TRIPLE THRASH TREAT 2

Thrash Metal is a genre most people within the metal scene have a relationship with. It’s almost like it’s the happy metal in extreme metal, thrash metal does make you happy. The genre originated in the United States and Germany in the early 80’s, and in contrast to contemporary heavy metal, here the riff where the main focus. The scholars believe it was Metal Church and Overkill who was the first to create thrash metal songs. It’s still Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax and Megadeth who is seen as the 4 major thrash metal bands.

When people talk about the so-called "Big Four" in thrash metal, which as Slayer, Metallica, Anthrax and Megadeth, it is often related to the Bay Area in San Francisco, USA. What many do not think of is that none of these bands really originated from the Bay Area. Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer were formed in Los Angeles while Anthrax came from New York.

The earliest documented roots of the Bay Area thrash scene date back to the formation of Exodus in 1980. Other bands originated from the Bay Area thrash metal scene were Death Angel, Defiance, Testament, Forbidden, Sadus, Heathen and Vio-Lence. Possessed and Autopsy, a couple of well-known death metal bands also originated from the Bay Area.

Let’s start this second edition of the Triple Thrash Treat with this wonderful video with Slayer performing "Hell Awaits" back in 1985.

 

In this edition of Triple Thrash Treat, we have the honor of presenting the answers from 3 musicians, all well known in the Norwegian thrash metal scene. We have a youngster, we have a veteran and we have one who was part of a thrash metal institution 20 years ago.

Sindre Solem, vocalist of Nekromantheon and Obliteration.
Sverre Dæhlie, vocalist and guitarist of Audiopain.
Reidar "Raggen" Westin, drummer of the legendary Norwegian thrash metal band Equinox.

As usual we ask them the same 5 questions and here is what these 3 fine thrash metal musicians came up with.

Sindre Solem
(Nekromantheon)

What is your favorite thrash metal riff?

Shit that’s a tough one. I’ll have to say the "mid-riff" in Dark Angel’s "Hunger of the Undead". It’s perhaps the first death metal styled riff also, but it’s so fucking good that I’m gonna go for that one anyway. Favorite strait up thrash metal riff is second riff in Destruction  "Bestial Invasion".. Hell, so many great riffs…

What was your first gig with a thrash metal band?

That has to be Slayer in Oslo Spectrum when they played with Slipknot (crapcake). Great gig, shitty venue. Got to see them at Rockefeller a year later. That was WAY BETTER. Legendary in fact.

Who has, in your opinion, the best thrash metal screams?

Tom Araya is of course the master of the high pitched thrash metal screams, but I think perhaps Don Doty sounds even more insane. Honorable mention : Apollyon, Keith Pires (Fantom Warior), Jeff Becerra, Snake, Lemmy (from Violent Force, not Motörhead, haha) St. Salsten and Darren Travis… To many to mention.

And who is the best thrash metal riffer?

Piggy (Voivod) because of his innovative, sick yet rocking riffs.
But there are so many great thrash metal riffers out there, way too many to mention. Thrash is all about the riffs!

Finally, what is your favorite thrash metal album?

A shit, this one is HARD. Today I’m gonna say Sepultura "Schizophrenia" because of the insane production. But my fave thrash album changes every day.
Favorite thrash demo is Fantom Warrior – Morbid Invasion.

 

What is your favorite thrash metal riff?

I think it would have to be one of the opening riffs in "The Final Massacre" by Vader. Vader might not be the traditional thrash act, but that riff is so thrash! It’s great how it starts out being sort of an intro, and then leaps into full throttle blast. It’s a shame it only last for some seconds…

What was your first gig with a thrash metal band?

It depends on how you see it. Besides those local acts I guess Equinox, Metallica or Anthrax was my first experience in this matter.  

Who has, in your opinion, the best thrash metal screams?

Paul Baloff used to. Completly unpredictable, and with an attitude that could kill. Priceless!

And who is the best thrash metal riffer?

Hard one… Mike (Destruction), Piggy (Voivod), Gary (Exodus) and even Hetfield (Metallica) in the old days to name a few. I don’t have one definitive answer to this one. I don’t care so much for the technique side of music, but rather the compositions, so I have never dwelled much about such…

Finally, what is your favorite thrash metal album?

‘Reign In Blood’ ! Plain and simple. Thrash metal can’t be done better than that, no matter how standard that choise might be. There is not one single dull moment on that record, and it has stood the test of time. 

 

What is your favorite thrash metal riff?

It’s really hard to pick just one favorite thrash metal riff. There are many great riffbands to choose from like Destruction, Mercyful Fate, Coroner and Slayer.

Although I go for one of the riffs on "No Remorse" from Metallica’s "Kill ’em all".

In my eyes this album, together with Mercyful Fate’s "Melissa", included the toughest riffing ever heard at that time (1983).

What was your first gig with a thrash metal band?

I guess my first gig with a band defined as thrash metal was Metallica at the Roskilde festival in 1986.

I was standing on first row together with Grim (Equinox), Skule (Equinox), Jørn and Øystein (Mayhem) and Metalion. A great gig and we were all wasted on Carlsberg Hof.

Who has, in your opinion, the best thrash metal screams?

David Wayne (RIP) from Metal Church, I actually met him over a few beers back in ’87, a very sympathetic guy.

Paul Baloff from Exodus does the backing vocals…..also from the other side.

And who is the best thrash metal riffer?

Dave Mustaine. A complex person but no one can deny that this man has been producing great thrash riffs for about 30 years now.

Finally, what is your favorite thrash metal album?

"Reign in blood" – Slayer.

This album blows you away from start to the end, and gives you few breathing chances.

Brilliant drumming and riffing, fast and brutal. A masterpiece.

 

Thrash metal facts:

Teutonic thrash metal is a regional scene of thrash metal music that originated during the 1980s in Germany. Along with Bay Area thrash metal, East Coast thrash metal, and Brazilian thrash metal, it was one of the major scenes of thrash metal in the 1980s. 

Two bands influential to early Teutonic thrash metal were Destruction, from Lörrach, and the female-fronted Holy Moses, from Aachen. After hearing Venom, both bands soon changed their sound within a matter of weeks to their new and permanent sound.