My All Time Fave Albums Pt. 7

I consider myself an old school metalhead.  Not even ashamed to say it.  The best music for hard rock and metal came out between 1975 and 1985. Period.  That is not to say there wasn't brilliant music put out before or after this decade, but the music in this 10 year period shaped pretty much everything I listen to, and was so influential to everyone who loves this kind of music.  Today I'm gonna do some quick thoughts on some of the best music ever made...Thrash.  What follows are my...I don't know...Top 5 Thrash Albums Of All Time. Early Venom and Motorhead are big faves of mine, but I'm gonna stick with some later stuff.

1. Metallica - Ride The Lightning

 Although Metallica's first 4 albums are all absolute classics, this is the one that really hit home for me.  This record has is all speed (Fight FireWith Fire), power (For Whom The Bell Tolls), grace (Fade To Black), and my fave tune by them; Creeping Death.

I still have my copy of this album released on an independent Canadian label (Banzai) before they signed with a major label.  They had not conquered the world yet, they were hungry, pissed off and full of energy.  This one, and it's follow up Master Of Puppets, are two of the greatest metal records of all time.  Well written songs, and incredible arrangements (they seem to have forgotten now).  This record has sold in the millions, but in 1984, there were only the handful of metal die hards who knew.

2. Megadeth - Peace Sells...But Who's Buying

Another record from the glory days...I would say that

Rust In Peace is my fave record from these guys, but this is a close 2nd and is in the decade of music I was raving about earlier.  This album is a little different from your general thrash record, the musicianship is a little "jazzier", and has a Nancy Sinatra (!) cover in These Boots.  Mustaine has always lived in the shadow of Metallica, but really, the music Megadeth was making at the time was as good or better.  Brilliant tracks like Wake Up Dead, The Conjuring, and the title track make this a true classic.  I remember buying the tape of this in High School and listening to it again and again.  The debut was good, but this was the beginning of Megadeth's real sound and legacy.  Classic.

3. Slayer - Reign In Blood

 I know the albums I'm picking are fairly obvious if you're a fan, but these are classics for a reason.  Slayer was one of the heavier bands at the time, and most of my friends didn't (and still don't) get it.  The first two albums are absolute classics in their own right, but this record is what really got me into Slayer.  Fast, heavy, scary...it's all here.  29 minutes of pure fury unleashed.  Their signature track, Angel Of Death kicks the album off...the drums...oh those drums...I also always dug it when they slowed it up a bit on tracks like Criminally Insane, Epidemic and Postmortem.  Now, Slayer has a bunch of classic albums as well, but this was really the beginning for me (along with the Haunting The Chapel EP), and is a quintessential metal record.  Maybe don't play it for your girlfriend...;)

4. Anthrax - Spreading The Disease

This and Among The Living are two desert island albums for me.  Spreading leads by a hair due to A.I.R. and Medusa...This is a band that never really got the credit they deserve.  The rest of the Big 4 gets all the acclaim, but Anthrax stands with them in my eyes.  Not a bad track on the album, riff upon riff, and Benante's drumming make them one of the best thrash bands of all time.  Joey Belladonna is one of the only thrash vocalists who actually sings, rather than screams (niether is a bad thing), and gives them a unique edge over many of their contemporaries. Released in 1985, one of the albums in their catalog that gets repeated play from me. With different bands touring and playing albums in their entirety, this is my pick for Anthrax to play live.  Front to back their best record.

5. Exodus - Bonded By Blood

I have some vivid memories of seeing this one on the shelf at our local record store.  I didn't get it until a few years later, and was pissed I missed out the first time around.  If you are into some fast tunes with killer guitar work, you have found mosh heaven.  I think Exodus missed out a bit because this album wasn't released until 1985 ,when by then the other bands I have mentioned were starting to break.  Exodus still continues to tour and make records ,but nothing touches this one.  This record sits alongside other classics of the genre.  I have always compared it to Metallica's debut in terms of style and vibe.  The title track, Piranha, and my personal  fave, A Lesson In Violence are great examples of how thrash should sound.  Fast, great vocals with some melody and time changes to keep you guessing.  

That's it for today, I'll be back with some other classic albums and memories soon!  Thanks to everyone for the comments and for reading the blog. MUYA!