With a current thash metal revival in full swing, lets looks at thrash big four bands- Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax.

• Metallica. Releasing debut album ‘kill ‘em all’ in 1983, Metallica were one of the first wave of thrash bands. Thier classic album, 1986’s ‘Master of puppets’ is one of metals much loved albums. After the technical ‘And justice for all’, the ‘black’ album took them to superstar status, which caused many cries of ’sell out’ from fans of their earlier work. After following 2 more albums, a Napster lawsuit and rehab, Metallica returned with ‘St Anger’, the making of is documented in the movie ’some kind of monster’. Last year saw the release of ‘Death Magnetic’, hailed as the ‘best’ Metallica record in years. Better than Load? Definetly. Better than Master of Puppets? Never.
• Slayer. From California, Slayer started out sounding very Judas Priest/ Iron maiden-ish with their first two albums ‘Show no mercy’ and ‘Hell awaits’, then came their classic thrash album ‘reign in blood’ in 1986, bringing in more speed, aggression and balls to the wall brutality. While most metal bands died off in the 90s, Slayer continued doing what they do best -playing Brutallly heavy. ‘Seasons in the Abyss’, ‘Divine Intervention’ and ‘Diablious in musica’ all released during this period, Original drummer Dave Lombardo returned to the fold after ‘God hates us all’ and played on ‘Christ Illusion’. Rumors persist of the next album being the last one- lets hope that isnt the case.
• Megadeth. After being fired from Metallica, Dave Mustaine put all his anger into Meagdeth. They released debut album ‘killing is my business and business is good’ in 1985, then much loved albums ‘peace sells’, ‘rust in peace’ amd countdown to extinction’. Megadeth have never had a stable line up, chaging band members constantly over than Mustaine,who called it a day in 2002 after damaging nerves in his hand. But after intensive therapy regained his hand use and re-formed the band in 2004 -and released the albums ‘the system has failed’ and ‘united abominations’.
• Anthrax. Formed in 1981 by guitar players Danny Lilker and Scott Ian, Anthrax’s debut ‘fistful of metal’ is the only album to feature original vocalist Neil Turbin. Then came singer Joey Belladonna to complete the classic anthrax line up for the next 5 albums, including the albums ’spreading the disease’ and ‘among the living’ before being replaced with John Bush of Armored Saint. Anthrax were then pushed to the side on their new label until Nuclear Blast picked them up and gave us ‘we have come for you all’ in 2004. The band later re-united with Joey Belladonna before he to jumped ship- and Anthrax have now drafted in Dan Nelson and are currently writing new materal.

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Trends in music seem to repeat every 2 decades- so were currently in the midsts of an 80s revival -a good thing?

Time seems to blur of memories, and what was once the subject of ridicule seems to become clouded with a fondness that only time can give. 80s acts are reforming to bring us the music we remember from our youth, showing that there is still an audience for their ‘classic’ songs.

Thrash metal was dominant in metal during the 80s -which spawned such classics as Metallica’s ‘Master of puppets’, and Slayer’s ‘Reign in blood’ has come back to life with band such as Evile and Municipal Waste leading the way for the new guard. ‘Old school’ bands like Testament, Exodus and Kreator are finally getting much overdue credit and have been revived, delivering new albums and tours. Iron Maiden returned to the lofty heights that they reached in the 80s and the Darkness revived interest in glam rock again. Damn them. Anthrax brought back Joey Belladonna, only for him to leave again afew months later, with Anthrax then searching for yet another singer. Megadeth split up due to a injury to Dave Mustaine -only to recover and bring them back with the albums ‘the system has failed’ and ‘united abominations’ and were currently waiting for the next album. Kreator spent the 90s moving away from the thrash sound they help develop with 1986’s ‘a pleasure to kill’, only to return to the well with 2001’s ‘Violent revolution’, 2005’s ‘Enemy of god’ and their recent effort ‘Hordes of chaos’ has seen the German group return to their glory days.

So thrash is alive and well, but does that mean all those bands will have to suffer through the metal drought of the 90s and the horrors of ‘indie’ and ‘britpop’ again?

Lets hope not.

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