Image: Master Of Puppets Album Cover
The 1980s were a decade that shaped the music world in many ways: music became more electronic, more experimental, and genres like synth-pop or Neue Deutsche Welle (NDW) flooded the airwaves. But alongside these pop-cultural developments, there was also a musical movement that shook up the rock and metal world—because the 80s are also considered the birth era of thrash metal.
Metallica were, alongside Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax, one of the so-called “Big Four” of thrash metal. In 1986, they released their third studio album, Master Of Puppets, which is considered one of the most important records of the genre. The album is credited with bringing thrash metal to a wider audience, not only propelling Metallica into the mainstream but also introducing a broader listener base to heavier guitar music. In 2026, James Hetfield and the band celebrate the album’s 40th anniversary, and on this occasion, we take a look back at the history of thrash. The following albums helped shape the genre into what it is today.
Metallica – Master Of Puppets
Let’s start with the album that laid the foundation for the genre’s rise. Compared to their first two releases, Kill ‘Em All (1983) and Ride The Lightning (1984), Master Of Puppets sounded more “mature”: the sound was richer, more technically sophisticated. It was the first Metallica album to go platinum! However, the success was overshadowed the same year by the tragic death of bassist Cliff Burton, making it the last release with him. Burton died in a bus accident while touring.
Slayer – Reign In Blood
What Master Of Puppets was for Metallica, Reign In Blood was for Slayer, also released in 1986. For Tom Araya and the band, it was their third full-length album and the record that set the path for a very successful career. For this album, Slayer recruited producer Rick Rubin for the first time, who helped polish the raw thrash diamond. Rubin had his hand in many heavy music releases but was also known for taking artists in hip-hop, pop, and country to the top of the charts. The collaboration worked perfectly for Slayer, as Reign In Blood defined the sound that keeps the band at the top even today.
Megadeth – Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying It?
Megadeth achieved their breakthrough with their second studio album, Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying It?, also in 1986. While the debut Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good! flew somewhat under the radar, the follow-up later became the band’s first platinum-certified release. From the original lineup, only vocalist Dave Mustaine remains in the band today—a not-so-surprising fact given the numerous lineup changes the band endured.
Anthrax – Among the Living
When it comes to the “Big Four,” Anthrax is often seen as the more unconventional band, and that is clearly reflected in Among The Living (1987). After the somewhat rawer predecessors Fistful Of Metal (1984) and Spreading The Disease (1985), this album marked a major step forward: it was catchier and groovier. Joey Belladonna’s distinctive voice and the precise, almost “danceable” riffs made the album a true counterpoint to the darker sounds of the other three Big Four acts. Among The Living cemented Anthrax’s place in the thrash elite and remains one of the most accessible—and simultaneously influential—genre releases.
Exodus – Bonded By Blood
Exodus released their debut album Bonded By Blood in 1985, and it made an immediate impact. The album was actually finished in 1984 but delayed by a year because the intended title, A Lesson In Violence, didn’t come with a cover idea the label liked. The record is therefore considered an early thrash classic and one of the most influential works in the genre. Fun fact: the track “Impaler,” released much later in 2004, was originally intended for the debut. Kirk Hammett, who played with Exodus before joining Metallica in 1983, brought the guitar riff with him and used it in Metallica’s song “Trapped Under Ice.”
Testament – The Legacy
Testament entered the scene in the second wave with their 1987 debut The Legacy, igniting the next stage of thrash. And they did so impressively. The album combined the aggression of thrash with an unusually high level of melody and technical skill. Guitarist Alex Skolnick set new standards with his virtuosic leads, while Chuck Billy delivered a mix of classic metal vocals and gritty thrash attitude. The Legacy is considered one of the strongest thrash debuts and marked the moment when the “second tier” began to seriously challenge the genre’s elite, showing how quickly and dynamically the scene evolved.
Even though the big thrash boom is firmly rooted in the 1980s, the genre has lost none of its punch. Bands like Sodom, Kreator, and Sepultura built the bridge in the second wave and, together with the “forefathers,” carried the sound into the modern era. Since the 2000s, thrash has experienced smaller revivals, with both old and new bands bringing fresh energy. Acts like Power Trip, Municipal Waste, Havok, and Warbringer continue to bring the thrash attitude into the present.
Forty years after Master Of Puppets, it’s clear: thrash metal is no longer just a relic of another era, but a living, evolving genre that continues to inspire new generations of bands and fans.
