A big four for the new wave of thrash scene? And an above ground, as well as an underground big four? Damn, I must be pretty crazy huh? We all know that there will probably never be an established NEW big four for this generation of thrash bands, but it's still fun to let loose and come up with ideas for suitable bands I think.
I've been a witness to countless discussions about who would be in the new big four. I will have to say that most of the choices doesn't make much sense. "Oh, I would say Evile, Tamuya Thrash Tribe, Bonded By Blood, and Thrashin' In The Streets are good candidates!" Yeah, that's what one has to put up with. Tamuya Thrash Tribe??? (The worst part is that this is actually a real band, and not a very good one at that) Really? Oh well.
So I was talking with my good buddy Fritz from the Axis of Metal Webzine, and he just randomly came up with the idea. I of course said sure, let's get it on right now! And here we are... Pay attention thrashers!
“Above Ground” Big 4
Now with Earache acquiring the Heavy Artillery roster, I personally believe Vektor is destined to be the next big thing in metal. They’ve already got the thrashers in their pocket, and mark my words; world domination is in the cards for these boys. Their addition to the Big Four of the New Wave was a no brainer. [Paul]
Their second release, Time Is Up, cemented their presence in the scene and proved to the world that this was a band destined for greatness. Time Is Up showcased the bands forward thinking mentality as they chose a more modern sounding production value; this set them apart from the strictly retro-worshipping bands (the drums in particular were especially well done). Time Is Up felt powerful and engulfing – a quality most bands these days lack, it was truly a treat for the ears.
But barring all of that, there is no way they should be in the big four, right? Yeaaaaaaa … [Alex]
Toxic Holocaust, in the early days, swung more to the blackened side of things, and then evolved as each album passed. Many complain about missing the old Toxic Holocaust and others prefer the new soundingHolocaust. Personally, I think it’s all good. It’s a solid discography with many anthemic songs that will cause mayhem and carnage in the live realm – believe me, I’ve seen two live Toxic Holocaust shows.
Either way you choose to sway, Toxic Holocaust’s career is an impressive one, and with no signs of stopping anytime soon, their place in the New Wave Big 4 is mandatory. [Paul]
Warbringer may not be my favorite band, but a lot of their material has a lot of worth to it, and it’s no surprise as to why they are as big as they are. I remember not long ago when I was looking forward to Worlds Torn Asunder, and I was not disappointed even though the band decided to go in a very slightly more modern direction.
It’s obvious as to why they are included in this Big 4 list, due to the reactions from the scene and how they’ve toured tirelessly and proven themselves time and time again. Again, Warbringer may not be my favorite band, but their worth is high and their place in the resurgence is more than welcomed. [Alex]
Underground Big 4
I can’t remember which song it was that set me back on this righteous path, but whatever track it was, I had been made a LK fan. Quickly diving through their discography like a raccoon on meth, I was hooked. Recently, in September of this year, LK released their newest offering “Born Of The Bomb”. Barring all their other stellar work, this is THE defining LK album. I won’t go into great detail about it here, but if you click here, you can read my full review of it. But what you do need to know is that, LK has been DIY since 2004 and have gotten progressively better with each new release.
Maybe next time round, they’ll be in the above tier. LK rules and their spot on the Big 4 is rightfully deserved. [Paul]
When The Call was released this year, they broke through, and became my absolute favorite thrash band. This release truly proved the bands capabilities, and showcased for the right ears, their dynamic approach to thrash metal.
Overall, Angelus Apatrida is a band that has been digging away in the underground, and in my opinion, in the years to come, more people will catch on to their unique and dynamic brand of thrash metal. This is modern thrash with a taste of the old school purveyed by a band that is now at the top of their game. Be on the lookout for these guys. [Alex]
Things really started to heat up for Violator after their 2004 EP, Violent Mosh, and the buzz on message boards was electric. After that in 2006, and 2010 Violator released two full lengths, Chemical Assualt andAnnihilation Process respectively, and both of those releases once again were taken extremely well by the thrash community.
Personally, Violator is one of my favorites for their absolutely no bullshit approach to thrash metal. This is ten-thousand mile an hour buzzsaw thrash metal that could easily cause mass murder in the live arena. Violator is also one of the originating bands of the movement, and given their precision in execution, their spot on the Big 4 is obligatory. [Paul]
Rezet is not your normal retro-thrash band; they bring much more to the table with their songwriting. Their debut, Have gun Will Travel, sent a message of uniqueness to the thrash scene. The follow up, Civic Nightmare, continued on this same path, and furthered their creative take on thrash.
These two albums made them an obvious choice for the underground Big 4. Rezet is a band that any and all thrashers need to consume in mass quantities. [Alex]