Best Thrash Bands You Haven't Heard

I'm back with another selection of obscure metal goodies. This time, I'm cracking open a grimy crate of thrash. Pure, no-nonsense thrash. When I say thrash, I'm not talking about the new wave of American heavy metal that spawned metalcore, an ungodly trend that has brainwashed teenagers into believing that Trivium is a real thrash band. No, I'm talking about classic thrash. I haven't figured out why these bands are so obscure, but if you were weaned on Slayer and Megadeth as a child, you'll want to check these groups out as soon as humanly possible.

Forced Entry - This Seattle-bred trio bolstered their thrash with a hefty dose of technicality. 1989's "Uncertain Future" and 1991's "As Above, So Below" contain catchy, high-energy riff exercises that are actually fun to listen to. Forced Entry set themselves apart from the rest of the pack with a bizarre sense of humor. The dippy lyrics and songtitles don't take anything away from the music, though. Songs such as "Bone Crackin' Fever" and "Octoclops" are instantly likeable. If you can find either album for a reasonable price, I wouldn't hesitate to pick it up. As with most of the records that I'll be discussing today, you might want to give eBay a whirl.

Reverend - After David Wayne was kicked out of Metal Church in the late 80's, he formed a band with the guys left over from Heretic. Ironically, Heretic had disbanded because their lead throat (Mike Howe) left to replace Wayne in Metal Church! In any event, Reverend delivered dynamic speed/power metal in the same vein as early Anthrax and Painkiller-era Judas Priest. They released two full-length albums, both of which are rock solid. I would recommend starting with 1990's World Won't Miss You. It strikes a perfect balance between heavy groove and stately melodies. The guitar work is exceptional for a band that no one has heard of.

Unfortunately, David Wayne passed away in 2005 from severe injuries incurred during an auto accident. Reverend has since reformed with a different singer.

CycloneTemple - Formed from the ashes of female-fronted assassins Znowhite, Cyclone Temple is a curious band. They could have easily had a hit on MTV. Alas, they were a little too thrashy at a time when grunge kicked into full gear. Vocalist Brian Troch sounded like John Bush or maybe a less threatening Phil Anselmo. Musically, the riffs were thunderous and the vocals were melodic. On 1991's I Hate Therefore I Am, Cyclone Temple resembles Anthrax during the heavier bits and Alice in Chains during the quieter bits. A song like "Sister" is too good to be obscure.

A few line-up changes later, the band split after putting out 1994's impossible-to-find My Friend Lonely. If you own a Cyclone Temple album, you are cool.

Holy Terror - Out of the bands listed, this is my favorite. Holy Terror may not have been original, but you couldn't ask for anything more in a thrash band. The musicianship was stellar, the riffs were challenging, and the albums themselves are extremely listenable. In other words, they're never boring or repetitive. Of course, we only have two Holy Terror albums to listen to. The best bands always seem to break up far too soon. Supposedly, these guys have reformed, but they haven't made much noise. At any rate, start with 1988's Mind Wars.

Blood Tsunami - At press time, thrash is officially "in." Thanks, in part, to games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band, speed metal has seen a resurgence in recent years. There is one movement in particular that harkens back to the days of old with stunning accuracy. Retro thrashers such as Warbringer and Merciless Death aren't just nostalgia acts; they're "old school" to the bone. Blood Tsunami falls into this category, but they take throwback metal a step further by incorporating elements of black metal. As a result, they sound slightly fresher than their contemporaries. 2007's Thrash Metal is proof that you can't keep a good genre down.

Honorable mentions...Toxik, Heathen, Broken Bones, Uncle Slam, Znowhite, Realm, Xentrix, Cerebral Fix.