Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Top 11 Thrash Albums of 2011

So, the year is just about over and 2011 has been a fantastic year for releases in just about every subgenre. This list will focus just on the top thrash albums to come out this year, and this was actually a pretty difficult list to make, but it was made. As always, head on over to the facebook if you would like to voice your opinion about albums I left out or how much you love my list and would like to send me a Christmas card because it's just that amazing. 


#11. Evile - "Five Serpent's Teeth
Coming in at #11 on the list is Evile with their third full-length "Five Serpent's Teeth." My original reaction to this album was a very positive one and I thought it was the band's best offering to date, and I still do. But, this album hasn't grown on me like many others have and that's why it comes in at #11. This album is complete "Master of Puppets" era Metallica worship, and I happen to be a Metallica fan. 


Highlights
"In Dreams of Terror"
"Cult"
"Origin of Oblivion"


#10. Ghoul - Transmission Zero
Yes, I'm aware that this isn't a pure thrash album, but it's thrashy enough. Wanna fight about it? Good. The first time I heard this, I thought that this was Ghoul's weakest effort to date, but I also thought it was still a great record. This album has definitely grown on me more and now I love it probably as much as "Splatterthrash." That's probably just because I'm a huge Ghoul fanboy and they have yet to wrong me. 


Highlights
"The Mark of Voodoo"
"Brain Jerk"
"Tooth and Claw"


#9. Midnight - Satanic Royalty
Coming in at #9 is the black/speed assault from Cleveland's Midnight. Like Ghoul, this isn't a pure thrash album, but I make the rules around here and if I want to put Autopsy's new album on this list I will. Anyway, "Satanic Royalty" is a lot of fun and surprisingly memorable. 


Highlights
"Satanic Royalty"
"You Can't Stop Steel"
"Black Damnation"


#8. Antichrist - Forbidden World
Sweden's Antichrist, is pretty unknown when compared to the modern thrash giants but their debut album "Forbidden World" is just as good, if not better than most other "mainstream" thrash acts. If you're a fan of weird thrash, then you need to check these guys out.


Highlights
"Dark Sorcery"
"Necropolis"
"Victims of the Blade"


#7. Vektor - Outer Isolation
I had especially high hopes for this album, mainly because Vektor's previous album "Black Future" was a modern masterpiece. While this album wasn't as great as the aforementioned "Black Future," "Outer Isolation" still kicks a ton of ass. If you haven't given this band a chance then you had better do it. 


Highlights
"Echoless Chamber"
"Cosmic Cortex"
"Dark Creations, Dead Creators"


#6. Invection - Facet of Aberration
Another relatively unknown newer thrash band, Invection from the Bay Area. Even though they're from the Bay Area, they don't really sound like it. In fact, Invection is one of the more unique sounding thrash bands out today. They've got a lot of melody in their music, but they retain a high level of intensity and keep your headbanging the whole time. 


Highlights
"Derealization"
"Solace In Mediocrity"
"Two Faced Lie"


#5. Insinnerator - Stalagmite of Ice
Another band proving that you don't need to be signed to a major label to have a kickass thrash album. Texas' "Stalagmite of Ice" is a stellar album from start to finish. It's full of awesome riffs and is easily one of the best new wave thrash albums out there. If you haven't checked these guys out, you need to. 


Highlights
"Children of the Cult"
"Stalagmite of Ice"
"Nightmare Theatre"


#4. Havok - Time Is Up
Talk about some intense, catchy thrash. That's pretty much all you need to know about this album. Every song on here is great. The riffs are awesome, the drums are fantastic, the lead work perfect and the vocals are brilliant as well. 


Highlights
"DOA"
"The Cleric"
"No Amnesty"


#3. Toxic Holocaust - Conjure and Command
This has to be the biggest shocker for me. I've never been a big fan of Toxic Holocaust and most of their material just struck me as generic and repetitive, but this record is fucking great. It's their darkest, most intense and all around best album in every possible way. I guarantee you'll be spinning this album for quite some time.


Highlights
"Bitch"
"Red Winter"
"Agony of the Damned"


#2. Deceased - Surreal Overdose
This album is scary good. Every song is different from the next but they all rule extremely hard. A great mix of death metal and thrash with just the right amount of progressive elements. Some very underrated music from a very underrated band. Do yourself a favor and check it out.


Highlights
"Skin Crawling Progress"
"Kindred Assembly"
"Cloned (Day of the Robot)"



#1. Warbringer - Worlds Torn Asunder
Anyone who keeps up with today's thrash bands should know of this band and just how amazing they are. There isn't a single new band out today that can compete with these guys, in my opinion. Everything about this album is stellar, and that's that. 


Highlights
"Shattered Like Glass"
"Echoes From the Void"
"Savagery"

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