Trojan

Trojan was a NWOBHM band though their sound definitely had more speed metal leanings than most of their UK contemporaries. The cover reeks of D&D metal which will be a selling point to some and warning sign to others. Don't be fooled though. This stuff kicks ass and probably isn't what you expect whichever side of that fence you may find yourself on. What you can expect from Chasing the Storm is a barrage of dueling lead guitars and melodic choruses that will make you wonder what would've happened had these guys gone on to bigger things. God knows the talent was definitely there right alongside the feathered hair and leopard shirts.

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Heaven is for Sale

Wardance came a little late onto the thrash scene and released this album in 1990. Their sound harkens back to earlier '80s thrash and in my opinion has a real UK anarcho-punk feel to it, which is kind of weird since they are from Germany. The lead guitar work is very memorable on this and the female vocalist flat out rules laying down some great harmonies in her uniquely hoarse style. It gets melodic in parts mainly because they aren't afraid to slow it down. There's one or two tracks I could do without, especially the cover song (but that's just me). The good stuff on this album more than makes up for its few shortcomings.

Wardance

Psychopath

This is the only album by Psychopath who hailed from the state of Missouri. What they left us with is an underground classic. I haven't seen this posted on other blogs yet and I'm proud to be posting it on this one. These guys play early death/thrash with sci-fi themed lyrics that kick much ass and if you were to imagine a thrashier, more technical version of Dream Death you wouldn't be too far off. They use just enough melody on this album to make it stand apart in a saturated genre, even incorporating an instrumental track. Making the Transition is essential listening.

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Herpes

This is uncompromising caveman grind from the country of Columbia. Medellin isn't so much of an album as it is a collection of emotion spanning about 13 minutes. The vocals consist of shouted grunts that at times seem to altogether drown out the primitive drumming and blistering guitar. This is relentless stuff and if you're not paying attention you may miss some of the riff work. I promise you it's definitely in there. Oh yeah, that emotion I was referring to probably has something to do with Herpes crushing the skulls of their enemies with rocks. That's a long 13 minutes...

Here

Concrete Sox

Concrete Sox hailed from the UK in the mid-'80s and to this day there are legions of crust bands trying to replicate the sound that these guys captured on their first album entitled Your Turn Next. The album starts off with female singing over a music sample from the movie Suspiria scored by the mighty Goblin. There are a few moments of female singing peppered throughout the album that seem to add to its overall atmosphere. Some may say these moments are out of place but personally I think they are just brilliant. Did I mention the riffs? Concrete Sox cough up some great ones here and really show how great of a anarcho-crossover band they were blending punk, hardcore and thrash just effortlessly. If you dug the Toxic Waste post I started off this blog with you will love this shit. Get it.

Your Turn Next

Ploughers of Land and Sea

There are a lot of sludge bands out there. Some do it better than others. Houston's Bowel is one such band. They released this EP in 2006 and really just seemed to scratch the surface of what they are capable of. I eagerly anticipated a full length which never seemed to surface. Fast forward to 2009 and after checking their myspace the other day I notice a new song up. This is pretty exciting news because these guys are really, really good. This EP contains 4 tracks and clocks in at just about 27 minutes. Bowel creates a palpable tension on this album, knowing when to slow it down to a slug like crawl and when to hit on all cylinders with a vice-like grip on the senses. The dual vocal attack and pinch harmonics used here only spice things up for the better.

Bowel

Don't Cheer Me Up

Something about the title and cover art on this album strikes me as very odd. It fits the music perfectly though. Aftermath offer up a nice slab of power-thrash here and although some of the songs meander around and overstay their welcome at times, the end result is pretty satisfactory albeit a little strange. The bass playing is really outstanding on this record. I find myself playing this album over and over again without really being able to pinpoint a reason why other than Aftermath just changing it up enough to keep me coming back for more. I feel that they were onto something here and just came up a little short. It sure does make for a fun listen though.

Aftermath

Necrodeath

This is Satanic Italian Anti-Thrash. La fine.

