SPEED METAL or THRASH?

So what does the term "Speed Metal" even mean?

To me, it is the same as thrash with cleaner vocals. Any one agree? Agent Steel used to be Speed Metal - Paul Baloff sang Thrash. Powermad played Speed Metal - Destruction was total thrash, Etc, Etc. Bands like Angel Dust, Helloween, Artillery, Rage, Risk, and Vicious Rumors turned into wussy Power Metal bands to keep recording. That is as definitive as I can be. You guys have a different opinion? And anything MC666 posts does not count - do not take his warped influence to heart.....

BTW, Risk was power metal (Faithful Breath) before becoming thrash.

Back in the day both terms were more or less interchangeable. I still kinda think of 'em that way.

Six one way, half-dozen the other IMO. But your definition is about the best I've heard.

That was my understanding of the terms, except that in my opinion, Thrash tends to have more of the distinct tempo changes in the mix.

Debut RISK album " Daily Horror News" was marginally speed metal. They became more and more power/heavy metal band with each album afterward.

ARTILLERY - thrash all the way.

even though this won't count...

to me, speed metal is just really fast, clean, traditional based metal (IE non extreme metal), where as thrash is more raw & aggressive. not necessarily fast at all times either. more punk influenced.

I agree with MC. Speed Metal is cleaner and more straight forward fast tempo.Thrash has a raw,punkier sound. The down beat is what sets Thrash apart from Speed.

Along with the other charcteristics already mentioned, I've always thought of speed metal as being more or less one tempo (fast) all the way through from beginning to end. Thrash had a little more variance, (fast, slow, super-duper fast, slow, repeat as necessary).

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Along with the other charcteristics already mentioned, I've always thought of speed metal as being more or less one tempo (fast) all the way through from beginning to end. Thrash had a little more variance, (fast, slow, super-duper fast, slow, repeat as necessary).

I agree with this.


Here's a side-by-side comparison of a typical speed metal song and a typical thrash metal song from beginning to end.

Speed is more airy, light-weight and fast me thinks. I'd agree with MC in this case. Scanner and Slayer sure sounds different.

Quote :

to me, speed metal is just really fast, clean, traditional based metal (IE non extreme metal), where as thrash is more raw & aggressive. not necessarily fast at all times either. more punk influenced.

Well stated and my opinion exactly.

Tweakers like speed and like to dive in thrash cans

Vicious Rumors is a "wussy power metal band?" No. They were never Speed or Thrash, so I am not sure what you are talking about with that one.

I think the Speed/Thrash thing is a distinction without a difference. For instance, Megadeth called themselves a Speed metal band but everyone else called them Thrash. Over time they became known as a Thrash band and the Speed metal tag fell out of favor.

If we have to come up with some kind of explanation, MC's definition is the one I would go with.

Vicious Rumors isn't wussy. Like Witchfinder I remember when 'deth were called speed metal and the terms were interchangeable. Now I guess what Uncle says is how it's currently thought of.

I just threw the VR jab in to get Kmorg riled up. I have always dug them.

While I enjoy Spec's visual assistance in my explaination, I don't mean that as a knock against speed metal. Just another ass-hat's opinion, that's all.

UNCLE SAXON'S KICKASS CDS wrote:

I just threw the VR jab in to get Kmorg riled up. I have always dug them.

First thread ever discussing this topic that hasn't riled me up. You must be getting old, Sax

I definitely feel there is a different between speed and thrash, in some cases.

I feel that bands can be thrashy, but not be speed metal. I wouldn't really categorize Sepultura as speed metal. Especially not once they found their sound. But they are/were thrash. So there, the term is not interchangable.

I always felt speed metal was just a more general term for extremely fast paced heavy metal. It includes both thrash and power metal. Almost like a blanket term. Thrash on the aggressive side and power on the melodic side. But during the formative years of both thrash and power it was used interchangably with either.

Being honest, the distinction is completely arbitrary and doesn't matter (to me, at least).

Since it was rather vague way back when I agree that it really is just a general term that can include somepower and some thrash bands. Actually, at this point it seems to more or less categorize certain songs rather than the entirety of what a band plays. That being said, I always thought that Powermad's ep and Rigor Mortis (imo) were good examples of speed metal. But from what I've read here must would disagree with that as the common descriptor of speed metal was 'clean'--kinda like faster power metal. But in the early 80's, it had a harsher vibe to it.

Not sure I explained myself well as I am way too tired to be thinking.......

ATM - that was as good as anyone can put it. And...How is it that I can pre-Rip monty and EVERYONE STILL agrees with him??? I give up - MC666 reigns [don't let eyesore see this.....].

UNCLE SAXON'S KICKASS CDS wrote:

MC666 reigns

you should just get that tattooed so you don't forget it.

mc666 wrote:

UNCLE SAXON'S KICKASS CDS wrote:

MC666 reigns

you should just get that tattooed so you don't forget it.

Really? Are you threatening me cornholio? I am coming to the East Coast sooner than you think. Me n You? It's On.