Written by:	Thryce
Published:	10.01.2009

Thrash in 2008?! Don't mind if I do - Why 2008 was far from a lousy year in Thrash.


Prologue

In the light of the (upcoming) Metal Storm Awards 2008, there were a few related discussions going on in the domestic Staff circle coupled with these highly-anticipated Awards. One of them concerned the quality of Thrash metal releases in 2008. You see, it has been brought to my attention that the statement "shitty year in Thrash" has been dropped a few times already. In my eyes, this is only partially true, if not completely false.

In this article we'll briefly discuss the highlights and down gaps of the past year in a Thrashy year recap, where we try to keep an unbiased view when making critical comments and drawing conclusions (after all, there's no accounting for tastes, right). In a second part, we'll pay attention to a couple of more little-known 2008 releases who definitely deserve some acknowledgement and who are (at least in my eyes) likely nominees/winners in this year's Thrash metal category*. Again, I'll be trying not to push my own opinion forward, but instead I'll be trying to convince you to at least check these releases out before you make up your mind when choosing your personal candidate, and before you make a big mistake by voting for some "lousy Thrash record" instead because you didn't know any better.

* Article written before the final nominee list was cooked up.

The main point of this article however is not to convince you to vote for one of these releases, but to inform you that 2008 had a lot more to offer than only so-called shitty releases.



2008: Thrash Or Be Thrashed

Let's have a look at the obvious headliners to get started with. The fact of the matter is 2008 was the year in which a few eminent Thrash bands finally released a full-length album again after a few years of studio silence. We're talking about two long-running Bay Area Thrash bands Testament and Death Angel, but let's not forget about the new album of Teutonic Thrash veterans Destruction either. And as long as we're mentioning heavyweight names in Thrash-land, what to think of the debut album of Cavalera Conspiracy, the Cavalera part of Sepultura. Max Cavalera was a pretty busy man last year, because also his other brainchild Soulfly released some new stuff. Another busy outfit in 2008 was Legion Of The Damned, not only did they release a brand-new album, they also reissued an older album back from their Occult-era. And as long as we're talking re-releases, also Exodus rerecorded their legendary 1985 album "Bonded By Blood"... which brings us automatically to our next topic: remarkable new players in the Thrash scene. Well, the band named after the first Exodus album isn't exactly that new, however their debut was indeed only released this year. But the band who probably released the most notable debut album to his name is Warbringer.

Next, just to give you a precise overview, there are also a few more albums released by, what I call, hybrid Thrash bands, playing other genre-influenced Thrash, such as Dagoba, Venom, Toxic Holocaust and Torture Squad. And finally, I will also mention two more Thrash metal bands that need to rely more on their funny lyrics, image and/or gimmick than anything else: Lich King and Austrian Death Machine.


So far, so good, but what... about the rest? There are two more important points that need to be taken notice of when talking about Thrash in 2008:

First of all, the Metallica case. Too much has already been written about "Death Magnetic" but we need to admit that Metallica have clearly chosen to return to their olden days, which is a good thing. Whether you like to hear this or not, it must be said that Metallica have opted again for a more Thrashy approach (not Thrash, but Thrashy), something that can only be supported in the view of this article. And so, I would like to use Metallica in my argument that Thrash was most alive in 2008, yes, even on "Death Magnetic".

Secondly, we have the ongoing movement of (most of the time old school) Thrash revivals, another popular-thing-to-do to be more or less glad about. Exhorder, Whiplash, Sentinel Beast and Wehrmacht, to name only a few, are bands who have been reuniting in 2008. Hopefully we'll hear more good things about them in the not so distant future. Also recently reactivated bands like Artillery, Exumer, At War and Assassin have been releasing some new material this year. And then we have Thrash bands like Forbidden, Devastation and Sarcastic who have been reuniting for some 2008 live performances. In another way, also these many reunions and reunion shows were important highlights for Thrash metal in 2008.

However, on the other hand we need to be fully aware that not every Thrash reunion is an automatic key to success and high-quality releases. One of the pitfalls in this argument encloses the danger of staging a Thrash revival just for the sake of staging a Thrash revival. There is indeed a tangible risk that some of these highly-anticipated reunions can turn out in an outright disappointment.



Conclusion of this part: when you looked around a bit, Thrash was everywhere in 2008. When making a recap for Thrash metal, you need to take into account that also good things happened to the Thrash scene this year. So from this point of view we need to nuance the statement "shitty year in Thrash" for the first time.



Can You Lend Me Some Thrash, Mate?

