Metallica released their Thrash Metal defining moment thirty-five years ago today with Master of Puppets(Elektra Records/Blackened Recordings). While 1986 gave us many legend-status albums from top-tier bands, this is still the one that stands above all the others. Taking the NWBHM influence of Kill Em All, and the improved thrash stylings and songcraft of Ride The Lightning, and moving leaps forward, MoP rules from start to finish. Sadly, this was to be their final album with Cliff Burton who died during the tour cycle promoting this album, but Master of Puppets is a genre classic through and through. Jam it loud and proud today! Continue reading
Tag Archives: Thrash Metal
Calamity Announces New Lineup, New Album in The Works
Puerto Rican Thrash Metal titans Calamity have announced the addition of Weslie Negrón (Moths) taking over bass guitar duties. The band is currently finishing the writing process of their new album and will enter the studio for a later 2021 or early 2022 release. This will be the follow-up to their 2019 album Kairos. Check out this video of their reveal of their new bassist Weslie!
ALBUM REVIEW: Sacred Reich Reissues
From ‘War Pigs’ to the present day, metal and politics have gone hand in hand and Sacred Reich has never shied away from the subject. As far back as their Draining You of Life demo in 1986, the Arizona thrashers made it abundantly clear that fascism is bullshit, Nazis are the enemy, and that oppression in any form should not be tolerated. This steadfast opposition to dictatorship, corruption, and social injustice has served them well for over thirty years, but recently the band has found themselves in the unbelievable position of actually having to defend those views. Swamping their social media pages with insults and demands to “stop making everything political”, some of their so-called “fans” really seem to have missed the entire fucking point of Sacred Reich.
ALBUM REVIEW: Todd La Torre – Rejoice In The Suffering
Despite being initially judged as a Xerox frontman when he joined Queensrÿche nearly a decade ago, Todd La Torre has proven to be so much more than a great Geoff Tate impression. Far from being a hired gun, La Torre has been a heavy player in the band’s creative process and even put his talents as a drummer to use on 2018’s The Verdict while also contributing guest vocals to other projects. Considering the recent pandemic-induced schedule opening, it was only inevitable for him to finish up his long-awaited debut as a solo artist.
ALBUM REVIEW: Angelus Apatrida – Angelus Apatrida
Translating roughly to “fallen angels”, the eponymously titled seventh album from Spanish thrashers Angelus Apatrida is another brutal barrage of sweat, riffs and fury. Once again, guitarist/vocalist Guillermo Izquierdo and his bass playing brother José J. Izquierdo are joined by second guitarist David G. Álvarez, and Victor Valera on drums, admirably retaining the same stable line-up now for close to twenty years.
ALBUM REVIEW: Portrayal of Guilt – We Are Always Alone
Who decided to file Portrayal of Guilt under Screamo? Where should we file them? I don’t know, that’s for folks who spend their time and energy in the endless heavy music genre debates and on websites like Encyclopaedia Metallum to decide. You know, the type of people that will insist that Annihilator isn’t a Thrash band as they really fall under Speed Metal. They are truly doing the Lord’s work. But to slap the screamo tag on Portrayal of Guilt, particularly on We Are Always Alone (Closed Casket Activities) seems a bit simplistic.
ALBUM REVIEW: Nervosa – Perpetual Chaos
With only founding guitarist Prika Amaral remaining from their original 2010 line-up, Brazilian thrashers Nervosa return with a much more international look on their fourth full-length studio release, Perpetual Chaos (Napalm Records). Joining Amaral this time is Spanish vocalist Diva Satanica, Greek drummer Eleni Nota, and former Abbath bassist Mia Wallace.
Evile Teases A New Song and Video!
Returning Thrash Metallers Evile will release a new album in 2021 via their new label Napalm Records, which was announced last fall. The band dropped a teaser of a new single and video on their socials and the label as well, hopefully releasing soon. For a little snippet, it sounds tasty!
Sacred Reich to Release Classic Albums on Vinyl via Metal Blade
Sacred Reich will release CD and LP re-issues of their classic albums Ignorance, Surf Nicaragua, and The American Way via their label Metal Blade Records. These albums are three of the most important albums in Thrash Metal history, and a must-own for collectors. Pre-order your copies now at the link below. The band released their comeback album in 2019, Awakening, and are already working on the follow-up.
Kirk Hammett Featured on Gibson TV’s “Icons” Series
Kirk Hammett of Metallica has been featured in the latest episode of “Icons,” in-depth interviews by Gibson TV, by Gibson guitars. In the latest episode of Gibson TV sits down with one of the most influential metal guitarists of all time, Kirk Hammett. Since 1983, Kirk Hammett has been the lead guitarist and member of Metallica. Prior to joining the band, he formed the group Exodus in high school with Gary Holt and helped invent thrash metal as one of the most influential guitarists of this age. Watch the clip here!Continue reading