Nobody can argue that 2008 has been a huge year for Thrash Metal. The revival of Thrash didn’t start this year, but it definitely reached its highest point in 2008. In a few years from now, we will look back and say that 2008 was the year when the term “new school thrash” was coined by webzine reviewers, the year when the explosion of thrash metal bands around the world through myspace surpassed any reasonable prediction, the year when big metal labels decided to start look beyond mall-core and started signing thrash bands again, the year when EXODUS re-recorded the seminal album “Bonded by blood”, the year when METALLICA came back after a 5-year hiatus with their heaviest release since 1988, the year when GET THRASHED was finally released in DVD, the year when the Cavalera brothers got back together and recorded thrash music again, the year when KREATOR released the historical Berlin concert in DVD, the year when TESTAMENT finally came back with a new album, the year when ARTILLERY came back with a DVD and a promise of a new album, I can go on and on, but the most important fact is that 2008 witnessed amazing music, tons of new albums were released, lots of new bands. Here is my personal assessment of it. How did I rank them? Basically, 3 facts: 1) thrash; 2) full-lengths only, at least 7 tracks; 3) how long did the CD stayed on my player: the longer it did, it means that I couldn’t get enough of it. For fun, I gave them a score, from 1 to 10. Just playing thrash gives the band a score of 1. Anything that scored less than 5.0 didn’t make it to the “ranking”. You disagree with my scores? Great! That’s the point, to generate discussion.

