# List of thrash metal bands

Various bands have played thrash metal at some point of their career. The genre evolved in the early 1980s from combining the drum beats of hardcore punk with the guitar style of the new wave of British heavy metal. It emerged partially as a reaction to the more conventional and widely acceptable glam metal, a less aggressive, pop music-infused heavy metal subgenre which appeared simultaneously.
Four American bands, Anthrax, Megadeth, Metallica, and Slayer, are credited with popularizing the genre, earning them the title of the "Big Four of Thrash". In Germany, Destruction, Kreator, Sodom, and Tankard, led the Teutonic thrash metal scene, garnering the nickname "The Big Four of Teutonic Thrash". The Clash of the Titans tour, which featured Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax, Testament, and Suicidal Tendencies, is considered to be the genre's pinnacle, after which thrash metal saw a decline in popularity throughout the 1990s. Thrash metal has seen a resurgence in recent times, with many of the older bands returning to their roots with their new releases. A new generation of thrash metal bands emerged in the early 2000s, drawing lyrical and visual inspiration from the older groups.
Thrash metal was an inspiration for later extreme genres such as death metal and black metal. This list also includes certain bands which belong to the first wave of black metal. These bands essentially played thrash metal with a heavy emphasis on Satanic and occult themes in the lyrics and imagery. Over the years, thrash metal has developed a few subgenres of its own, such as crossover thrash and groove metal.
* 0–9
* A
* B
* C
* D
* E
* F
* G
* H
* I
* J
* K
* L
* M
* N
* O
* P
* Q
* R
* S
* T
* U
* V
* W
* X
* Y
* Z
* See also
* References

## 0–9

| Band | Formed | Origin | Note | |
| 3 Inches of Blood | 1999 | Canada | | 3 Inches of Blood at Reds, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, 2005 |

## A

| Band | Formed | Origin | |
| Acid Drinkers | 1986 | Poland | Tomasz "Titus" Pukacki of Acid Drinkers |
| Acid Reign | 1985 | United Kingdom | |
| Aftermath | 1985 | United States | |
| Agent Steel | 1984 | United States | |
| Am I Blood | 1992 | Finland | |
| Anacrusis | 1986 | United States | |
| Angel Dust | 1984 | Germany | |
| Angel of Sodom | 2009 | Finland | |
| Angelus Apatrida | 2000 | Spain | |
| Angkor Wat | 1986 | United States | |
| A.N.I.M.A.L. | 1993 | Argentina | |
| Annihilator | 1984 | Canada | Jeff Waters and Dave Padden of Annihilator at Wacken Open Air, 2013 |
| Anthrax | 1981 | United States | Anthrax at Wacken Open Air, 2013 |
| Artillery | 1982 | Denmark | Artillery, 2010 |
| Atomkraft | 1979 | United Kingdom | |
| Atrophy | 1986 | United States | |
| Aura Noir | 1993 | Norway | Aura Noir at Inferno Festival, Oslo, 2011 |
| Austrian Death Machine | 2008 | United States | |

## B

| Band | Formed | Origin | |
| Bathory | 1983 | Sweden | |
| Battlecross | 2003 | United States | Battlecross at Rock im Park festival, 2014 |
| Believer | 1986 | United States | |
| Bio-Cancer | 2010 | Greece | |
| Black Obelisk (Russian: Чёрный обелиск) | 1986 | Russia |
| Blind Illusion | 1979 | United States | |
| Blood Feast | 1985 | United States | |
| Blood Tsunami | 2004 | Norway | Pete Evil of Blood Tsunami, London, 2007 |
| Body Count | 1990 | United States | Ice-T with Body Count, Prague, 2006 |
| Bonded by Blood | 2005 | United States | |
| Brotality | 2016 | United States | |
| Bulldozer | 1980 | Italy | Alberto Contini of Bulldozer at Tuska Open Air, 2011 |
| Bullet for My Valentine | 1998 | United Kingdom | |

## C

| Band | Formed | Origin | |
| Carnal Forge | 1997 | Sweden | Carnal Forge, 2009 |
| Carnivore | 1982 | United States | Carnivore at Wacken Open Air, 2006 |
| Celtic Frost | 1984 | Switzerland | Celtic Frost at Tuska Open Air, 2006 |
| Cerebral Fix | 1986 | United Kingdom | |
| Coroner | 1983 | Switzerland | |
| Crash | 1991 | South Korea | |
| Criminal | 1991 | Chile | Anton Reisenegger of Criminal, live in 2013. |
| Cripper | 2005 | Germany | |
| The Crucified | 1984 | United States | |
| Crumbsuckers | 1982 | United States | Crumbsuckers album rehearsal, 1989 |
| Cryptic Shift | 2013 | United Kingdom | |
| Cryptic Slaughter | 1984 | United States | |
| Cyclone Temple | 1989 | United States | |

