If you were around in the late 80s you'll remember how flabby the thrash scene was, with a billion bands churning out generic, mediocre thrash (anyone remember Wrathchild America? no, exactly - yet they were on a major label), until death/black/grunge took over in the early 90s.

But there were some gems from those twilight years that should not be forgotten, albums that showed that crucial mix of technical excellence, originality and songcraft. I'm not talking about all the stuff that's being referenced in the new wave of thrash these days (Sodom, CF, Voivod etc) but rather the bands that no one seems to be talking about.

Here are two to get the thread started.

1. Coroner - No More Color (Noise, 1989)

Crisp, clinical riffing, masterful solos, inventive and unconventional songwriting, awesome! The albums before and after this are pretty classic too.
http://www.newmetalarmy.com/band/coroner


2. Helstar - Nosferatu (Metal Blade, 1989)

A Dracula concept album sounds pretty cheesy, but the musicianship on this neo-classical thrash album is top notch: not just technical, but tasteful, which is much rarer. The vocals are maybe a bit operatic for thrash tastes, but not too far from the mainstream. It was their last album, and the previous ones are pretty different (more traditional metal than thrash).
http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=142


Anyone got any others?

sacha wrote:If you were around in the late 80s you'll remember how flabby the thrash scene was, with a billion bands churning out generic, mediocre thrash

Fucking hell, JUST like today then!

Herzeleid wrote:Fucking hell, JUST like today then!

I don't know if you're talking about the UK thrash revival bands (Mutant, Gama Bomb, Evile etc) but I think the difference is that they're only just at the beginning, with a bit of luck they'll outgrow just playing "in the style of" thrash, and make their own (hopefully not forgotten) gems.

I've never heard of Wrath Child America... but I've added them to New Metal Army

http://www.newmetalarmy.com/band/wrathchildamerica

and I can't believe Helstar wasn't there:

http://www.newmetalarmy.com/band/helstar

...erm I was there in the eighties but I can't remember anything It's pretty shocking how Croroner have disappeared from people's memories though. I think it's because they are German and just don't get the press they deserve. I remember seeing them at the Underworld (I think) back in the day and it was packed (more packed then the recent Exodus/Evile/Gama Bomb extravaganza). The pit was amazing.... og hang on I'm rambling coz I've got nothing to add

I do remember this though:

Thrash Metal Gems from YouTube user GodzOfThunder



(there are 5 parts to this video that I can't be bothered to link to)

thrash-power:

griffin-flight of the griffim 1984
savage grace - after the fall from grace 1986

uk thrash:

hydra vein - after the dream 1988
metal messiah - honor among thieves 1989

crossover:

leeway- born to expire 1988
ludichrist - powertrip 1989

metaldazza wrote:...erm I was there in the eighties but I can't remember anything It's pretty shocking how Croroner have disappeared from people's memories though. I think it's because they are German and just don't get the press they deserve.

Coroner were from Switzerland.

Shugmaster wrote:

metaldazza wrote:...erm I was there in the eighties but I can't remember anything It's pretty shocking how Croroner have disappeared from people's memories though. I think it's because they are German and just don't get the press they deserve.

Coroner were from Switzerland.

oops, yep. You see, their memory is fading.....

i dont think coroner are forgotten are they? Certainly one of my favourite metal bands, arguably not thrash by the time of No More Colour.

Moral Crusade - An Act of Violence is a pretty good album I think.

I actually have no more color and a Wrathchild America's climbing the walls on vinyl

There is also a band called Dead On, who only released one album which was alright.

Blood Feast's Chopping Block Blues doesn't get mentioned much, which is a shame.

I've got "No More Colour" and I have heard of Wrathchild America,but they were nowhere near as good as the original Wrathchild! Stakk Attakk anyone?

Cool topic… Some gems IMO:

Aggression (Canada) – The full treatment 1987
Agony (Sweden) – The first defiance 1988
Atrophy (USA) – Sozialized hate 1988
Cyclone (Belgium) – Inferior to none 1990
Defiance (USA) – Product of society 1989
Despair (Germany) – History of hate 1988
Devastation (USA) – Idolatry 1991
Drifter (Switzerland) – Nowhere to hide 1989
Epidemic (USA) – The truth of what will be 1989
Flames (Greece) – Last prophecy 1989
Gammacide (USA) – Victims of science 1989
Indestroy (USA) – Senseless theories 1989
Morbid saint (USA) – Spectrum of death 1988
Mutilator (Brazil) – Into the strange 1988
Sacrament (USA) – Haunts of violence 1992
Shah (Russia) – Beware 1989
Stone (Finland) – No anaesthesia 1989
Viking (USA) – Man of straw 1989
Xyster (UK) – In good faith 1989

To be continued….

BTW - Coroner rulez and Wrathchild A. isn`t that bad.

forgotten gems?
I thinking of few now
assorted heap, stone, accuser, exumer, target, bulldozer.... damn
MANY bands are great!