Thrash metal

Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music.

Beginnings

1981 is seen by some fans as a critical year, though others cite earlier influences on the genre: The first riff of Black Sabbath's "Symptom of the Universe" (1975) is possibly one of the first thrash riffs, though their "Into the Void" and "Children of the Grave" (both 1971) were influential as well. Some point to another early example, Queen's "Stone Cold Crazy" (1974) (from their Sheer Heart Attack album), which was unusually heavy and fast for its time (and indeed for Queen as well), and ultimately covered many years later by Metallica. Speed metal pioneers Judas Priest had some thrash ideas on their Stained Class LP (1978), including the punkish counterpoint riff on "Saints in Hell" or the general structure of "White Heat, Red Hot". Also, the live version of "Tyrant" on 1979's Unleashed in the East is very close to thrash metal, combining new drummer Les Binks's uptempo delivery with a more distorted guitar sound than the 1976 studio version (from the classic Sad Wings of Destiny album).

Related Topics:
1981 - Black Sabbath - 1975 - 1971 - Queen - 1974 - Sheer Heart Attack - Metallica - Judas Priest - Stained Class - 1978 - 1979 - Unleashed in the East - 1976 - Sad Wings of Destiny

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Motörhead's Overkill LP (1979) would give the name to a New York band that would write what is often considered the first thrash metal song in 1981: "Unleash the Beast Within." Soon thereafter, the short-lived Southern California band Leather Charm would write "Hit The Lights." This band would break up, but the primary songwriter's next band, Metallica, would feature this song. The band Metal Church recorded a few rehearsals in 1980-81, which were similar to the early Metallica and Overkill efforts, though not quite as thrashy. Interestingly, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich was offered a spot in Metal Church in 1980 but then later kicked out again.

Related Topics:
Motörhead - Overkill - 1979 - New York - 1981 - Leather Charm - Metallica - Metal Church - Overkill - Lars Ulrich - 1980

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A highly influential band, Venom, would release its album "Welcome To Hell" in 1981. Venom would continue to be a heavy influence on the development of thrash metal.

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The first thrash metal demo may very well be Metal Church's Red Skies from late 1981. An instrumental demo that combined thrash, speed, and power metal, it did not receive much circulation, and was overshadowed by their October 1982 Four Hymns demo. Chronologically, though, Metal Church were probably the first.

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Metallica were second on the scene (the Power Metal demo, April 1982, and then No Life 'til Leather in July) and the first with a studio LP (Kill 'Em All, July 1983). Meanwhile, in Europe, Artillery recorded a demo in November, 1982. Their We Are The Dead took a more Black Sabbath oriented direction, resulting in a thrash metal form that was not quite as fast as that of Metallica but had similar riff ideas.

Related Topics:
Metallica - 1982 - Kill 'Em All - Artillery - We Are The Dead - Black Sabbath

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