Thrash Metal

Thrash metal is an extreme Metal genre characterized by blistering tempos, technical, palm-muted riffs, and shredding, rapid solos. Drummers usually utilize double-kick and skank beats, while vocals range from gruff shouts and harsh styles to melodic singing. In line with the intensity, lyrical themes span war, socio-political issues, Satanism, and protest. Thrash metal's origins date back to the early 1980s with NWOBHM bands like Angel Witch and Iron Maiden incorporating Punk Rock elements in place of Blues Rock influences found in classic Heavy Metal. Motörhead's raucous sound and Venom's Speed Metal riffs guided early thrash pioneers to more extreme territories. Hardcore Punk bands such as Discharge and Misfits helped inspire the drumming style and rawness of early thrash, which emerged by the mid-1980s, mainly in the United States, Germany and Brazil.