, but there are just so many unsung bands that get far less recognition than they deserve.

Just keeping the poll to ten bands for brevity's sake. One or two people might vote Sodom or Destruction, but I doubt they'll do anything but split votes from bands that actually have a shot. Feel free to riff on your non-poll fav bands though.

They're not the most consistent band, but Exodus were one of the bands that really started my thrash obsession back in high school, and they've been kicking my ass ever since. Love most of their old work, their new albums have some of the best moments in modern metal, and Gary Holt is just metal as ****. So they get my vote.

Sodom should be on that list. Without them, I'd probably go with Death-Angel, but Testament and Kreator are tied for a close second.

Edit: Morbid Saint and Sacred Reich should be on the list too.

Like I said, I wanted to keep it at ten bands, but Sodom were definitely on the shortlist. As far as Morbid Saint and Sacred Reich go: Morbid Saint only had one album (also why SOD aren't on there), and Sacred Reich went downhill after one full-length and an EP.

Testament. I went on a bit of a long Testament listening venture a while ago and it was fantastic. Everything i've heard from them has been awesome. The rest on this poll aren't bad either so it was hard to choose just one.

I voted for Sepultura, but I think that's partly for nostalgic reasons. I saw them play at their peak just after Chaos AD was released, the first metal gig I'd been to. To say that my mind was blown into individual atoms would be an understatement.

Nuclear Assault because I said so.

I like Sepultura a lot but they shouldn't be on this list since their best material (i.e. Chaos A.D.) isn't thrash.

A.) We actually agree on something for once. Chaos A.D. is by far their best album.

B.) Regardless, they were still a thrash metal band until that album. I forget who it was that refused to call any band/album/whatever thrash just because the band didn't play thrash anymore, but we're not that guy.

I went with Testament because I've always been a pretty big fan and they kill it live. I always thought that they should've been affixed to the big four group.

They were, but not one I'd rate above Sodom or Morbid Saint.

I went with Testament based on their first two albums which are to this day among my all-time favorites, fast-forward to The Gathering from 1999 - the lineup for that album is just sick...Lombardo, DiGiorgio, and Murphy - their last album was pretty solid, too. I'm a big Exodus fan and they're my choice for second, their last album was pretty bad in my opinion but the albums before that with Dukes and then Tempo just ripped - never was a huge fan of their first album but Pleasures was a big favorite of mine when it came out.

I see mention of Morbid Saint and Sacred Reich...really wish we had more than we do from Morbid Saint, maybe once Eric Greif recovers from his health issues we'll see some more from the band but Spectrum Of Death and Destruction System have some great stuff on them. Sacred Reich...I bought Ignorance not knowing a thing about the band at the time and love that album to this day - their work after that, never clicked with me but that first album...great stuff, there.

Voted for Overkill. There are too many reasons to list why.

I understand. I'd probably vote for them due to consistency, but Exodus' brilliant moments are some of the best moments in all of metal: "Deliver Us to Evil", "Toxic Waltz", "Scar-Spangled Banner", "Children of a Worthless God", etc.

They are my second choice.

Also it pleases me that nobody voted for Kreator. May they receive no votes.

Surprised only my vote against Kreator (I am not good with instruction Wpnfire). Not consistent with their releases I acknowledge but when on form they are brilliant. "Pleasure To Kill" should be in everyone's collection IMO.

I've never understood the appeal of Pleasure to Kill, and the Teutonic thrash scene as a whole as well.

Each to their own. Is there anything in particular you don't like about it as a scene?

"To each their own," is the correct phrase. All of the Teutonic thrash bands can't compete with the lowliest Brazillian thrash bands. Tankard, the joke thrash band, is the only band I like.

"Each to his own" is more common in American English.

Haven't heard that ever said here before. To each his own is the phrase I am familiar with.

Actually, it's not. It's "To each his own". I've never heard it the way you describe it.

Well, I am just glad we stayed on topic about thrash metal and didn't in anyway get sidetracked because sometimes people speak differently.

This is Music Banter. Grammatical **** happens.

The correct answer is obviously Kreator.

Back, I see?

Yeah, I seem to have stumbled in.

Drunk on a Sunday? Not very Christian of you.

Who me?

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0i8Mqn-KQu...80/Lucifer.jpg

You nerdy old man, you.

heavy on the Testament, understandable I guess ,they were always sort of considered number 5.

My order for this:

1. Overkill
2. Exodus
3. Dark Angel
4. Nuclear Assault
5. Suicidal Tendencies
6. Death Angel
7. Testament
8. Sepultura
9. Kreator
10. Voivod

Testament

Tough call...but Death Angel for me. They keep putting out good stuff.

I think I need more Sepultura. I have Beneath the Remains but that's about it. Any recs?

Roots, the brute from Sepultura

Cool, was just reading about that and the Brazilian influences that went into it.

Don't listen to him. Roots is ****. Chaos A.D. is where you need to go. And Morbid Visions to hear their primitive origins. Arise if you want more of that Beneath the Remains sound.

Very true, Chaos AD was it for me, after that the band just went downhill to me. Schizophrenia has grown on me over the years and has some pretty sick rif***e throughout. Speaking of Chaos AD, not sure if y'all have seen this but it cracks me the hell up every time I see it:

Roots is the band's all encompassing masterpiece.

Thanks I'll check those out.

Edit: previews for Chaos AD certainly sound promising. Might start with that one. Pretty awesome bass.