Music Metrics Vault

Thrash metal

Most popular artists in Thrash metal

This chart is based on the monthly listeners metric for all artists tagged with the genre thrash metal by Spotify. It may contain some errors or some data may not be up to date. You can check the artist profile to update data if necessary.

# Artist Monthly Listeners Followers
1
27,041,666
28,584,724
2
5,502,839
4,052,538
3
4,739,102
5,506,686
4
2,666,093
1,113,112
5
1,846,599
2,029,034
6
Helloween
1,401,234
1,267,528
7
1,198,513
1,707,644
8
Suicidal Tendencies
1,099,404
750,699
9
Accept
1,091,538
962,740
10
W.A.S.P.
723,706
970,650
11
Kreator
683,628
774,999
12
Municipal Waste
654,247
296,278
13
Exodus
468,867
767,651
14
Annihilator
326,959
386,045
15
Anvil
298,425
129,168
16
Sodom
266,223
461,776
17
At The Gates
252,790
241,542
18
Iced Earth
244,160
364,909
19
Savatage
240,665
250,063
20
Decapitated
223,482
238,945
21
Bathory
217,234
412,401
22
Dying Fetus
214,340
327,259
23
Overkill
196,053
565,098
24
Gama Bomb
194,846
69,337
25
Immortal
187,408
362,220
26
Venom
186,483
528,062
27
Death Angel
174,033
366,298
28
Metal Church
154,064
215,377
29
Nile
153,337
240,021
30
Mercyful Fate
152,401
341,877
31
Evile
132,885
107,279
32
King Diamond
131,139
488,301
33
Havok
123,928
174,134
34
S.O.D. Stormtroopers of Death
122,202
45,695
35
Enforcer
119,752
61,796
36
D.R.I.
117,794
220,244
37
Bloodbath
114,812
202,933
38
Exhorder
114,315
75,988
39
Diamond Head
112,981
178,967
40
Cavalera Conspiracy
104,661
315,833
41
Destruction
103,670
281,710
42
Dismember
102,885
100,993
43
Sacred Reich
100,518
137,850
44
Nuclear Assault
96,635
202,282
45
Six Feet Under
96,064
180,583
46
Flotsam & Jetsam
93,278
109,346
47
Cryptopsy
81,824
158,419
48
Benediction
80,386
84,052
49
Crimson Glory
80,159
56,836
50
Violator
80,063
95,593
51
Toxic Holocaust
79,812
149,741
52
Nevermore
79,468
129,579
53
Immolation
70,241
113,572
54
Tankard
70,170
152,116
55
Massacre
69,641
54,082
56
Armored Saint
66,651
93,303
57
Riot
64,437
60,040
58
Cathedral
63,875
74,173
59
Possessed
62,484
191,789
60
Onslaught
60,533
89,373
61
Suicidal Angels
56,947
72,457
62
Warbringer
54,734
106,838
63
Heathen
51,044
78,743
64
Lich King
49,739
66,833
65
Angel Witch
48,399
90,132
66
Forbidden
46,404
94,770
67
Sarcófago
45,588
113,159
68
Heaven & Hell
44,260
280,048
69
Iron Reagan
42,207
64,883
70
Carnivore
41,736
64,658
71
Voivod
39,386
115,495
72
Asphyx
38,477
88,708
73
Unleashed
37,031
96,155
74
Whiplash
36,442
119,887
75
Coroner
36,129
95,115
76
Dark Angel
34,525
157,793
77
Vektor
34,436
75,979
78
Sinister
34,264
75,631
79
Gorguts
34,185
86,963
80
Sadus
33,176
80,274
81
Razor
32,080
77,883
82
Artillery
30,924
80,869
83
Grave
30,511
83,928
84
Incantation
29,810
75,432
85
Krisiun
29,009
120,082
86
Vital Remains
29,000
110,679
87
Hellhammer
28,464
115,432
88
Crisix
28,443
44,725
89
Exhumed
27,007
71,599
90
Vio-Lence
26,702
81,136
91
Evildead
25,673
40,565
92
Cirith Ungol
23,405
42,396
93
Demolition Hammer
23,118
63,800
94
Satan
22,880
41,078
95
Exciter
22,757
69,511
96
Exumer
22,703
52,186
97
Sanctuary
21,681
71,478
98
Gorefest
21,097
54,783
99
Hirax
19,890
75,107
100
Manilla Road
19,245
40,207
101
Vulture
18,942
18,554
102
Nocturnus
16,386
40,851
103
Cancer
16,029
29,639
104
Monstrosity
15,847
61,066
105
Raven
14,664
69,968
106
Atrophy
14,146
22,981
107
Vicious Rumors
13,598
30,620
108
Lazarus A.D.
13,557
36,688
109
Bonded By Blood
13,063
48,396
110
Omen
12,835
30,631
111
HeXeN
12,829
33,998
112
Morgoth
12,194
38,908
113
Hatchet
12,182
23,531
114
Master
12,014
42,953
115
Control Denied
11,845
45,706
116
Toxik
11,445
63,780
117
Fueled By Fire
10,542
39,830
118
Merciless Death
8,184
21,865
119
M.O.D.
7,849
50,092
120
SDI
7,346
14,859
121
MD.45
3,583
6,814
122
Anacrusis
2,580
13,334
123
S.O.D.
1,900
89,522
124
Blood Tsunami
1,120
7,992