1. THE FORCE (Paraguay) "Possessed by metal" – Kill Again Records – Absolutely nobody expected such masterpiece to arise from a country with no previously-known thrash history. The entire record gives me the chills man. Absolutely crushing. Staccatto riffs from start to finish. Were you impressed by VIOLATOR in ’06? Well, get this one right away. It captures the thrashiest side of METALLICA, OVERKILL, DEFIANCE, ARTILLERY and teutonic thrashers like ANGEL DUST and PARADOX, and influenced by the epic battle sound of NWOBHM. Score: 9.96
2. WARPATH (UK) “Damnation” – Self-released - Brilliant. They came from nowhere to unleash an almost perfect thrash album. The riffs, the raspy vocals, the tempo changes, the speed, the aggression. Fucking killer. Production wise, not perfect. When the double bass drumming kicks in, the guitars get overshadowed. I anticipate great future for these fellas. Score: 9.95
3. HATCHET (USA) “Awaiting evil” – Metal Blade Records - Yeeaahh! I fucking love this record. It feels like 1987 all over again. Influenced by the Bay Area, no surprise there since they are from the Bay Area. Score: 9.90
4. PROPHECY (Brazil) “Legions of violence” – Morbid Tale Records – These guys were not on my radar 6 months ago. But some TU member posted the band myspace and I was immediately blown away by these Brazilians (once again!). They are not one of those numerous SEPULTURA-clons. They play Bay Area thrash, think TESTAMENT, EVILDEAD, HEATHEN, VIO-LENCE. Killer album. Score 9.85
5. LEGION OF THE DAMNED (Holland) – Massacre Records - “Cult of the dead” Are u serious? It doesn’t get more evil than this. And they do it without the retard black metal attitude. They just blow your ears with fucking intense brutality. Andy Classen knows how to produce these guys. The slow-tempo parts are insane. The best death-thrash act in the world right now, no questions asked. The vocals are their weakest part, too “deathy”. And too much of blastbeats. Score: 9.80
6. TANKARD (Germany) “Thirst” – AFM Records - I just love these guys. They do it over and over and I always enjoy it. This year, their song-writing was a bit more technical, the result is amazing. Frantic riffage. Awesome album. Score: 9.70
7. HEXEN (USA) “State of insurgence” – Old School Metal Records - This is sort of a surprise for me because I wasn’t terribly impressed by their first 2 demos. But this is a great example how a band can sound so much better with a neat production. Great lead guitar work and plenty of tempo changes. In the vein of ATROPHY and INDESTRUCTBLE NOISE COMMAND. Score: 9.60
8. DESILENCE (Germany) “Wreck the silence” – Twilight Zone Records - It’s hard to give them a higher score when half of the songs were released in their 2003 demo. But it’s also hard to give them a lower score with such display of talent and musicianship. Very melodic and very aggressive technical thrash. Score: 9.50
9. AMOK (UK) “Downhill without brakes” – Self-released – Excellent album. Basic recipe of thrash: Catchy riffs and mid-tempo mosh. The will re-release the album in ’09 via the German label Witches Brew. Score 9.15
10. WARBRINGER (USA) “War without end” Arguably, one of the best “new school thrash” bands out there. I think this forum knows them very well. I expected a better job from the immortal Bill Metoyer though. Score: 9.10
11. BLOODY (Brazil) “Engines of sin” – Voice Music - Influenced by Arise-era SEPULTURA, they come back with their sophomore album. Same formula. Killer. Score: 9.05
12. HEADSHOT (Germany) “As above, so below” – Firefield Records - Despite their groovy sound, these teutonic thrashers deliver the goods with monster guitars and indomitable aggression. Score: 8.95
13. GUILLOTINE (Sweden) “Bloody money” – Pulverised Records - Heavily influenced by modern KREATOR and EXODUS, these Swedish thrashers came up with a killer album. Check out the format of the disc case, it’s pretty cool. Score: 8.80
14. HEAD ON COLLISION (USA) “Ritual sacrifice” – Beer City Records – Great stuff. Comparable with KREATOR, EXODUS or RAZOR, and perhaps D.R.I. and WHIPLASH. Score: 8.75
15. NUCLEAR (Chile) “Ten broken codes” – Koventry Records - The Chileans return with a powerful release. Much more accomplished than their debut. Score 8.70
16. PLANAR EVIL (Italy) “Mankind way of life” – ITA Records - Weak production but great ideas. Very good thrash. Reminiscent of the early days of DEATH ANGEL, INTRUDER and HALLOWS EVE. Score: 8.65
17. LETHAL (Sweden) “Annihilation agenda” – Iron Fist Records – It’s listed as a 2007 release but it became available on 2008. Full throttle attack influnced by METALLICA, SLAYER, KREATOR and DEATH. Score: 8.60
18. IN CHAINS (Belgium) “Demolition business” – Rotten to the Core – Throw some Bay Area thrash and Florida death metal together and you’ll get something pretty close to this record. Score: 8.40
19. PITIFUL REIGN (UK) “Visual violence” – Punishment 18 Records - Reminiscent of mid-career TESTAMENT or OVERKILL. Very loud bass guitar sets the pace of pure old school thrash. The title track will make your neck sore. Score: 8.25
20. KOSTO AND FULL (Spain) “A.D.I.C.T.O.M.I.A.” – Self-released – Awesome crossover thrash, like the glorious days of ANTHRAX. Lyrics in Spanish. Score: 8.0
21. PARADOX (Germany) “Electrify” – AFM Records - The german legends returned after overcoming a long illness of their frontman. Lots of melody, nice riffs here and there, a very clean release. But I still miss “Heresy”. Score: 7.80
22. METALLICA (USA) “Death magnetic” I summarize it as 5 thrash songs and 5 fillers. Not enough for the creators of the genre. Still, those 5 songs are fucking awesome. Score: 7.75
23. SOUNDER (Brazil) “Hell hymns” – Mutilation Productions - Who? Yes, I know. I knew nothing about this band either until I found them on ebay’s version of marquee records, the Brazilian label that supports old school metal. In the vein of SLAYER, RIGOR MORTIS and DARK ANGEL. Score: 7.50
24. AGGRESSOR (Canada) “Rape the willing” – Self-released. Thrash/Speed with influences from the big 4. Score: 7.35
25. THE DYING (Holland) “Triumph of tragedy” Some webzine reviewers are saying that they sound like a lot of other bands. I don’t care. I think they kick ass. Can’t argue about the metalcorish sound ala CATARACT or SWORN ENEMY, so, for the purist, not quite a thrash thrash album. Just listen to “Gotham” and tell me what you think. Score: 7.30
26. SERPENTINE FIRE (Macedonia) “Out to the light” – Self-released – Tight thrash with crushing guitars, and melodic and progressive touches, ala SEVENTH ANGEL. Score: 7.20
27. TESTAMENT (USA) “The formation of damnation” – Nuclear Blast Records - Nice return by the legends. For some reason, it doesn’t give me the chills though. I appreciate the musicianship but it kinda lacks a boost of catchy chugginess, I dunno. I wonder if those webzines that call it the album of the year have heard half of the albums on this list. Score: 7.15
28. ADRENICIDE “Natural born killers” (UK) – Thrashard Records - Straight-forward crossover. Plenty of moshing and D.R.I-esque adrenaline. Score 7.10
29. BLASTHRASH (Brazil) “Violence just for fun” – Mutilation Records – Much better that their debut album. Solid speed/thrash. Score: 7.05
30. INFECTED (Brazil) “Who is not?” – Mutilation Records – Interesting thrash. Catchy sound. Score: 7.05
31. GAMA BOMB (UK) “Citizens brain” – Earache Records - Fast, very fast, almost punkish. Much better than their first release. Score: 7.00
32. ENEMYNSIDE (Italy) “In the middle of nowhere” – Hatestone Records – Earache Records -Enjoyable melodic thrash. They are modernizing their style too much though. Score: 7.00
33. NAILGUNNER (Finland) “Apocalypse. Now or never” – AreaDeath Productions - Reminiscent of the darkest old school thrash style such as the early days of ONSLAUGHT, KREATOR, SEPULTURA, DARK ANGEL or DEMOLITION HAMMER. Good but not great. Score: 7.00
34. REMORSE (HUN) “D.U.H.” – Nail Records - Melodic thrash from Hungary, sung in their language. Some of the choruses can be quite annoying, but the guitars are crushing. Interesting album. Score: 7.00
35. THE SCOURGER (FIN) “Dark invitation to Armageddon” – Stay Heavy Records - Typical Scandinavian death-thrash, influenced by melo-death, with plenty of aggressiveness. Score 6.95
36. DEATH ANGEL (USA) “Killing season” – Nuclear Blast Records - The super-talented Philippinos fall short of aggressiveness once again. Still, better than TAOD. Score: 6.95
37. HELSTAR (USA) “The king of hell” – AFM Records - Aren’t they more like Speed-Power-Heavy? Yes, but blame it to Ed, I was listening to TU radio and all of a sudden I listened to this galloping-epic-thrashy-ride of a song, it was HELSTAR brother. I hadn’t listened to them since the late eighties. Great album. Score: 6.95
38. LICH KING (USA) “Toxic Zombie Onslaught” – Stormspell - One day, a miracle will happen and LICH KING will benefit from the help of a professional production. The king will become a beast. For now, let’s enjoy “Black metal sucks” and “Predator” one more time. Score: 6.75
39. CONCRETE FORCE (Greece) “Mental enforcers” – Self-released – With a cool band logo, these Greek metalheads bring a melodic Bay Area mid-tempo thrash. Score: 6.70
40. THE LAW (Sweden) “Distorted anthems from the suburbs” – MetalCentral Records - Not the typical Scandinavian thrash, more related to the Bay Area sound. Not bad at all. Lacks “punch” though. Heavily influenced by OVERKILL, FORBIDDEN and perhaps DESTRUCTION. Score: 6.65
41. TORMENTER (USA) ”Assault from beyond the grave” – Self-released - Not bad debut at all for the Californians. Lousy cover artwork, obviously a matter of budget. I’ll keep my eyes on them. Score: 6.60
42. SCARS (Brazil) “Devilgod alliance” – Self-released – Aggressive stuff with hardcore/death influences but with a classic thrash template. Score 6.55
43. BONDED BY BLOOD (USA) “Feed the beast” – Earache Records - Decent West Coast thrash but it lacks its own personality. Not essential. Score: 6.55
44. HATEFUL AGONY (Germany) “In the name of god” – Self-released – Ultra-aggressive death thrash. Score: 6.55
45. AVENGER OF BLOOD (USA) “Death brigade” – Heavy Artillery Records - Very monotonous. Not bad. Not enough to deserve one play at a time. Score: 6.50
46. COMMANDO (Mexico) “Sudden invasion” – Grenade Records - Old school sound following the steps of fellow countrymen STRIKEMASTER, but with a more controlled delivery. Speed and mosh. Score: 6.25
47. END OF MAN (Philippines) “Power, corruption and lies” – Self-released – Powerful old school sound with a touch of crossover. Score: 6.20
48. MORTAL FORM (Holland) “Taste the blood” – My Kingdom Music – Brutal modern death thrash onslaught with dark vocals and a crisp sound. Score: 6.05
49. CAMOZ (Germany) “The fusion” - Self-released – Melodic thrash with progressive elements. Score: 6.05
50. HATRED (Germany) “Madhouse symphonies” – Twilight-Vertrieb – Teutonic thrash with a touch of thrash’n roll. Relatively generic. Score: 6.00
51. CAVALERA CONSPIRACY (BRA) “Inflikted” – Roadrunner Records - A lot of hype around this release. At the end, too much of post-Chaos A.D. sound. Give us more of “Beneath the remains”” guys! Score: 6.00
52. DEAD SHAPE FIGURE (Finland) “The Grand Karoshi” – Season of Mist - Their previous release “6x9” was very promising, but this album is just too groovy for my taste. Score: 6.00
53. DESTRUCTION (Germany) “D.e.v.o.l.u.t.i.o.n.” - AFM Records - Nothing really memorable on this album. Just OK. Score: 5.75
54. STRIKEMASTER (Mexico) “inflexible steel” – Blower Records – Sophomore release delivering the same recipe. Score: 5.50
55. SUN DESCENDS (USA) “The entropy formula” – Khaosmaster Productions – Few good riffs here and there, but the overall product comes across as too complex and not aggressive enough. Score 5.40

