[For Beginners] Start Here! A Collection of Classic Thrash Metal Songs

RevolutionLazarus A.D.

Lazarus A.D. – Revolution (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

Lazarus A.D.

is a band that epitomizes the thrash metal scene since the 2000s.

Their talent drew attention in Japan as well, and their very first visit to the country was a major stage: LOUD PARK 09.

This track is included on their major-label debut, The Onslaught, and it’s a bona fide classic—simply cool, packed with the vibrant appeal of their youth.

Razor-sharp guitar riffs, a drum performance brimming with precise, busy technique, and a melodic solo woven with twin-lead harmonies—every element is top-tier.

Although this was the heyday of metalcore and they were hailed as the new generation of thrash, they sadly disbanded following the death of their drummer.

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Nuke the CrossToxic Holocaust

TOXIC HOLOCAUST – “Nuke the Cross” (Official Music Video)

Hailing from Portland, Oregon, this band has been a driving force in the thrash metal scene since the 2000s.

Centered around the multitalented Joel Grind, who single-handedly created their debut, they’ve sustained a career spanning over 20 years.

Here I’ll introduce the lead track from their third album, An Overdose of Death…, released in 2008.

Its runaway sound feels like the headlong velocity of thrash metal fused by brute force with the destructive power of hardcore punk, delivering a gritty coolness that straight-laced bands just can’t replicate.

Personally, I also give high marks to the fact that they brought in Seattle legend and grunge-scene trailblazer Jack Endino as producer.

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Ultra ThrashCrisix

CRISIX – ULTRA THRASH || OFFICIAL VIDEO ||

With a song title like “Ultra Slash,” there’s simply no option not to listen! Among the up-and-coming thrash metal bands, Spain’s Crisix is one of the fiercest.

Bursting, high-velocity riffs; a sound that’s technical in a modern way yet retains a raw edge that’s never too polished; and a barrage of screams capped off with repeated shouts of “Ultra Slash!” While weaving in contemporary heavy sections, their bulldozing, full-throttle songwriting shows a glimpse of thrash metal’s future.

TerrorscopeGama Bomb

GAMA BOMB – Terrorscope (2013) // Official Music Video // AFM Records

Hailing from Northern Ireland, this is a band you can’t leave out when talking about the crossover thrash scene since the 2000s.

If you listen to “Terrorscope,” a single from their fourth album The Terror Tapes released in 2013, you’ll grasp their core appeal.

Centered on the breakneck drive characteristic of thrash metal, it also weaves in melodic vocals, and the guitar solo even bursts out with a phrase from the universally known classical masterpiece Sabre Dance—absolute anything-goes mayhem.

And yet, it’s all neatly distilled into a single track, showcasing an impressive command of songwriting; you could call it a bona fide classic.

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Sadistic MagicianMUNICIPAL WASTE

Municipal Waste – Sadistic Magician

Hailing from Richmond, Virginia, this band has dominated the post-2000 scene with crossover thrash that fuses hardcore punk and thrash metal as their weapon of choice.

This track appears on their third album—also known by the incredibly cool Japanese title “Madness Thrash Party.” With a lean, two-minute–plus structure and a blistering sound that leaves you no choice but to empty your mind and headbang nonstop, it’s guaranteed to send you into bliss.

Also pay attention to veteran maestro Dave Witte’s drumming, which tightly anchors the overall ensemble.

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