## D

| Band | Formed | Origin | |
| Darkane | 1998 | Sweden | Darkane lineup |
| Dark Angel | 1981 | United States | Ron Rinehart of Dark Angel, 2014 |
| Dead Brain Cells | 1986 | Canada | |
| Death Angel | 1982 | United States | Death Angel at Sauna Open Air, Tampere, Finland, 2010 |
| Deceased | 1984 | United States | |
| Defiance | 1985 | United States | |
| Defleshed | 1991 | Sweden | |
| Deliverance | 1985 | United States | |
| Demiricous | 2001 | United States | |
| Demolition Hammer | 1986 | United States | |
| Deströyer 666 | 1994 | Australia | Deströyer 666 at Hole in the Sky, 2007 |
| Destruction | 1982 | Germany | Destruction at Festival AlternaVigo, 2009 |
| Dorsal Atlântica | 1981 | Brazil | |
| Dorso | 1984 | Chile | |
| D.R.I. | 1982 | United States | |

## E

| Band | Formed | Origin | |
| Early Man | 2003 | United States | Early Man, 2007 |
| Embodyment | 1993 | United States | |
| Epidemic | 1986 | United States | |
| Eudoxis | 1984 | Canada | |
| Evildead | 1987 | United States | |
| Evile | 2004 | United Kingdom | Evile, Madrid, 2008 |
| Exciter | 1978 | Canada | |
| Exhorder | 1985 | United States | Exhorder at Turok Open Air in Germany, 2018 |
| Exodus | 1979 | United States | Exodus, 2012 |
| The Exploited | 1978 | United Kingdom | The Exploited in 2018 |
| Extol | 1993 | Norway | |
| Extrema | 1986 | Italy |
| Exumer | 1985 | Germany | |

## F

| Band | Formed | Origin | |
| Fallout | 1979 | United States |
| Flotsam and Jetsam | 1981 | United States | Jason Ward of Flotsam and Jetsam at Metalmania, 2008 |
| Forbidden | 1985 | United States |
| Forced Entry | 1983 | United States |

## G

| Band | Formed | Origin | |
| Gama Bomb | 2002 | Northern Ireland | |
| Generation Kill | 2008 | United States | |
| God Forbid | 1996 | United States | God Forbid at The Hague, The Netherlands, 2009 |
| Grinder | 1987 | Germany | |
| Gwar | 1984 | United States | Gwar at Arena Joondalup, 2010 |

## H

| Band | Formed | Origin | |
| Hämatom | 2004 | Germany | Hämatom at Rockharz Open Air 2019 |
| Hand of Fire | 2010 | United States | |
| Hatesphere | 1998 | Denmark | Hatesphere at Hamburg Metal Days, 2014 |
| The Haunted | 1996 | Sweden | The Haunted, Karlstad, 2007 |
| Hatchet | 2006 | United States | |
| Havok | 2004 | United States | Havok performing in 2013 |
| Heathen | 1984 | United States | Kragen Lum and Jason Viebrooks of Heathen at Helfest, 2013 |
| Hellhammer | 1981 | Switzerland | |
| Helstar | 1982 | United States | Helstar in Aschaffenburg, Germany, 2009 |
| Hermética | 1987 | Argentina | |
| Hirax | 1982 | United States | Hirax in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2009 |
| Hobbs' Angel of Death | 1987 | Australia | |
| Holocausto | 1985 | Brazil | |
| Holy Moses | 1980 | Germany | Sabina Classen of Holy Moses, 2005 |
| Horcas | 1988 | Argentina | |
| Hyades | 1996 | Italy | |

## I

| Band | Formed | Origin | |
| Iced Earth | 1984 | United States | |
| Infernäl Mäjesty | 1986 | Canada | |
| Intruder | 1987 | United States | Intruder, Germany, 2004 |
| Iron Angel | 1983 | Germany | |

## K

| Band | Formed | Origin | |
| Karmant | 2016 | Bangladesh | Karmant at Bangladesh Thrashfest 2023 |
| Kayser | 2004 | Sweden |
| Kekal | 1995 | Indonesia | Jeff Arwadi of Kekal in the Netherlands, 2004 |
| Korrozia Metalla | 1984 | Russia |
| Korzus | 1983 | Brazil |
| Kreator | 1982 | Germany | Kreator at Kraków, Poland, 2009 |
| Kraptor | 2007 | Venezuela |
| Kryptos | 1998 | India | Kryptos at Harley Rock Riders Season III, India, 2012 |

