Had it been released immediately after it was recorded in 1984, Exodus' Bonded by Blood might be regarded today alongside Metallica's Kill 'em All as one of the landmark albums responsible for launching the thrash metal wave. But by the ...

Guitarist Dave Mustaine was an original member of thrash-pioneers Metallica. But he was booted from the band during the recording of that band's debut album, KILL 'EM ALL. Instead of moping around, Mustaine returned to California and immediately formed another ...

The gothic and occult themes associated with The Legacy and The New Order aren't nearly as prevalent on Testament's third album, Practice What You Preach. Instead, the thrash metallers place more emphasis on subjects like freedom of choice, political corruption, ...

Perhaps the finest Metal Church release, Blessing in Disguise offers some of the best material in the group's long career. New vocalist Mike Howe joined up with the band for the recording of this 1989 Elektra release, replacing the departed ...

After years struggling for recognition while watching their peers achieve fame and fortune, Bay Area mainstays Exodus had every reason to be dejected when they re-grouped in 1989 to record their third album Fabulous Disaster. Still, they went on to ...

Originally released in 1988, Under the Influence is another confident, if unremarkable Overkill recording. Highlights include the punk-ish "Overkill III (Under the Influence)," as well as trademark pseudo-thrash numbers like "Shred," "Never Say Never," and the minor hit single/video "Hello ...

Megadeth achieved massive success with their aggressive fourth album, RUST IN PEACE, and its follow-up, 1992's COUNTDOWN TO EXTINCTION, combined the band's trademark thrash metal with hints of the more mainstream territory that would be further charted on the subsequent ...

In the five years between the two releases, Metallica seem to have gotten back in touch with the raw power of their classic period, with a little help from legendary producer Rick Rubin. One listen to the 10-minute epic "Suicide ...

Anthrax's first full-length recording with new vocalist Joey Belladonna and bassist Frank Bello, 1985's SPREADING THE DISEASE, showed that the band had survived its first major lineup change without skipping a beat. If anything, the change strengthened the quintet, just ...

If there's a song that sums up the journey Anvil have gone on, it's "Time Shows No Mercy," the ninth track of the band's 15th album, Hope in Hell. When frontman Steve "Lips" Kudlow sings "Hold onto your youth, you're ...

Anthrax fans have had no choice but to be very patient waiting for the arrival of the group's tenth studio album overall, 2011's Worship Music. Doubling as the first Anthrax studio album since 2003's We've Come for You All and ...

Digitally remastered by Eddie Schreyer (November 1993, Future Disc). Boasting the awesome "Chemical Warfare," a regular staple of Slayer's live shows, the Haunting the Chapel EP was a more crucial stepping stone in the legendary L.A. band's career development than many ...

This split release between legendary Pantera/Down vocalist Philip Anselmo and Texan neo-thrashers Warbeast is notable, first and foremost, for representing the first music ever released under the banner of the former's actual name, albeit with backing by an instrumental threesome ...

While very short (barely over 30 minutes) and not on par with its exceptional predecessor, SO FAR helped to solidify Megadeth's standing as one of speed metal's leading acts. "Anarchy in the U.S.A.," a reworking of the Sex Pistols' "Anarchy ...

Whatever its title may suggest, there's nothing about Germanic heavy metal band Brainstorm that would imply a spur of the moment decision; the band's timeless regeneration of traditional heavy metal is evidently arranged, performed, recorded, and produced with meticulous planning ...

The kings of speed metal have never been keen on being labeled, and LOAD, which follows up the 1991 mega-hit METALLICA, is a surprising pastiche of sonic fury. Metallica still rocks hard. James Hetfield's lyrics are still full of venom ...

Recording information: Pyramid Sound Studios, Ithaca, NY (09/1986-12/1986). Personnel: Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth (vocals); Bobby Gustafson (guitar); Rat Skates (drums).

Track Listing: DISC 1: Skin O' My Teeth; Symphony of Destruction; Architecture of Aggression; Foreclosure of a Dream; Sweating Bullets; This Was My Life; Countdown to Extinction; High Speed Dirt; Psychotron; Captive Honour; Ashes in Your Mouth; DISC 2: LIVE ...

Much like the English punk movement before it, the New Wave of British Heavy Metal invaded hundreds of American garages in the early '80s and launched countless bands across the nation. It is interesting to note, however, that while in ...

Released nearly two years after the transitional Killing Technology, Dimension Hatröss is the first album where Voivod's experimental metal is explored from beginning to end. Shedding the clichéd lyrics that the band relied on for their first two releases, they're ...

Although 1988's STATE OF EUPHORIA proved to be Anthrax's commercial breakthrough, the material didn't measure up to the band's crushing previous work. To correct this, these New York City metalists returned to their harder direction, and were rewarded with another ...

Recording information: Fear Studios; Guitarslinger; House Of Music Studios; Level 10 Music; Stuntguitarmusic. Photographer: Heiko Roith. Personnel: Mat Sinner, Ralf Scheepers (vocals, background vocals); Magnus Karlsson (guitar, keyboards); Alex Beyrodt (guitar); Randy Black (drums); Erik Martensson, The Fab Four , Oliver Hartmann ...

Given up for dead over a decade earlier, the mighty Exodus -- the original kings of thrash metal -- made an unexpected but long-rumored return in 2004 with the release of their sixth studio album, Tempo of the Damned. But ...

On Overkill's most sensible album, Bobby Ellsworth knows how to use his voice well and the revitalized band never sounded better. ~ John Book Recorded at Carriage House Studios, Stamford, Connecticut between March & April 1991. Personnel: Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth (vocals); Rob ...

Honing their sound with razor-sharp precision, As I Lay Dying return with more driving, melodic thrash on their sixth album, Awakened. While the band's level of technical acumen and intensity isn't much of a surprise at this point, their decision ...