your all time favorite SPEED metal band ...

annihilator are among the best
powermad introduced by ultmetal, became one of my faves
death angel
dark angel
nuclear assault
overkill
artillery
CAN METAL CHURCH COUNT?

Either Annihilator, or Metal Church.

Early Deliverance

Toxik, Realm, Agent Steel, early Helloween.

IMHO - early Metal Church was 100% speed metal!!! Especially their 'pre-debut album' days. But that first album is speed metal. Then with "The Dark" they charged into more power metal territories.

bassman wrote:

Early Deliverance

And yes, great call on Annihilator too!

Temple of Blood wrote:

Either TOXIK or AGENT STEEL.

if I knew the exact definition of speed metal, I'd probably choose those two. I've been hearing the term "speed metal" for more than 25 years and listening to speed metal for just as long and I don't know if I truly know just what the heck it is exactly. What we used to call power metal isnt the same as power metal today, and the same for speed metal. All these genres just seem to be argument starters.

Metal Church or Exciter

Agent Steel for sure.

John Cyriis can belt it like a mofo.

Early Deliverance is my definition of "speed metal".

Just a few on top on my head in random order:

AMULANCE
BLOODLUST
SANCTUARY
ANGEL DUST (first two)
SCANNER
AGENT STEEL
HAVE MERCY
HELSTAR (88 & 89)
TEMPLE OF BLOOD
IMMACULATE

Megadeth - I had a 'Deth shirt that said " The world's state of the art speed metal band" therefore they win.

Running wild

Exciter

Razor

Toxik

UDO (They have some amazing speed metal tunes)

Ravage

Agent steel

To me, the best two Speed Metal bands are easily Anvil and Motorhead. With that said, I'll give a special mention to Gargoyle (USA) because they are amazing and most people don't know about them. I can't really describe their sound, but check them out if you haven't:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l18f1_wB73U

Spiner202 wrote:

To me, the best two Speed Metal bands are easily Anvil and Motorhead.

Jesusandmetal23 wrote:

Agent Steel for sure.

John Cyriis can belt it like a mofo.

Forgot about Amulance,good call Stormspell

Not only John Cyriis but Bruce Hall was right up there too!

powermacho wrote:

annihilator are among the best
powermad introduced by ultmetal, became one of my faves
death angel
dark angel
nuclear assault
overkill
artillery
CAN METAL CHURCH COUNT?

I'd call Metal Church speed metal before labeling those other bands you mentioned speed metal, they are all pretty much straight-up thrash metal. I wouldn't call Deliverance speed metal either.

My favorite speed metal bands would be Venom and Exciter, I don't know which one I would prefer between those two, but I considered each of them my favorite band on different occasions. Savage Grace, Running Wild, Acid, Znowhite, etc. would be some of my other favorite speed metal bands. Honestly, this is probably my favorite sub-genre of metal.

Deliverance use to make a point to say in interviews that they weren't a thrash metal band, but a speed metal band. I suppose the difference being a thin line that mostly has to do with the vocals approach.

As for Metal Church, even back in the 80's we called them power metal. Heavier than traditional heavy metal, but not quite thrash metal, thus the "power metal" tag. Still, they fit in the category as neatly as any of these bands listed.

I know, I'm a genre nazi.

To me Deliverance were a speed metal band with a few thrash songs. Not a thrash metal band.

I've always just claimed Metal Church as a Heavy Metal band.

Metallic Blaze wrote:

IMHO - early Metal Church was 100% speed metal!!! Especially their 'pre-debut album' days. But that first album is speed metal. Then with "The Dark" they charged into more power metal territories.

specially the track called "MY FAVORITE NIGHTMARE" That song is insane

Nico wrote:

powermacho wrote:

annihilator are among the best
powermad introduced by ultmetal, became one of my faves
death angel
dark angel
nuclear assault
overkill
artillery
CAN METAL CHURCH COUNT?

I'd call Metal Church speed metal before labeling those other bands you mentioned speed metal, they are all pretty much straight-up thrash metal. I wouldn't call Deliverance speed metal either.

My favorite speed metal bands would be Venom and Exciter, I don't know which one I would prefer between those two, but I considered each of them my favorite band on different occasions. Savage Grace, Running Wild, Acid, Znowhite, etc. would be some of my other favorite speed metal bands. Honestly, this is probably my favorite sub-genre of metal.

Its hard to lavel speed to me. DEATH OR GLORY is my fave album from RUNNING WILD.

i GUESS WE CAN LABEL GAMMMA RAY AS SPEED/POWER METAL? IF SO THEY ARE AMONG THE BEST TOO

VECTOM two albums or MANIAC debut are also cool speed metal records from the 80s. And of course MURO from Spain, they were the best speed metal band of this world. Check them out:

ANNIHILATOR had some speed metal songs but they were and are not a speed metal band. Same with METAL CHURCH. ANTHRAX debut have a lot of speed metal songs on it, and also the first AGENT STEEL is pure SPEED METAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!