The second point of view concerns the more unnoticed Thrash releases that are doing equally good, if not even better than the big, mainstream and popular Thrash icons. Releases that are making 2008 less lousy in Thrash than one would first think it would be. Because face it, although it's a good thing the big bands released new material, most people will agree the quality of that material wasn't exactly what we would expect from such calibers, to keep it polite.*

* On that matter I also want to mention two other albums that were just not doing it for me, namely Holy Moses and Exciter.

Now, that's why we'll be having a closer look at seven of those lesser known gems that have been undeservedly overlooked*... but who will more than likely save the year from being shitty in Thrash.

* And dare I even say most (if not, ALL) of these releases simply blow all the aforementioned releases out of the water. Maybe not, maybe so, but this quote should certainly start the discussion. Check it out and let me know what you think.

Acid Drinkers - Verses Of Steel Acid Drinker is probably the most consistent band in this little list with a non-stop long-running career of 22 years in the Thrash business. And after all these years and countless releases they're still masters in bringing top-notch Thrash with some modern twists and grooves. Acid Drinkers are recognized as one of the best Polish band of the 90's, and on this powerful album they'll remind you once more why...

Gama Bomb - Citizen Brain Old school Thrash played by young, upcoming bands shouldn't be a contradiction. Gama Bomb certainly are fast, mean and powerful, and they are reaching the sub-top level standards very fast (as proved once again in a recent Terrorizer Magazine's 2008 Reader's Poll). Expect some slaying riffs and solos and get ready to bang your head like there's no tomorrow. This is what 80's Thrash in 2008 was all about!

Guillotine - Blood Money "Blood Money" is the sophomore album of these Swedish Thrashers, after a break of ten years as the band reactivated last year. I couldn't have said it better myself when their label writes the following on a promo sheet: "Guillotine sets the benchmark of intense Thrash Metal to deadly new heights; essential melodic hooks with just the right amount brewed into perfection to split your skull into pieces!" Fast and furious all the way, baby.

Hallows Eve - The Never-Ending Sleep And yet another Thrash revival marked by Hallows Eve. This is the band's second album after their resurrection in 2004, and they never have sounded better. This is somewhat downtuned but most of all dirty and pitchblack Thrash with a clear US metal catch. Very mature-sounding and topnotch album, definitely worth your time.

Hexen - State Of Insurgency Hexen's sophomore album is another scholarly example of how old school-worship is supposed to sound like. With a lot of sense for melody and variety, Hexen bring you 100% kickass songs and no fillers - Hexen deliver, and how. This is an extremely solid and tight album that simply cannot disappoint. Fresh albums like this are exactly what the overcrowded Thrash scene was waiting for.

Lääz Rockit - Left For Dead One of the Bay Area's most notable reunions a few years ago was the one of Lääz Rockit. Now the band with the moniker token from the Clint Eastwood movie, "The Enforcer", is back with their first full-length in seventeen years. The record picks up the same thread as the other Lääz Rockit albums, this time with a couple modern sounding hooks. The band has matured, but they still know how to rock your socks off like in their olden times.

SSS - The Dividing Line Witty crossover Thrash is not dead, and what Municipal Waste can do, we can do it too but better. Those are probably the mottos of this young UK-based band, fully called Short Sharp Shock. And these guys sure know how to be fast, sharp and deadly infectious. Killer album, no more, no less. Thrash with a small moustache is definitely the next best thing around here.

Epilogue

As you can see 2008 had a lot to offer for Thrash. Agreed, this wasn't exactly an excellent year either, as there were far too many subpar releases too, but this wasn't only the case for Thrash metal to be honest. Nevertheless stating 2008 as a shitty year in Thrash is definitely - as one could tell from the article - a bridge too far.

Final reflection I want to make here is the overwhelming presence of USA Thrash metal bands in this article. Coincidence or not, it is clear that next to the Power metal scene, the USA is also lead runner when it comes to bringing forth quality Thrash metal.



...and a Thrashy New Year

As a bonus, let's conclude this article with a few (quite possible) prime Thrash releases to look out for in the new year, beginning with the big bands. Kreator are releasing their twelfth studio album soon, while Exodus will plausibly unleash the second part of their "Atrocity Exhibitions" this summer. And then of course there is Slayer: their tenth full-length is also tentatively scheduled for a 2009 summer release. And if we may believe Tom Araya, this would maybe mean Slayer's last-ever album - but let's stick to the facts and we'll just have to wait and see how this turns out. Other bands that have already named a new album title on top of a 2009 release date are Hirax, Flotsam & Jetsam, After All and Lamb Of God. And also Warbringer, Heathen, Suicidal Angels, Artillery and Defiance are set/rumored to release a new album due this year.

2009 looks quite promising on first sight. Let's just hope these forthcoming releases come up to the expectations.