MEGADETH - Countdown to Extinction (1992)

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Megadeth's answer to Metallica's 'Black' album, and an unashamed bid for commercial success. Countdown to Extinction (originally to be titled 'Symphony of Destruction', but changed for commercial reasons!) certainly  gave Megadeth a considerable sales boost, if not exactly satisfying the fanbase eager for 'Rust in Peace' part two. While it is a blatantly commercial re-imagining, and let's face it, a whole-hearted sell out, the album is not without merit. Songs like 'Foreclosure of a Dream' and 'Architecture of Aggression' stack up well against the dreary plod of songs like 'Of Wolf and Man' and they even had the decency to include the nifty 'Ashes in Your Mouth' which is a million times Thrashier than anything Metallica were doing at the time. Overall a solid album, with undeniable flashes of brilliance and quality, and a crystal clear production by Max Norman (something that was sadly lacking on the otherwise monumental 'Rust in Peace').

MEGADETH - So Far, So Good...So What (1988)

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Having dispensed with the services of Gar Samuelson and Chris Poland, the two Daves returned with a pretty boy guitar teacher and a Fred Flinstone-esque drummer and still pretty much managed to deliver the goods. Chuck Beehler's drumming is best described as lumpen throughout (especially compared to his jazzy predecessor) and Jeff Young's contributions were adequate rather than particularly stunning. Despite this the album contains some bona-fide Megadeth classics, including 'In My Darkest Hour', 'Into the Lungs of Hell' and 'Hook in Mouth'. But the cover of the Sex Pistol's 'Anarchy in the UK' can piss right off, thank you very much. 

HELLOWEEN - Walls of Jericho (1986)

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Probably my favourite Helloween album still, this was the first and last time that you could ever really call Helloween a proper Thrash band. Even then Helloween were clearly not aligning themselves with the likes of Slayer and 'Gorgar' clearly wants to be 'Ride the Lightning'. That indiscretion aside, this is a great album and closes with Helloween's best song, the epic 'How Many Tears'.

POWERMAD - Absolute Power (1989)

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Powermad come from the same place as Laaz Rockit, that 'not really Thrash' but kind of that doomed both bands to obscurity. Shame really because this is a good melodic Speed/Thrash album which has plenty of good songs and catchy choruses. Like Laaz Rockit, the singer is good but perhaps not quite 'mainstream' enough for the band to have really hit the big time. Good stuff all the same.

ANTHRAX - Fistful of Metal (1984)

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Still my favourite Anthrax album, this one sees the band playing a slightly more traditional form of uptempo Metal, but with still plenty of proto-Thrashing going on. I still say Neil Turbin was the best singer Anthrax ever had and this album is just a blast from start to finish.

METALLICA - And Justice for All (1988)

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1988 delivered some massive disappointments and this was another one. Following 'Master of Puppets' was never going to be a walk in the park but this missed the goal by some distance. Sure 'One' was a great song (even if the riff is a complete Dark Angel rip off!) and the title track isn't without merit, 'Blackened' too is a good opener and 'Dyer's Eve' is Metallica's last great forgotten thrasher, but inbetween it's all a bit mushy and frothy with not a lot of substance to any of it. The production is crap too, with zero bass audible from talented newbie Jason Newsted, so overall, I really can't give it more than a '3'.

METALLICA - Ride the Lightning (1984)

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Always slightly less impressive to my ears than the debut, nonetheless 'Ride the Lightning' is without doubt a quality release. In fact if anything the stand-out tracks are the slower more intricate songs, with 'Escape' a particular favourite of mine. Sadly it's the faster songs that let the side down with 'Fight Fire With Fire' sounding a little bit 'off the cuff' and 'Trapped Under Ice' a good belter but no 'Metal Militia'. The real winners here are 'Fade to Black', the massive chug of the title track and the instrumental 'Call of Kthulu'.

ANNIHILATOR - Set the World on Fire (1993)

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Album number three sees vocalist number three take the mic with Aaron Randall's more commercial voice lending this album a different, more glossy feel. Make no mistake there's some good tunes here, but the best ones are far from Waters' Thrash roots. Indeed, perhaps the best song on the album is an acoustic ballad (Phoenix Rising) while Randall fails to convince on the more hard edged material and Waters already sounds like he's regurgitating ideas on complex album closer 'Brain Dance'.

