F E A T U R E

The New Big 4: The Best Young Thrash Bands!
6/3/2011 2:29:01 PM by Frank




The Big 4 Tour Metal Fest with Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax has been a dream come true for thousands of old-school thrash fans. Those bands have been in the business for almost 30 years, so I asked some of our staff writers who they think are the best young thrash bands out there today. Here's the top bands chosen:

Angelus Apatrida
Spain's Angelus Apatrida greet the metal contingents with a blasting third endeavor that rivals the latest and greatest of thrash concepts. Amazing production values and standards are in place to back what amounts to be the best Bay Area thrash album to be released outside of America. This talented act lay down smokin' Testament and Death Angel vibes while keeping it fresh with different arrangements and a full arsenal of dynamic grooves. Vocals are spaced out and remain vivid and intelligible throughout. Hottest of the hot and one of the leaders of this new wave. --EC



Havok
The last few years have sparked thousands of Thrash bands all trying to claim the throne. It can be tough to stick out. Like many others Havok may not bring much to the table that's original but it does a solid job of keeping the pulse of this genre alive. Through smooth production, machine gun riffs and blistering drum work. Like on the breathless opener Prepare For Attack, Scumbag In Disguise, Covering Fire and Cleric. --Chris Kincaid



Lazarus A.D.
The seeds of Metal greatness were planted on 2009's "The Onslaught" and continue to show promise on "Black Rivers Flow". It's still a hard hitting trip to riff city but with a few tweaks that have tightened their axe grinding assault. More groove is dished out for a crossover/mainstream appeal it doesn't come at the expense of watering down their sound. It still gets the seal of headbanging approval. --Chris Kincaid



Warbringer
Taking a cue straight from early era Slayer, Warbringer comes guns blazin' right out of the gates. The vocals are reminiscent of Reign in Blood Slayer and Fabulous Disaster Exodus. The guitars are a well balanced mix of melody and speed, with some technical work thrown in to melt your face down to a bubbling mess. The drums and bass bring up the back end and fatten up the track. Trust me, I blew a few speakers blasting this one. --Greg




Honorable Mention: Blood Tsunami, Municipal Waste



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RANDOM ACTS OF METAL
· The Kovenant· Sinner
· White Skull· Immolation
· Misery Index· Narziß
· Kataklysm· Solace
· Overkill· Queensryche
· Godflesh· Steel Attack
· Legend· Crematorium
· Circle of Nero· Evolution
· Exawatt· Catch 22
· Bloodbath· Kilfast
· Mourning Beloveth· Lanfear
· Evanesce· Crystal Eyes
· Axenstar· Vhaldemar
· Thunderstone· Drillpoint
· Pink Cream 69· Edguy
· DevilDriver· Fraise
· Wicked Sensation· Brides of Destruction
· Body Count· Hard Echo
· Fear Factory· Shiva
· Silver Mountain· Yngwie Malmsteen
· Babylon Mystery Orchestra· Ebony Ark
· Cans· Highlord
· Iron Angel· Ministry
· Judas Priest· Black Zodiac
· Spiral Madness· De Lirium's Order
· Devil In The Kitchen· Vox Tempus
· After Forever· Rhapsody of Fire
· Final Dawn· Potential Threat SF
· Tearabyte· Otep
· Scavenger· Jamie. St. James
· Mine· Silent Force
· The Last Act· Karmakanic
· Sonata Arctica· Fifth Cross
· Milkweed· Kings X
· Requiem Aeternam· Maze Of Torment
· Seige of Hate· Astral Doors
· Suidakra· Ravensthorn
· Wolverine· Darkthrone
· Crimson Moonlight· Drunkard
· Kinrick· Operatika
· Swallow The Sun· Gizmachi
· Manntis· Brand New Sin
· Unshine· Nuse
· Evemaster· Slik Helvetika
· Monolithe· Ritual Killer
· The Father Panic Riot Orchestra· Frameless Scar
· Nightvision· Fates Warning
· Havochate· Edenbridge
· Barcode· Twilight
· Crystal Ball· Torture Killer
· Gorefest· Absolution
· Decapitated· Vader
· From This Day· Second Shadow
· Totalisti· Ephel Duath
· Codeon· 286
· The Berzerker· Pyramaze
· Elvenking· Nicodemus
· The Furor· TK-421
· Cult of Luna· Fragments of Unbecoming
· Jotunspor· Suzukiton
· She Said Destroy· Swashbuckle
· Amon Amarth· Sahg
· Setherial· The Abominable Iron Sloth
· The Finals· Wastefall
· Oblomov· Satyricon
· Audrey Horne· Starkweather
· Celtic Frost· Quest of Aidance
· Twisted Into Form· Blood Tsunami
· Lost Eden· Omnium Gatherum
· Terry Sullivan· Throne of Katarsis
· Crescent Shield· Spit Like This
· Denial Fiend· Trenchfoot
· JR Ewing· Funeral
· Cauldron· Diamond Dogs
· Averse Sefira· The Obsessed
· Trivium· SOS
· Hacksaw Surgery· Intolerant
· Medieval Steel· Cursed
· UFOmammut· Faded Hope
· Raven· Suspyre
· Suffocation