I agree, really - Spreading the Disease is Anthrax's thrash classic in my book, followed by Persistence of Time.

I like to tell people that Voivod's Rrroooaaarrr is possibly the most aptly-named album in music history.

You just sold a copy of VV's latest. Write them and ask for a commission.

I think if you're doing 5 albums, Exodus belongs in there before Testament.

Fun fact - Slayer were 3/4 Latino.

King Diamond when I was in HS - "MAN HE'S SO FUCKING GREAT!"

Poland > Friedman is a bold statement, my friend….

IIRC Mustaine's quote on KiMB was "I was insane….that album had 3 records worth of riffs on it."

Belladonna was arguably the best and most distinctive singer of the thrash era.

FYI, Burton was the Misfits fan of Metallica (note the Crimson Ghost tattoo) - http://www.celebritytattood…

I dunno, I'm 40 and I still find Maiden's stage show wildly entertaining….obviously these days it's less "wicked awesome!" and more "man, that is so over-the-top it's hilarious!" - but based on my understanding of Maiden from years of interviews, I get the feeling they will take either reaction, as long as the fans…

As a long-time Anthrax fan, this is where I will start the "Bush was better than Belladonna" debate.

I'd change that to " 'rebellious' OR otherworldly" - but otherwise, great post.

I've heard that basically the elimination of the bass on the …Justice mix was just one of the first of many hazings of Newsted.

Maybe CF didn't regard/limit themselves to the "thrash" definition, but everything up to Into the Pandemonium is a thrash classic…after that, Cold Lake is putrid, Vanity/Nemesis straddles the line between thrash and NWOBHM, and Monotheist is not completely thrashy all the way through, but fucking fantastic.

CF veered off for ONE FUCKING ALBUM.

Thrash is definitely a narrow genre - go too far one way, you're punk. Go to far the other way, you're Priest or Maiden.

Let me see if I can elucidate the reason -  yes, it's crude, and the production is a little thin; but it's utterly brutal and in its own way, fun. There are some great riffs there. I also think that as a "portrait of the artists as young zombie vampire warriors" it manages to not show a HINT of what they would go on…

DA and Overkill are perfectly fine, but they're hardly essential (and bear in mind, I really like Overkill).

If we have an "AV Club Parent of the Year" I'm nominating you.