The Best Thrash Metal Albums of All Time

Kreator’s fifth studio album was released in 1990 under the label Epic Records. This is the album that brought Kreator to the thrash metal community. After the release of this album, Kreator started to expand out to other musical influences and incorporate them into their music.

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9. Exodus – Bonded By Blood

Exodus’ debut album was released in 1985 from San Francisco, California. This was the release of a great band and helped launch the wave of thrash metal. Exodus has had many other great albums but this is what paved the road.

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8. Testament – The Formation Of Damnation

The Formation Of Damnation was the ninth studio album that Testament released in their long career. The album in 2008 has more of their original roots but includes more maturity in their musical structure.

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7. Machine Head – The Blackening

Machine Head started in 1991 but one of their best albums came in 2007. The Blackening, which was their sixth album release, came with more energy, passion and became one of their best selling albums in their career. Awesome guitars riffs, by the way.

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6. Anthrax – Spreading The Disease

Anthrax, all I can say about this album is that it has one of the best trash metal songs of all time. That’s right it’s a “Madhouse.” For those who don’t know what I’m talking about this Classic Video of the Day will help you understand. 

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5. Sepultura – Arise

After getting a few other albums out of the way, Sepultura released Arise in 1991. This was one the first time that their albums were featured in main stream heavy metal magazines like Metal Forces and Rock Hard. This showed the metal community that Brazilians know how to bring the metal.

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4. Megadeth – Rust In Peace

Everyone knows how big of a dick Dave Mustaine can be, but producer Mike Clink held it together and produced one of their best albums in 1989. Even with the long introduction to every song you can still bare with it to hear some amazing trash metal music.

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3. Slayer – Reign In Blood

Reign In Blood was Slayer’s third studio album released in 1986 and should always be in the top 3 of any thrash metal album list. For those who can’t remember them, think Guitar Hero 3, Red, Blue, Orange, Blue, Yellow, Red, Green, Green, Green, Green, Green, Green, Green, Green, Green, Green, Red, Yellow, ect.

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2. Pantera – Cowboys From Hell

You can pick any of the Pantera albums and put them in your top trash metal list. For this list we are going with Cowboys From Hell. Released in 1990 and was the fifth album in legacy. Just play it on your record player, cassette, cd player or whatever you have and sit back and enjoy.

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1. Metallica – Master Of Puppets

Like Pantera, you can choose a lot of different albums from Metallica’s repertoire, but today and today only Master of Puppets is going to be top of our list. Master of Puppets was released in 1986 and was their third album release. This was also the last album they did with Cliff Burton, who died in a bus crash touring in Sweden. Metallica will continue their dominating music career across the world and set the bar for all heavy metal bands.

What are your picks for the best thrash metal albums of all time?