The difference, by ear
Teutonic thrash is one of the parent genre's two founding regional scenes, not a departure from it.
Both are shouted and move at much the same pace, around 180 to 260 bpm. To hear the difference, play Kreator next to Metallica. Teutonic thrash grew out of thrash metal, a year later. Germany appears in the origins of both.
In figures
Teutonic thrash
Where it sits
Heavy metal › Thrash metal › Teutonic thrash
In short
The German version: dirtier, faster and much closer to what would become death and black metal.
How it sounds
- Dirtier production with sharper guitars and distorted bass.
- Vocals closer to a snarl than a shout - a direct step toward death metal.
- More constant and more brutal tempos, with fewer melodic passages.
Key acts
- Kreator
- Sodom
- Destruction
- Tankard
Start here
The pickKreator - Pleasure to Kill. The point where thrash becomes death metal without announcing it.
Full page →Thrash metal
Where it sits
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 →