Appreciate Thrash Metal
Thrash Metal can seem extreme to a lot of people, and sometimes even brutal. There's a multitude of reasons why this genre maintains a strong following and earns the fierce loyalty of many listeners worldwide. If you're curious about thrash metal or want to try something new, here's your chance to learn, appreciate, listen, and enjoy.
Steps
- Learn about the history and characteristics of thrash metal. You will find that there are many different bands around the world, each with different styles. Many thrash metal bands have influenced other metal sub-genres.
- Learn about the "Big Four" of thrash: Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax and Slayer. These four bands were among the pioneers of thrash metal and many bands spawned after. Start with less intense bands like Anthrax and Metallica. If your ears are not used to louder sounds, don't start with a band like Kreator or Sodom. Thrash metal songs usually use fast guitar riffs with shredding-style guitar solos.
- Don't listen to thrash metal because you think it's cool. The stereotype about thrash metal fans being aggressive and violent is not true. Remember that it's all about the music and you don't have to grow long hair and change the way you look.
- Try playing a thrash metal song on an instrument. You'll realize the guitar riffs are fast and difficult to play and compose. Bass and drum playing is also difficult, due to the genre's high speed. In fact some Thrash Metal drummers like Dave Lombardo (Slayer) and Charlie Benante (Anthrax) are regarded as some of the best drummers in heavy metal.
- Watch a live thrash metal performance. Even if it's on a TV screen, observe how the group members manipulate the instruments. If you've ever tried to play those instruments yourself, you'll probably be amazed with how skillfully they play. It takes practice, and dedication, which challenges the stereotype of metalheads being lazy and careless. You might also be surprised about how energetic some of the performers are.
- Remember that in thrash metal, unlike many other genres, each band almost always writes their own music. That includes the riffs, drums, solos, and lyrics. Writing your own music demonstrates another dimension of instrumental mastery and talent, as well as making the music more personal and less manufactured.
- Understand the context and subject matter. Thrash metal lyrics and themes demonstrate rebellion and anger. Topics such as politics, war, and violence are common in thrash metal. The fact that thrash metal musicians aren’t afraid to talk about anything from ANY point of view in their music lyrics is probably the main reason that many people avoid thrash metal. And NOTE: Few Thrash Metal bands have Satanic/Anti-Christian lyrics, and if you’re seriously against that kind of stuff, Slayer are bands to avoid. Although some bands use satanic lyrics in songs, most are not actually Satanists including Slayer. And use this rule for the lyrics: The more over-the-top the lyrics are, the less seriously you should take them.
- Unlike older forms of heavy metal and classic metal, thrash metal vocals are not usually "sung" and don't always rhyme. Thrash vocals are usually very aggressive and sometimes angry sounding, but they are still understandable.
- Know the subgenres of thrash metal. Many thrash metal bands use death metal, black metal, and hardcore in their music. Thrash metal with even more hardcore elements than standard thrash is called crossover thrash or crossover for short. Its overall sound is more hardcore-influenced than traditional thrash metal, while more melodic than traditional hardcore and thrashcore. Crossover is often more aggressive and simpler than traditional thrash metal due to the heavier hardcore influence. There is even a resurgence of thrash bands! Some Thrash band have even re-recorded old material, you may find it more to your liking, since they have better production value(i.e. First Strike Still Deadly - Testament / Let There Be Blood - Exodus).
- Listen to various albums from different bands. Try not to focus on just one or two bands, listening to many bands will give you a better understanding of the genre. Here is a basic list of recommended albums (only one from each band):
- ...And Justice For All - Metallica
- Rust in Peace - Megadeth
- Reign In Blood - Slayer
- Welcome To Hell - Venom
- Fistful of Metal and Spreading the Disease - Anthrax
- Practice What You Preach - Testament
- Bonded By Blood - Exodus
- Indulgence/Abstract Reality - Nasty Savage
- Time Does Not Heal - Dark Angel
- Release From Agony - Destruction
- Solitary Solitude - Meliah Rage
- Beneath the Remains - Sepultura
- Mass Illusion - Korzus
- The Years Of Decay - Overkill
- Pleasure To Kill - Kreator
- Handle With Care - Nuclear Assault
- Tortured Existence - Demolition Hammer
- Agent Orange - Sodom
- Beyond the Permafrost - Skeleton-witch
- Speak English or Die - S.O.D
- Alice in Hell - Annihilator
- Hazardous Mutation - Municipal Waste
- The Blackening - Machine Head
- The Onslaught - Lazarus A.D.
- Enter the Grave - Evile
- Time is Up - Havok
- Grand Feast For Vultures - Blood Tsunami
- Ascendancy - Trivium(for new generation thrash lovers)
Tips
- Some Thrash Metal bands guitarists are the most talented guitarists in the world. Their solos are so complex, that their standards reach to some of the best legendary guitarists.
- Many great thrash metal bands never had a big record company behind them to support and promote their music. They are hidden treasures. Feel free to look around and discover what MTV ignored.
- Look beyond the "big four", listen to other, more underground bands such as Coroner or Artillery and expand your knowledge about the genre. Don't put any other bands down even if you don't like them, just don't listen to them.
- Listening to thrash metal does not mean you have to give up listening to other genres. Many great metal artists listen to dark classical music as well as rock, blues, and metal.
- Don't get intimidated by the fast tempos when learning a fast riff on an instrument; start slow and build speed.
Warnings
- There are negative generalizations surrounding thrash metal. Controversial themes including violence and satanism can be associated with thrash metal, ignore them and enjoy the music.
Things You'll Need
- A Music Player
- Collection of albums
- Your air guitar
- A shirt from any thrash band (that you listen to and are prepared to talk about)
- Your cut off denim vest (aka "battle jacket" (google image search it)