Into the Macabre

Chateaux

Not only does this record have some of the best cover art I've seen but it features a great vocal performance from Steve Grimmett who also manned the pipes in Grim Reaper among other UK acts. Chateaux was a band that just belted out badass garage jams, really blurring the line between NWOBHM and psych. The lyrics are pretty repetitive in parts but on a whole this album is truly an inspired and unique listening experience which calls to mind every band that made me stand up and take notice because they weren't afraid to leave it all on the stage.

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Contropotere

Sometimes albums come along with an overpowering sense of atmosphere. Nessuna Speranza, Nessuna Paura is one such album. Contropotere was an Italian hardcore punk band active from the mid '80s to mid '90s. This is their first LP which translates to No Hope, No Fear and it sounds as if the ghosts of Italian crust punks came down out of the Apennine Mountains to play anarcho-punk for a bunch of villagers in the dead of night. They incorporate a variety of instruments besides electric guitar and drums to capture the sound on this album and it works perfectly. I revisit this one a ton. Hope you like it.

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Indestroy

Indestroy is one of the best zombie thrash bands to come out of the '80s. This album features the same singer from Ironchrist (another very good thrash band) and the lyrics penned on this one really stand out as some of the best in the genre. This starts off with the great one-two punch of "The Gate" and "U.S.S.A." - two relentless and perfect thrash songs. The album only has about 2 mediocre tracks and I say mediocre because they are just a little slower than the rest. This is stuff to blast in your Iroc Camaro on a summer night while trolling for some easy prey at your local Dairy Queen as you headbang yourself into a frenzied madman.

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World

Well here it is. The entire World discography. I've seen this posted one other place but this deserves so much more attention. World were a Japanese noisecore band that released a handful of splits plus 1 EP all of which are contained below. Each of the 7 tracks contain one release so the songs are packed together without proper titles. This is pure bliss - often imitated but never duplicated. Drums. Microphones. Vox. Noise.

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Coma Void

Stormking Twilight is an album that's hard to categorize. This is the only release by Portland's Coma Void and it's a doozy. It's sometimes death metal, sometimes stoner rock, sometimes sludge. What it is constantly is pure metal with buzzing guitars that seem to soar over the chaos of the double bass and seething vocals. These guys aren't afraid of throwing acoustic passages or clean'er' vocals in the mix either. Coma Void sounds like NO ONE else I can assure you of that. If you've never heard of these guys do yourself a favor and check them out. I haven't seen this posted on any other blog and it's really a shame. With song titles like "Opal Hill Mining Disaster of 1911", "Cave Gimp" and "Crab Witch Head" you can't really go wrong. Oh yeah the last track is not really 20 minutes. Wait for it...wait for it...

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Target: Earth

Power Metal. You either love it or you hate it. Screamer's Target Earth is one of my favorite power metal albums and it features one of the more unique vocalists in the genre. I'm not going to lie, the vocals put me off to this initially but after one or two listens the music keep me wanting to come back to this album. Now the vocals are my favorite part and they coincide perfectly with the epic brand of heavy metal laid down on this LP. If you can get down with the mighty Fates Warning, Oliver Magnum and Crimson Glory don't hesitate to discover this hidden gem.

Screamer

From This Day Forward

Obliveon were a progressive thrash outfit from Canada who really sounded as if they holed up in a bunker for a year and listened to nothing but early Death records and tons of Alder fronted Fates Warning records. This is a good thing.


Obliveon

Pacemaker

If you don't like France or speed metal I suggest you skip this. Pacemaker's only release was this 5 song demo in 1985. I can't find any more information on them besides that. Quality is shit, vocals are shaky at best, guitar solos are awesome and the song writing is very good. What's not to like? It's a pity they never did anything else cause they definitely had some talent. Beware! French power metal vocals inside!

Ici

Death in Action

This is a totally underrated classic from German punk thrashers Death in Action. If you like crossover, these guys are right up your alley. The vocals are scathing and go perfectly with the face ripping guitar tone on this release. Don't sleep on this one! The song "Brain Damage" is worth the price of admission alone. This is miles better than most of the exhumed mediocre '80s thrash I see out there. Bang your fucking head punks!