Who were left out? Albums that scored less than 5.0; mostly because of monotonous sound, too much black metal influence, too much high-pitch melodic vocals, lack of aggressiveness, bad production, too metalcore-ish, too much heavy/rock sound, too power metal, or simply didn’t like it: SOMBER “The black machine”, MERCILESS DEATH “Realm of terror”, HALLOWS EVE “Neverending sleep”, VINDICATOR “There will be blood”, LAAZ ROCKIT “Left for dead”, VOETSEK “Infernal command”, NECRONOMICON “Revenge of the beast”, HOSPITAL OF DEATH “Beer, bitches, blood”, HOLY MOSES “Agony of death”, MORTIFIER “Undergrond noise”, INSANITA “Crimson messiah”, ”ELIMINATOR “Breaking the wheel”, CRUSHING JACKHAMMER “Time to thrash”, CROSS EXAMINATION “Menace II sobriety”, RATTLEHEAD “Step inside for the slaughter”, RAVAGE “Violent offense”, SKIN SLICER “Made in hell”, ARMORED ASSASSIN “Damage youth”, ABSOLUTION “The revelation diaries”, TEMPLE OF BLOOD “Overlord”, BLOOD RED ANGEL “Abyssland”, AMORICIDE “The essence of evil”, ENDLESS PAIN “De-Generation”, CEMETERY DUST “Power of the hypocrite”, etc

