Belgian speed/thrashers released a couple of singles this year promoting their upcoming 2027 album. Decent stuff, with a voice sounding like a mix between Halford and Sean Killian of Vio-Lence. Great songwriting too. Looking forward to the new full release, if their previous work is anything to go by.
This is old school death/thrash where it was still finding its roots. Think denim n leather on stage lol. This particular release is a mix of old material and new stuff, but the production keeps it all on the level. Got another instrumental in the mix too - updating my collection once more.
All in all, this won't blow anyone away with its really straightforward, cut and dry approach. It's not exactly surprising, as we've all heard this style before. It's competently done with intent to remain old school. Would probably have blown us away in like '89 or '91. But I was able to add a couple to the never ending list at least.
Lmao @ the metal goggles bit
If no one else got me, I know Serp got me. 🤝
This is probably stretching that crossover thrash sub-subgenre, as this band comfortably falls into ska punk, but we got here another track from this underground band, which just released their debut LP.
Limited on where info can be found about it, but at least it's on Tidal and Spotify, among others. Song I linked is probably the best candidate for this community outside of the one I previously made a post about. Makes heavy use of trumpets, which ain't gonna be for everyone here, but fuck it, I enjoyed it enough.
Some time ago I checked out their first EP and fell in love with it - creative songwriting, sick solos, energetic and fun vibe. Finally in 2026 these boys from Hungary release their first LP.
I guess they took the "pizza thrash" moniker too literally lol. Most of the album is pretty alright, but the song I'm linking is perfect, almost as if it was pulled right from that first EP.
Idk sometimes Chilli burns my gap.
Time for more of the other old Bay Area bands to get some time to shine with a new release! Been listening to the singles that trickled out over the past year, and some are meh and some are good but don't merit more than a few spins. So I think I'll just link a personal highlight for me. Starts off slow n heavy before kicking it up in tempo. Other highlights are a couple of the singles - the opener and Divided by Zero.
They still play thrash metal thankfully, but like with all other contemporaries, heavy amounts of groove have been incorporated within. At least the album isn't so predictable as others.
Immediately you'll notice the original singer is not here; he's retired from the industry, replaced by Norman Skinner. Vocal delivery is definitely different, more abrasive on the aggressive parts, softer during the quieter bits. There was one point though, I was thinking to myself, that he can match the cadence of older material nearly perfectly in Divided by Zero. Can't speak for the rest of the band, they preform as expected, though I really enjoyed some guitarwork during the middle of Psyclops.
Dude, I shit you not, I had completely forgotten about hearing these guys over a year ago. I just now remembered those posts you made lmao. I'm getting older aghh.
I feel like I stumbled onto another thrash classic of old. From the late 80's, from Bavaria, Germany, we have this speed/thrash metal band. Has hints of power metal, and progressive elements.
Sounds exactly like a mix between Denmark's Artillery and Flotsam & Jetsam. Blazing speedy guitars, tons of galloping riffs, face-melting solos, definitely got the energy of a classic great.
Linking my standout for this album, and will periodically sprinkle my picks from their discography in the coming weeks.
From Hackettstown, NJ we have this amateur thrash band. Debut LP released in 2023.
Got a lot going on towards the melodic side of things, got some pure heavy metal riffs sprinkled throughout the album, and got a.. terrible and inconsistent voice. The instrumentation is phenomenal, but I'd rather have Space Chaser's new vocalist over this one here lol.
Linking a standout for me, this edgy piece that varies in songwriting through its 6 minute playtime, and finishes with a bit of black metal.
Very energetic power/thrash band from Atlanta, also dips pretty heavily into melodic death metal. Bringing to you their debut in 2019.
Throughout the album the voice performed is the usual operatic highs known in power metal, but also features growling in no small amount. The song I linked is the best of the album, the first single they released, after their demos.
The music is similar enough to Children of Bodom, maybe even Wintersun; Metal Archives lists DragonForce and Iced Earth (🤮) as similar artists, so who can really say.
A curiosity from my youth, this was the album in which I discovered Metal Church, right in the middle of their career, having gone through many lineup changes and sound variations, but still did their own thing, no gimmicks or anything like that. Of course later I went on to enjoy their first three albums and immensely enjoyed Hanging in the Balance (despite the album art lol). Ronny Munroe as vocalist here does a decent job I feel, but I do miss Mike Rowe, RIP.
This particular song creeps its way back into my head from time to time with it's atmospheric march in triplets, plodding along menacingly. Just have to spin it to get them ear worms out, even though I skip the majority of this album. Mirror of Lies - the song after this one on the record - is pretty decent too, for at least picking up the pace with a great solo.
So wish Heathen would come up with something... GOOD lol. Like Evolution of Chaos, or something else, idk.
These latest releases in the technical death/thrash style have really been spoiling me; this year has been fantastic for fans of Atheist, early Sadus, Death, etc.
The debut from this band from Miami plays a very bass guitar-focused technical death/thrash, and is definitely for fans of the above. Just look at the band logo lol, they definitely wear their inspirations on their sleeves.
This seems like a cut above a lot of others though, as this music sounds good, not just aimlessly noodling around. The production is of the era of this band's inspirations as well, which is fuckin mint as hell.
Once again I'm linking the title track, but seriously give the whole thing a listen - it's only 30ish mins long. Other highlights are Machinery of War and Formed Through Control.
After some actual research, this album is coming out in March 2027! According to their record label.
New single from old Bay Area guard. Kinda different sound with the guitar, but the same explosive melodic solos shine through. Similarly, David White's vocal delivery - slightly different at first listen, but still the same. Decently solid.
Now this is a class act. Fantastic shock rock in thrash metal form. One of the best of classic Gwar, so good they revisited the material in their latest EP. Upon re-spinning this awesome album, I have to note the bass guitar really stands out, love that sound.
According to Metal Archives, these 2 songs are listed on a release sometime in November of this year, which would be rad as fuck, but idk for sure yet without more research.
Edit: seems i'm mistaken, i cant remember where i saw it lol
Bold of them to open the album with this subpar vocal performance lol. Yea I miss the previous singer something fierce, he had so much energy! At least the instrumentation is fantastic.
Thanks for making me aware they made a new album!
I'm noticing a common theme with newer thrash coming out across the world, roughly half of the cases nowadays are not just inspired mostly by Bay Area stuff, but attempt to add to that style. Of course I'm pulling this 50% number out of my ass, but it just feels that way lol.
So much detail and many layers, 100% fitting for the subject material the album's about and lots of homages to different sci-fi works. It really is one of the best in recent memory.
Haha yea it makes sense you'd know it, you're usually all over the German scene. Also, thanks for all your comments, super appreciate em! 🍻
RIP grandfather of black metal. 🍺