Some info about thrash metal

Thrash metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music that emerged in the early 1980s, characterized by its fast tempos, high aggression, and intricate guitar work. With roots primarily laid down in the United States and the United Kingdom, thrash metal brought a new level of intensity and energy to the rock scene, drawing influence from earlier heavy metal bands like Black Sabbath and Judas Priest, and hardcore punk groups such as Black Flag and the Dead Kennedys.

The genesis of thrash metal can be traced to the late 1970s and early 1980s when a handful of bands began pushing the limits of the speed and aggression that defined the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM). This new sound was faster, fiercer, and more technically demanding than anything that had come before. The lyrics often delved into social and political issues, using the music’s aggressive backdrop as a counterpoint to the themes of alienation, disillusionment, and societal critique.

Among the vanguard of thrash metal, the "Big Four" - Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax - are frequently credited with popularizing and defining the genre. Metallica’s "Kill 'Em All" (1983) burst onto the scene with unprecedented speed and ferocity, setting a new standard for metal bands everywhere. Megadeth, formed by ex-Metallica guitarist Dave Mustaine, introduced intricate guitar work and complex arrangements with albums like "Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?" (1986). Slayer took the genre to new extremes with "Reign in Blood" (1986), featuring blistering tempos and graphic lyrics. Anthrax added a twist incorporating elements of hardcore punk, especially evident in their album "Among the Living" (1987).

Thrash metal saw its height of popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with bands like Testament, Exodus, and Overkill fortifying the genre’s foundation in the United States. Meanwhile, European bands such as Kreator, Sodom, and Destruction contributed to a burgeoning scene in Germany known as Teutonic Thrash. These bands often had a darker, grittier sound, earning a devout following across Europe.

While the mainstream appeal of thrash metal waned in the mid-1990s with the rise of alternative rock and grunge, the genre maintained a dedicated underground following. Since the late 2000s, there has been a revival of interest in thrash metal, seen in both reunion tours of classic bands and new albums that have garnered critical and commercial success.

Thrash metal is also known for its distinctive style of guitar playing, including the use of tremolo picking, complex soloing, and tight palm-muted riffs. These elements, along with the aggressive drumming styles and shouted vocals, create a sound that is both powerful and relentless. Bassists often use a technique called "galloping" which adds to the rhythmic intensity of the music.

While primarily popular in the United States, the UK, and Germany, thrash metal has influenced numerous bands worldwide, leading to regional scenes in Brazil, Canada, and Scandinavia, each adding their own unique touches while staying true to the genre’s roots.

Thrash metal continues to evolve, impacting newer genres like death metal and black metal, and remains a vibrant part of the metal music scene. Its legacy is reflected in the continual loyalty of its fanbase and the ongoing relevance of its pioneering bands, ensuring that thrash metal endures as a significant and dynamic component of the global music landscape.