ANNIHILATOR - Never Neverland (1990)

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It's a game of two halves here, side one presents an extremely strong brace of songs while side two lets the show down, a shame really. On side one the stand out cuts are 'Stonewall' and 'The Fun Palace' and new vocalist Coburn Pharr fits in well (although like Randy Rampage before him, he will be replaced soon enough). A strong album overall which shows the potential to rival the debut, but doesn't quite manage it in the final analysis.

ANNIHILATOR - Alice in Hell (1989)

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Still Jeff Waters greatest album to date, this one has class stamped all over it, but comes up short on actual songs. Sure 'W.T.Y.D.' and 'Alice in Hell' are Thrash classics, but overall, it leaves a little to be desired. That said, Waters playing is exemplary and in 1989 this was pretty staggering stuff. It would have been interesting to hear the result of Waters taking up that post he was offered in Megadeth, but I'm sure it would have ended in tears sooner or later.

KING DIAMOND - Fatal Portrait (1986)

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For me, the best of King Diamond's solo career (perhaps tying with 1989's 'Conspiracy'), which sees most of the old Mercyful Fate line-up intact and with a better contract in the pocket. Noticeably different from the 'Don't Break the Oath' album this sees the band plying their wares in a much more 'Hammer Horror' style than previously, and the 5 song concept piece set the scene for much of King's solo career.

NASTY SAVAGE - Indulgence (1987)

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Knocking on the door of a 5M review but not quite making the cut, this is Nasty Savage's finest hour. The pummeling bass drums of Curtis Beeson are perhaps the most noticeable feature of this album, but alongside that it has some great guitar playing and some brilliant songs. The vocals of Nasty Ronnie might not be to everyone's taste, but if not then you're probably a poser anyway!

MEGADETH - Killing is My Business... (1985)

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A horrible production can't hide the quality of the material on Megadeth's first album, which is significantly more jazzy and progressive (for want of a better word) than anything they would come up with later. This was Mustaine at his pissed-off best, doing his best to show Metallica that he was a better guitarist than Kirk Hammet (and pretty much succeeding it has to be said). Greater albums would follow, but this was an impressive opening volley.

AGENT STEEL - Skeptics Apocalypse (1985)

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Sticking with the US Speed Metal of 1985 theme, here's another one. The slightly thin production can't hold back what is another great set of songs with some ludicrously fast playing and Jon Cyriis's insane vocals. I recall this being described as Iron Maiden on speed back in the day and it's not far wrong.

METAL CHURCH - Metal Church (1985)

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Another massive 1985 release, Metal Church's debut album is another quality album from the US Speed Metal scene. Too melodic to ever really be Thrash, nonetheless Metal Church (unlike say Armored Saint) were wholeheartedly embraced by the Thrash fraternity as one of their own. Great songs, great vocals, great melodies and terrific musicianship as demonstrated on the classic instrumental 'Merciless Onslaught'.

HEATHEN - The Evolution of Chaos (2010)

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You could probably count on one hand the number of bands who come back from the dead and surpass everything they did in their original incarnation. Well Heathen can certainly count themselves as one of the few. Spending time with the riffmaster Gary Holt has obviously fine-tuned Lee Altus's guitar skills and this album also has a distinct Exodusy guitar sound too, albeit somewhat more melodic. There's a definite hint of 'Black album' in places but don't let that put you off, this is well worth a listen. A worthy 4. 

OVERKILL - Feel the Fire (1985)

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A very high four, but not quite a five (something Overkill never quite managed for me). Loads of great songs, but again this suffers from a shoddy production. Despite that, any of these songs played live kick ass with 'Rotten to the Core' being a long standing Overkill classic.

HALLOW'S EVE - Tales of Terror (1985)

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A phenomenally awful album cover hides one of the best kept secrets in Metal history. At times this album is sublime but sadly it is dragged down by some serious filler. Never mind that, because 'Metal Merchants' is all killer and the epic final song 'Hallow's Eve' is one of the best Speed/Thrash songs ever recorded. 

FLOTSAM AND JETSAM - Doomsday for the Deceiver (1986)

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Despite the rather, um, shite album cover, this is a stonking Speed/Thrash Metal album. Awarded 6K's by Kerrang on release, this can't hope to live up to the hype, but it is a quality album nonetheless. The CD remaster gives the production some much needed beefing up and this remains Flotsam's finest hour.

HELSTAR - Glory of Chaos (2010)

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Nice to see such a great old band come back with such a convincing and surprisingly aggressive slab of Speed/Thrash Metal! A low four or an extremely high three.