The best demos-EPs?
1. LACERATION (USA) “Demo 2008”
2. FACINORA (Brazil) “Born the fear”
3. DIAMOND PLATE (USA) “Mountains of Madness”
4. AGGRESSION (Spain) “Thrashing your brain”
5. AXEGRESSOR (Finland) “Axecution”
6. PHANTOMIZER (Denmark) “Sextasy”
7. MADHOUSER (Brazil) “Mind your own business”
8. BATTLECREEK (Germany) “Demolition”
9. ACID SPEECH (Brazil) “Corrosive riot”
10. DR. LIVINGDEAD (Sweden) “Thrashing the law”
11. KILLER HURTS (UK) “Toxic bloodbath”
12. THRASHOMATIC (Canada) “Unexpected”
13. TORMENT TOOL (Germany) “Fuel of hate”
14. CRIPTOFONIA (Argentina) “Sinfonia de la cripta”
15. INVASION (Sweden) “Demo 2008”
16. BOMB THREAT (Brazil) “Inquisition”
17. OBLITERATOR (USA) “Demo 2008”
18. EVIL WAY (Austria) “Full speed to hell”
19. DAMAGE (Austria) “Time to attack”
20. CRYSYS (Spain) “Demonsthrasion”
21. REVIOLENCE (Brazil) “Violent phoenix”
22. RIPPER (Chile) “Demo 2008”
23. INVINCIBLE FORCE (Chile) “Black ritual”
24. PERISHMENT (Bosnia) “Demonstrations of torture”

Best RE-RELEASES
1. LEGION OF THE DAMNED (Holland) “Feel the blade”
2. DELIVERANCE (USA) “Deliverance”
3. HAMMERHEAD (Brazil) “Shadow of a time to be”
4. EXODUS (USA) “Let there be blood”
5. ANIHILATED (UK) “The ultimate desecration”

Wow, now that's what I call a thread.

Awesome thread. I pretty much agree with most of this, but I thought Gama Bomb could of been scored higher! This should bring some good discussion.

yeah, The Dying better than Gama Bomb

the list is very complete, but I think that you forget Fatal's Born 2 Thrash demo, those 3 songs are great.

Wow very nice list...I could disagree with some of the scores of those albums but it's not like those matter much anyway. 2008 was a pretty good year for thrash. Lets hope 2009 is even better!

