Last year was the first year I took the massive amounts of thrash music that smothers my inbox and credit card statements and ranked it into a top thirty list. It was a grueling endeavor that consumed most of my time in the latter part of November and early December, but I was able to sift through a ton of material to give you, oh dear readers of The Metal Observer, a sort of snap shot of the year. 2014 was no different.
Just under 200 full-length albums sat on my listening queue for the better part of six weeks as I went back and gave a quick listen to the moshing staples of the year. This year’s list (like last year’s list) is something of a mixed bag of classic bands, new bands, and underrated bands. This year however, there seemed to be surge of sophomore records that massively jumped in quality and lifted many bands (who just missed the cut in years past) to make it. There are also a few of the outliers in the list of bands that may not be fully thrash, but had enough of a thrash foundation or influence to make the list. As a whole though, thrash this year was a mixed bag and while many of the diligent acts showcased their best there were definitely some disappointments to be found too.
So without further ado, here is my official cuts for Top 30 Thrash Albums of 2014!
30. Morti Viventi – The Day the Dead Return…
29. Random Revenge – Justice of Chaos
28. Exodia – Hellbringer
27. Witchaven – Blood Sacrifice
26. Cavalera Conspiracy – Pandemonium
25. Atomic Head – March of the Urban Zombies
24. Prematory – Corrupting Influence
23. Nocturnal Breed – Napalm Nights
22. Lost Society – Terror Hungry
21. Tormenter – Prophetic Deceiver
20. Necrodeath – The 7 Deadly Sins
19. Iron Reagan – The Tyranny of Will
18. Reactory – High on Radiation
17. Chronosphere – Embracing Oblivion
16. Dust Bolt – Awake the Riot
15. Overkill – White Devil Armory
14. Revocation – Deathless
13. Insanity Alert – Insanity Alert
12. Dismemberment – Embrace the Dark
11. Rigor Mortis – Slaves to the Grave
10. Goatwhore – Constricting Rage of the Merciless
09. Burning Nitrum – Molotov
08. Hirax – Immortal Legacy
07. Game Over – Burst into the Quiet
06. Shrapnel – The Virus Conspires
05. Legion of the Damned – Ravenous Plague
04. The Haunted – Exit Wounds
03. Exmortus – Slave to the Sword
02. Exodus – Blood In Blood Out
01. Killer Be Killed – Killer Be Killed
Just for shits and giggles, here is my top five biggest thrash disappointments of the year too.
BIGGEST THRASH DISAPPOINTMENTS:
- One Machine – The Distortion of Lies and the Overdriven Truth
- Sanctuary – The Year the Sun Died
- Nervosa – Victim of Yourself
- Iced Earth – Plagues of Babylon
- Hatriot – Dawn of a New Centurion
What do you thrashers think? There is only so much time in the year for me to hunt down and listen to so much thrash, but was there a few releases I missed? You should dump some toxic waste and let me know if there is something I missed or should have rated differently!
Also, if you are a thrash band looking for a place for your album to be reviewed and/or considered for this year end list – feel free to email us over at digitalpromos@metal-observer.com!
