Thrash Metal 1980s Albums

Alice in Hell is a thrash-metal debut built around Jeff Waters’s razor-sharp riffs and unpredictable turns.

Fabulous Disaster concentrates Exodus’s raw speed and hard-edged riff attack into a fierce third album.

The fourth album, out on 19 June 1989. Sessions begun in Berlin were stopped by producer Randy Burns and the record was made again in Hollywood in January and February 1989. Noise issued it in Europe and Epic in the United States, the band's first major-label release there.

Blessing in Disguise introduces Metal Church with new vocalist Mike Howe and joins heavy guitar to a broader melodic range.

Ministry's fourth album, out on 14 November 1989, the record that carries Thieves and Burning Inside.

Morbid Angel's debut, recorded at Morrisound Recording in Tampa, Florida in December 1988 and released by Earache Records in 1989.

Obituary's debut, made at Morrisound Recording in Tampa, Florida with Scott Burns producing, and released by R/C Records in 1989.

Outrage's second album, out on 7 April 1989, on which the riff-driven writing of the debut grows fiercer still.

Overkill's fourth album, recorded at the Carriage House in Stamford, Connecticut over June and July 1989 with Terry Date producing.

Secrets in a Weird World places more complex, shadowed melody on top of Rage’s speed-metal drive.

Sepultura's third album, recorded through the night at Nas Nuvens in Rio de Janeiro in December 1988 with Scott Burns producing.

Sodom's third album, recorded at Musiclab Studios in West Berlin over March and April 1989 with Harris Johns producing. It reached number 36 on the German album chart.

Practice What You Preach keeps Testament’s thrash-metal attack while making its hooks and vocal lines more immediate.

Voivod's fifth album, recorded at Victor Studio in Montreal in 1989 and released by Mechanic/MCA on 13 October that year.

State of Euphoria brings Anthrax’s fast riffs, bouncing rhythm and Joey Belladonna’s clear voice together in a record where weight and fun coexist.

Bathory's fourth album, recorded at Heavenshore Studio in Stockholm in February 1988. It is named among the earliest examples of what came to be called Viking metal.

Coroner's second album, recorded at Sky Trak Studios in Berlin in May 1988 with Guy Bidmead producing, and released by Noise on 1 August that year.

Death's second album, made at Morrisound Recording in Tampa, Florida in April 1988 with Scott Burns engineering. It is the only Death studio album with guitarist Rick Rozz.

Frolic Through the Park keeps Death Angel’s thrash framework but brings in funk, hardcore energy and unpredictable turns.

So Far, So Good... So What! drives Megadeth’s twisted riffs, sharp turns and Dave Mustaine’s abrasive voice into a volatile whole.

...And Justice for All builds a vast, hard-edged world through long forms, interlocking riffs and rhythm that sustains tension.

Ministry's third album, out on 11 October 1988, which their own biography credits with redrawing the post-punk axis.

Outrage's major-label debut, out on 25 April 1988. It includes a reading of Flower Travellin' Band's Slowly But Surely.

Overkill's third album, released in July 1988: the first with drummer Sid Falck, and the one whose "Hello From the Gutter" video was played on MTV.

Power Metal is a useful way to hear PANTERA from a different angle within the 1988 catalogue.

Perfect Man adds more ordered melody and structure to Rage’s speed-metal sharpness.

South of Heaven refuses to simply repeat the violent speed of Slayer’s previous record.

The New Order connects Testament’s cutting riffs, Chuck Billy’s forceful voice and Alex Skolnick’s fluent lead guitar.

Vio-lence's debut, recorded between February and April 1988 at Music Grinder in Los Angeles and Alpha & Omega in San Francisco, and released by MCA's Mechanic sublabel.

Voivod's fourth studio album, from June 1988: a concept record about the band's cyborg Korgull, recorded in West Berlin.

Among the Living locks sharp riffs, rolling rhythm and Joey Belladonna’s clear high voice into a single, highly physical sound.

Bathory's third album, recorded at Heavenshore Studio in Stockholm between September and November 1986, with Quorthon playing every instrument as well as singing.

The debut by Switzerland's Coroner, released by Noise Records in June 1987. Its intricate writing places it at the beginning of technical thrash.

Death's debut, recorded at The Music Grinder in Los Angeles in November 1986 with Randy Burns producing, and released by Combat Records on 25 May 1987.

The Ultra-Violence is a debut built on speed and raw force, yet it refuses to travel in a straight line.

Pleasures of the Flesh keeps Exodus at thrash speed while making its riff combinations and song structures more intricate.

The third album, released on 22 September 1987 and the first Kreator made as a four-piece, with Jörg Trzebiatowski on lead guitar. It was recorded at Horus Sound Studio in Hanover, and it is where arrangement starts to matter as much as speed.

Mayhem's first commercial release, recorded at Creative Studios in Kolbotn, Norway in February and March 1987 and issued by their own Posercorpse Music in an edition of 1,000 hand-numbered copies.

The debut EP, issued in 1987 on the band's own Pile Driver Records. Its cover earned it the nickname Peke Rage.

Overkill's second album, recorded at Pyramid Sound Studios in Ithaca, New York from September to December 1986 and produced by the band with Alex Perialas.

Execution Guaranteed builds on fast picking and tense rhythm while taking Rage into broader song structures.