This is way to difficult. I can't decide between Demolition Hammer, Heathen, Vio-lence, Razor and Dark Angel. I think I can eliminate Razor who, eventhough they have been very consistent and released more albums than the others combined probably, have always felt a little comically to me with their album titles and lyrics. Big shout out to Shotgun Justice, what a killer album. Demolition Hammer, they made one very amazing album in Epidemic of Violence, a good blend of death and thrash and one of the most aggressive albums by all of the bands. But on the other hand they are also the most inconsistent, with one amazing album inbetween the bore that is "Time Bomb" and "Tourtured Existence". So it is down to three bands. Vio-lence I really really dig, some amaazing thrash, unfortunately, I don't dig the vocals all that much and the production is also really thin in places. Dark Angel well, three spectacular albums and I'm a big fan of Gene Hoglan, Drum god! Also played for Death and Strapping Young Lad. Dark Angel are riff meisters of the highest caliber..f you think Slayer is the only band to do the demented thrash riffing you obviously haven't heard of this band. BUT I really have to give the vote to HEATHEN, and it comes down to one album, that for me, is above the rest...and that is the Victims of Deception album. This album really should have been classic. Released in 1991, it is better material and production wise than what most of the big (Metallica, Megadeth), and any other thrash bands did at the time. It also counts to the vote that Heathen is still active and recently put out another great album in 2009 called The Evolution of Chaos that I urge everyone to check out.
I do like Sodom, and especially Agent Orange. But for me, they have too much Motorhead inspiration in their music and too much punk in the vocals.
So, the winner: HEATHEN!