## L

| Band | Formed | Origin | |
| Lȧȧz Rockit | 1982 | United States | |
| Lair of the Minotaur | 2003 | United States | |
| Lamb of God | 1994 | United States | |
| Lawnmower Deth | 1987 | United Kingdom | |
| Lazarus A.D. | 2005 | United States | |
| Legion of the Damned | 2004 | Netherlands | Harold Gielen of Legion of the Damned at Metalcamp, 2009 |
| Lethal | 1988 | Argentina | |
| Liege Lord | 1984 | United States |
| Living Death | 1980 | Germany | |
| Living Sacrifice | 1989 | United States | |
| Loudblast | 1986 | France | |
| Lost Society | 2010 | Finland | |
| Lyzanxia | 1996 | France | |
| Lich King | 2004 | United States | |

## M

| Band | Formed | Origin | |
| Machine Head | 1991 | United States | Phil Demmel of Machine Head, 2009 |
| Malefice | 2003 | United Kingdom | Dale Butler (left) of Malefice, with a fan, 2010 |
| Mantic Ritual | 2004 | United States | |
| Massakre | 1982 | Chile | |
| Master | 1987 | Russia | Master, DMC Fest, Ufa, 2011 |
| Megadeth | 1983 | United States | Megadeth, 2010 |
| Mekong Delta | 1985 | Germany | Mekong Delta at Kilkim žaibu XII festival, Lithuania, 2011 |
| Meliah Rage | 1986 | United States | |
| Memorain | 1999 | Greece | |
| Messiah | 1984 | Switzerland | |
| Metal Allegiance | 2014 | United States | |
| Metal Church | 1980 | United States | Kurdt Vanderhoof of Metal Church, Germany, 2005 |
| Metallica | 1981 | United States | Kirk Hammett and James Hetfield of Metallica at London, England, 2008 |
| M.O.D. | 1986 | United States | |
| Mokoma | 1996 | Finland | Santtu Hämäläinen and Marko Annala of Mokoma at Myötätuulirock, Finland, 2011 |
| Morbid Saint | 1982 | United States | |
| Mordred | 1984 | United States | |
| Mortal Sin | 1985 | Australia | Mortal Sin at Jalometalli Metal Music Festival, Finland, 2008 |
| Mortification | 1987 | Australia | |
| Municipal Waste | 2001 | United States | Municipal Waste at Finnish Metal Expo, Helsinki, Finland 2008 |
| Mutilator | 1985 | Brazil | |

## N

| Band | Formed | Origin | |
| Nailbomb | 1994 | United States | Nailbomb, 2011 |
| Nasty Savage | 1983 | United States | |
| Necrodeath | 1985 | Italy | Necrodeath at Korxefest, Genoa, Italy, 2010 |
| Necronomicon | 1983 | Germany | Necronomicon promotional photo, 2013 |
| Nevermore | 1991 | United States | Warrel Dane of Nevermore in Dinkelsbühl, 2005 |
| Nervosa | 2010 | Brazil | |
| Nocturnal Breed | 1996 | Norway | |
| Nuclear | 1998 | Chile | |
| Nuclear Assault | 1984 | United States | |

## O

| Band | Formed | Origin | |
| One Bad Pig | 1985 | United States | |
| Onslaught | 1983 | United Kingdom | |
| Outrage | 1982 | Japan | |
| Overkill | 1980 | United States | Overkill at Metalmania, 2008 |

## P

| Band | Formed | Origin | |
| Pantera | 1981 | United States | Dimebag Darrell of Pantera, 1990s |
| Paradox | 1986 | Germany | |
| Pentagram Chile | 1985 | Chile | |
| Pestilence | 1986 | Netherlands | Patrick Mameli and Jeroen Paul Thesseling of Pestilence, 2011 |
| Possessed | 1983 | United States | Possessed at Jalometalli Metal Music Festival, 2008 |
| Prong | 1986 | United States | Tommy Victor of Prong, 2008 |
| Prototype | 1994 | United States | |

## R

| Band | Formed | Origin | |
| Rage | 1984 | Germany | Victor Smolski, Peavy Wagner, and André Hilgers of Rage, 2008, Milan, Italy |
| RAMP | 1989 | Portugal | |
| Ratos de Porão | 1981 | Brazil | Ratos de Porão at Virada Cultural, 2007 |
| Raven | 1974 | United Kingdom | Raven, 2008 |
| Razor | 1984 | Canada | Razor in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 2008 |
| Recon | 1986 | United States |
| Revocation | 2006 | United States | |
| Rifftera | 2010 | Finland | |
| Rigor Mortis | 1983 | United States | |
| Ruin | 2005 | United States | |

