I completely forgot about Morbid Saint. I would pick them second to Sepultura and then Sacred Reich third.

/\ Amazing stuff

That is pretty good. I have to admit though that the album cover looks a bit like Eddie mixed with Farrah Fawcett.

Wasn't their choice, particularly. Management ****ed up the album something fierce.

What about Vio-lence? They may not have been the most musically ambitious group, but their first album is everything that thrash metal should be.

I think Vio-lence is okay. I'd take em over Sodom because I find Sodom to be utter trash except for Agent Orange.

Other then that I do not think Vio-lence holds a candle to any band on this list nor the other two I picked who are not on this list.

Yeesh, I'm finding I really liked 'Possessed'.

I'm going with Kreator on this one boys, Pleasure to kill is the shiiiiiiiiit.

I like Kreator, but I always thought their music was just a little too amusical sometimes. Sometimes.

About Testament - I liked Alex Skolnik's guitar more than the overall sound

This is a really tough one, looking through that list really demonstrates the depth of quality the genre has enjoyed through the years. I dont think I could choose between Sepultura, Sodom, Kreator, Annihilator and Testament in all honesty.

I went with Overkill, but only because there was no Coroner. Or Tourniquet, for that matter.

I went Sepultura. I was introduced to them via my cousin in the days of Kazaa, and he downloaded them to my computer. Really dig 'em.

I've only listened to a little of them and I thought their vocalist blew.

Overkill, Coroner, or Tourniquet?

Went with Exodus. Testament and Sepultra were close, but Exodus has always been a personal favorite.

My bad. Tourniquet.

Ah. Yeah, that would make sense, as they changed singers a few times, and they have always had a few singers in the band. For good-ish singing (not that great, but whatever) and hardcore shouting I would look at Pathogenic Ocular Dissonance. It's their best album, in my opinion.

I have to say that the fact that they're labelled as Christian metal on Wikipedia makes me suspicious of their quality as band.

Yeah. I know all Christian metal bands can't be ****. But the track record isn't very good so far.

Hey, I'm right with you on that one. Almost every Christian metal band I have listened to has been absolute crap.

But Tourniquet is different. They have actual skills as musicians, and aren't preachy in (most) of their albums. Seriously, just do yourselves a favor and listen to Pathogenic Ocular Dissonance. Even if you don't like it, at least it will show that they have talent.

Psycho Surgery and Vanishing Lessons are also fairly good albums. Not as good as POD (the album, not the band), but still.

But don't do Stop The Bleeding or anything after POD. They are just mediocre, unfortunately.

And does anyone else like Coroner? Seriously, seriously underrated German thrash trio. They know how to truly shred.

I've listened to a little Coroner. Again the vocals are a little shaky, but they have got some seriously unique, and gnarly as **** riffs. I need to listen to more of them.

BTW, who remembers Tankard. They were always my fav German thrash band.

Tankard are great as a curio and kudos to the band to keep peddling their love of beer but to mention them in this thread?

Far more bands worth mentioning than these.

I understand that they're goofy, and their music isn't exactly original. But they shred like hell, and they make some of the most entertaining thrash I've ever heard, even if some of that entertainment is from silliness.

Exhorder

I love Torniquet

Christian death metal is something of an oxymoron

My choice.

Would Pantera be considered thrash? I know they're technically classified as a groove metal band, but they have a lot of thrash elements, especially their earlie albums.

No, they`re distinctly groove metal.

Okay then.

Not really. Cowboys From Hell and Vulgar Display of Power have lots of elements of thrash. Not too far off to consider them thrash metal.

I'd have to agree. Pantera is obviously a groove metal band, but they are also incredibly thrashy.

who cares what sub-genre they're under? as long as they sound great

Groove metal derives from thrash metal so despite some similiarities it is distinctly different, its not as fast but certainly heavier.

Best way to listen to this difference is to listen to Sepultura, their earlier albums are thrash and the albums "Chaos AD and Roots" are groove. Their thrash material is fast and heavy, but their groove material is even heavier and more ferocious!

Early Sepultura is amazing, but one of my favourite non Big 4 is Dead Horse, amazing riffs ;)

Half the songs on CFH and VDOP were faster than most of the songs of Kill Em All which is considered a thrash classic.

Pick = Testament. Second Choice = Sepultura. Pantera = Groove. Pantera > This list IMO

...I want to slap you badly.

I want to show you a vulgar display of power

I've heard it, it's still nowhere near a lot of people on this list. Let alone better than the whole list.