Every thrash metal band has had a patchy discography. It's a pretty limiting genre when you really think about it so there's not much innovation you can add to it without either alienating your old fans a la Metallica. In terms of bands staying true to thrash metal, I think Exodus deserve the prize because they soldiered through it, never compromosing their sound, despite some god awful albums (from what I've read, I'm not intimately familiar with Exodus so take this opinionated speech for what it is Exodus fans).
The reason I rate The Gathering so highly is not necessiarly because of the original members of Testament, but because anything Steve DiGiorgio touches turns to gold as far as I'm concerned, and Dave Lombardo isn't far behind him, although when it comes to metal drummers Gene Hoglan and Richard Christy will always go down as my favourites.
Also have you heard Overkill's newest album Ironbound (2010)?
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