## S

| Band | Formed | Origin | |
| S7N | 2009 | Mexico | |
| Sabbat | 1985 | United Kingdom | Andy Sneap and Simon "Jack Hammer" Jones of Sabbat at London Scala, London, 2008 |
| Sabbat | 1983 | Japan |
| Sacrament | 1989 | United States | |
| Sacred Oath | 1984 | United States |
| Sacred Reich | 1985 | United States | Sacred Reich at Rock Hard Festival, 2014 |
| Sacrifice | 1983 | Canada | Sacrifice in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 2009 |
| Sadus | 1984 | United States | |
| Sarcófago | 1985 | Brazil |
| Sanatorium | 1987 | Macedonia | |
| Sepultura | 1984 | Brazil | Andreas Kisser of Sepultura at Virada Cultural, 2008 |
| Seventh Angel | 1987 | United Kingdom | Ian Arkley of Seventh Angel at Blast of Eternity, 2012 |
| Sex Machineguns | 1989 | Japan | |
| Shadows Fall | 1995 | United States | Brian Fair of Shadows Fall at Turock Open Air, Essen, Germany, 2014 |
| Short Sharp Shock | 2005 | United Kingdom | |
| Skeletonwitch | 2003 | United States | Skeletonwitch in Munich, 2014 |
| Skin Chamber | 1991 | United States | |
| Skrew | 1990 | United States | |
| Slayer | 1981 | United States | Slayer at Hellfest, 2007 |
| Sodom | 1981 | Germany | Tom Angelripper of Sodom at Hole in the Sky, 2009 |
| Soulfly | 1997 | United States | Soulfiy in 2005 |
| Stam1na | 1996 | Finland | |
| Stone | 1985 | Finland | |
| Stormtroopers of Death | 1985 | United States | |
| Sturmgeist | 2002 | Norway | |
| Suicidal Angels | 2001 | Greece | Nick Melissourgos of Suicidal Angels, 2012 |
| Suicidal Tendencies | 1981 | United States | Mike Muir of Suicidal Tendencies, 2011 |
| Susperia | 1998 | Norway | |
| Swashbuckle | 2005 | United States | Commodore Redrum of Swashbuckle at Paganfest America 2009 |
| Sylosis | 2000 | United Kingdom | Sylosis at Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, 2009 |

## T

| Band | Formed | Origin | |
| Tankard | 1982 | Germany | Tankard at "South of Heaven", Betong, Oslo, Norway |
| Terror 2000 | 1999 | Sweden |
| Testament | 1983 | United States | Testament at Sweden Rock Festival, 2008 |
| Thanatos | 1984 | Netherlands | |
| Tonic Breed | 2006 | Norway | Patrik Svendsen of Tonic Breed, 2012 |
| Tourniquet | 1989 | United States | Ted Kirkpatrick of Tourniquet, 2007 |
| Torturer | 1989 | Chile | |
| Toxic Holocaust | 1999 | United States | Phil Zeller of Toxic Holocaust, Zal Ozhidaniya, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 2014 |
| Toxik | 1985 | United States | |
| Transmetal | 1987 | Mexico | |
| Tremonti | 2011 | United States | |
| Trivium | 2000 | United States | Matt Heafy of Trivium at With Full Force festival, 2011 |

## U

| Band | Formed | Origin |
| Ultimatum | 1992 | United States |
| United | 1981 | Japan |
| Unlocking the Truth | 2007 | United States |

## V

| Band | Formed | Origin | |
| Vader | 1983 | Poland |
| Vektor | 2002 | United States | Vektor in Hamilton, Ontario, 2012 |
| Vengeance Rising | 1987 | United States | |
| Venom | 1979 | United Kingdom | Venom at Hellfest, 2008 |
| Venom Inc. | 2015 | United Kingdom | |
| Violator | 2002 | Brazil | |
| Vio-lence | 1985 | United States | |
| Virus | 1986 | United Kingdom | |
| Voivod | 1982 | Canada | Voivod at Masters of Rock, Vizovice, Poland, 2009 |
| Vulcano | 1981 | Brazil | |

## W

| Band | Formed | Origin | |
| Warbringer | 2004 | United States | Warbringer in Rostock, Germany, 2012 |
| Watchtower | 1982 | United States | |
| Whiplash | 1984 | United States | |
| Witchery | 1997 | Sweden | |
| Wrust | 2000 | Botswana | |

## X

| Band | Formed | Origin | Note | |
| Xentrix | 1985 | United Kingdom | | Paul MacKenzie of Xentrix at Headbangers Open Air, 2014 |

## Y

| Band | Formed | Origin | Note |
| Yyrkoon | 1995 | France | |

## Z

| Band | Formed | Origin | Note |
| Znöwhite | 1982 | United States | |
| Zoetrope | 1978 | United States | |