Rockpedia

Compare

Two genres, side by side. The ratings are editorial judgements on a ten-point scale, not measurements. Where they come out level, the difference is in the prose underneath them.

First genre

Bay Area thrash1983

Second genre

Thrash metal1983

Head to headBay Area thrash vs Thrash metal
Bay Area thrash: heaviness 8, melody 7, speed 9. Thrash metal: heaviness 8, melody 6, speed 9.Heaviness8 / 8Melody7 / 6Speed9 / 9
Each corner is a ten-point rating. The further out, the higher.

The difference, by ear

Bay Area thrash is the parent genre's founding regional scene rather than a departure from it. Where thrash has a technical or melodic streak, it usually comes from here.

Both are shouted and move at much the same pace, around 180 to 250 bpm. To hear the difference, play Metallica next to Slayer. Bay Area thrash grew out of thrash metal.

Put together from each genre's vocals, tempo, song length, key acts and place in the tree.

In figures

Heaviness
Bay Area thrash8
Thrash metal8
level
Speed
Bay Area thrash9
Thrash metal9
level
Melody
Bay Area thrash7
Thrash metal6
−1

Bay Area thrash

1983 · San Francisco, USA

Where it sits

Heavy metal › Thrash metal › Bay Area thrash

In short

The original epicentre: technical riffing, clearer production and a little more melody.

How it sounds

  • Technical riffing and elaborate structures with many sectional changes.
  • Clearer production than the German variant, with audible bass.
  • Barked vocals that turn melodic in places, with singalong choruses.

Key acts

  • Metallica
  • Exodus
  • Testament
  • Death Angel

Start here

The pickExodus - Bonded by Blood. Recorded in 1984, released late, and it held up anyway.

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Thrash metal

1983 · California / Germany · 4 subgenres

Where it sits

Heavy metal › Thrash metal

In short

NWOBHM plus hardcore punk: palm-muted riffs, brutal tempos and lyrics about war and society. The first truly extreme branch.

How it sounds

  • Palm-muted riffs in sixteenths, played with relentless downpicking.
  • Tempos of 180 to 250 bpm with skank beats and double kick.
  • Barked or shouted but still intelligible vocals, and fast aggressive solos.

Key acts

  • Metallica
  • Slayer
  • Megadeth
  • Kreator

Start here

The pickSlayer - Reign in Blood. Twenty-nine minutes that redefined the word extreme.

Full page →