Wow. Thanks for such a high rating, although I honestly don't think our album is deserving of such a high rating. I'd give it a 5 out of 10 at best. I honestly can't listen to it. The mix/mastering is horrendous. Pure shit. It didn't sound like that when we left the studio where we mixed. Somehow, in between mixing and mastering the sound went to pure shit, as it wasn't done "in house." After recording in my home studio I decided it would be a good idea to work with an engineer I had great results with in the past. The end results were way less than satisfying. I have rough mixes I did at home that were way better than the final result on the album. Also, some of the playing could've and should've been better. Compare guitar left to guitar right in headphones and you'll see what I mean. Bass as well. We're 500 times better than this, but shit happens I guess. Drums could've even been tighter. Rushed and for no reason.

OOOOhhhh yeaaaa That last part may take away from it being thrash, but I still love this band. They are most likely my #1 right now.

Avenger of blood should have been at least a 27... not 6. something... They are like, the best band in the last few years, I think at least... Although, there are a few I liked more, I just can't remember them, damn you youtube showing me awesome bands that I forget about...

hey THRASHER RHM: i certainly respect your taste for thrash, i've read your top 25 releases in another thread and i can see that we agree in a lot of records, but i also sense that u have a thing for crossover thrash...maybe that's why u love GAMA BOMB so much, don't get me wrong, i think its a cool record but it's a little bit too monotonus for me, speedy all the way, "Evil Forces" is my favorite track because of the Annihilator-like rhythm guitars...as far as THE DYING, i like them, it's like on-your-face kinda sound...anyway, the whole point is to discuss, i don't pretend everybody to agree with my scores.....thanx for letting me know about FATAL! i was not aware of them...they kick ass!! i'll get their demo, too bad is only 3-songs...i think i also forgot GREAT AWAKENING's EP! jeeez, i tried hard not to miss anything good but it's impossible i guess...i'm sure Ed will educate me on a couple more releases that i missed...

no need to be too humble. your record is very good. i understand your frustration though. but remember that a lot of thrashers dig for a raw sound.

yeaah at some point they were #1 on my list...but i can't help it with my pure old school thrash/speed roots, so i dropped them few positions...

Well I haven't heard Legion of the Damned's newest record, but the ols stuff is extremly boring death-thrash when it worse, very monotom and nothing i dig at all. Then we have Warbringer, maby the mot overated band since metallica got hyped back then.

And great year of thrash? Not so much, most of the newier releases has a way to clean production and simpley lack the 80's sound, and the old bands can't making new good riffs.
Too me the new thrash scene is overrated like hell, their is some new good bands like Evile, Violator and Gama Bomb and even those bands a alot weaker than the old releases. I will rather buy old obscure underground thrash releases from bands back then than new bands.
Why the old record campanies hasn't useed their old recording gear from the 80's instead of new modern gear is beyond me. The new releases need the old chrunchy sound and vibe, and the productions is the main reason. The new modern recording gear is simeply not suited for thrash metal

The problem is your viewing thrash as an era.... Thrash metal is a style of music, and regardless of when an album is recorded it can be good or bad. There are two types of thrash.. Good and bad thrash.... not old and new thrash. There were a fair amount of thrash albums in the 80s that were rubbish. I wouldn't call these young fellows overrated at all

When had I said that thrash is an era? I ahven't is a music genre, and sure as hell their was bad thrash, like razor or testament. Razor is just boring and without varitation. Testament made to dencent albums, and the rest was forgetable, even though the guitar solo's are more than decent.

THe case is that their is a big diffrence between thrash from the 80's and from the 00's it is more clean and it lack its vibe with is one of the sound image behind the music genre. thrash is not suposed to be clean and nice, but raw and up your ass.
So no I don't see thrash as an era, I see it as a music genre, but the were alot better band in the 80's than their is now, and their is alot shittier bands now than back then, or at least they get attention since you can just make a myspace profile and some songs and then you are out there.

Yeah, I wasn't paying attention back then but I would be SHOCKED to find that the shitty bands these days are worse than the shitty bands of the 80's. That's a rose-colored glasses kinda thing sir. I'll agree that almost no one these days is turning out the volume of classic stuff we got from the golden age, but take a look at some of the bands in Ed's Thrash Institute. Without naming names I think there's a great body of "classic" thrash that's just as dull and go-nowhere as your crappy bands these days.