Toxic Waste

Glacier

"If metal is your medicine
We'll give you a dose
You'll never be the same!
Your eardrums will shatter
But it doesn't matter
You'll never feel the pain!"
This 5 song EP by Portland's Glacier may very well be the best example of U.S. traditional metal in existence. I know you are about to furiously pound away a comment citing Fifth Angel, Liege Lord, Crimson Glory, Manowar or Manilla Road and you may very well have a legitimate gripe but I implore you to give these guys a try. Each song is completely distinct and memorable enough to have you humming one of them in the shower a few days from now wondering why you're hoisting your loofa stick like a gleaming broadsword.

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Seaweed

I grew up a skateboarder as did many in the late '80s early '90s. The soundtrack to my life back then were bands like Minor Threat, Op Ivy, Fugazi, Jawbreaker and others. One album in particular that defined the entire era for me was Seaweed's Weak released by Sub Pop in 1991. Few albums actually transport me directly back to my past like this one does. They played grunge influence pop punk and really knew how to write a chorus. I miss skating a lot but I'm glad I can come back to bands like this and pick up some sweet nostalgia. Thank you Seaweed.

Weak

Neutralized

I'm not too sure why other blogs don't gush all over this album. Is it the album cover? Regardless, this is one of my favorite heavy metal albums ever. Talon were from Germany and had two other releases after this masterpiece that weren't anywhere near as good. Neutralized was released in 1984 and I find it interesting to note that this album wasn't really influenced by NWOBHM. In fact they don't incorporate that sound at all. Talon sticks to more traditional heavy metal and creates a polished sound that is distinctly their own showcasing some of the most memorable guitar work and song writing I've ever heard. I revisit this one again and again. I hope you like it as much as I do.

Here

Order from Chaos

If the music on this album took the form of a alien planet it would be LV-426. This is blackened death metal that incorporates druid like space chants and eerie sound-effects at just the right times to keep you guessing. What's that you say? You like death metal guitar solos? So does Bill Paxton.

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NWOBHM

Wolf isn't a band that most people bring up when discussing NWOBHM. This album is almost perfect from beginning to end and there is a haunting vibe to the whole thing that is really drawn out when the band makes use of the keyboard and belts out tunes about highway riders and the devil. When listening to this I can't help but imagine myself wandering a foggy English moor after sunset on the tail end of a 12 hour pub crawl only to stumble upon a bar where these guys are playing to a half empty room. Best show ever.

Edge of the World

Mekong Delta

Mekong Delta is not only a riverbed in Vietnam but a progressive thrash band from Germany. This release is one of the weirdest thrash records I've heard and if you can't get down with clean metal vocals you might as well skip it. Your loss though. This stuff is undeniably remarkable and when the album gets going I really lose myself in all of its twists and turns. They are a technical band, but they don't overdo it. I've heard the Voivod comparisons but that ceases to go any farther than the fact that both bands play thrash and write songs that have sci-fi elements.

Riffs

Fight to Survive

I noticed today that the metal archives website doesn't have a page for the mighty White Lion. How this is possible I really have no idea because their debut album Fight to Survive is a probably the best example of glam metal done correctly that I've ever heard. Yes, I did shudder as I typed that. The band had label difficulty early in their career which perhaps lead to this release being the overlooked gem that it is. Vito Bratta really shines on guitar and Danish vocalist Mike Tramp pens some of the catchiest hooks I've ever heard come out of the '80s. Is it cheesy? In a word...yes. But I happen to like cheese a lot.

Here

Black Mass of Absu

Many black metal bands attempt to convey evil and fall flat on their corpse painted faces. This may not be what you think of when the term 'black metal' is used, but make no mistake about it...this is unholy ritual filth at its finest.

Essential

Initial Velocity

Alright this one is really special. Mandator were originally known as Mysto Dysto. This album is highly recommended and if you dig on thrash and if you can't get down with what these guys were doing in the Netherlands circa 1988 then there is something wrong with you. Some guy named Zerohero once referred to these guys as poverty metal and I have yet to hear a better description. This is melodic thrash with a metallic edge. Sharpen up your swords and polish your leather boots - it's about to get mercenary. Here's a sample:



Enjoy