Origins and early development
Thrash metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its overall aggression and fast tempo. The genre emerged in the early 1980s as musicians began fusing the double bass drumming and complex guitar stylings of the new wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM) with the speed and aggression of hardcore punk and speed metal and the technicality of progressive rock. The early thrash metal movement revolved around independent record labels, including Megaforce, Metal Blade, Combat, Roadrunner, and Noise, and the underground tape trading industry in both Europe and North America.
Evolution or diversification
Thrash metal spawned derived genres including crossover thrash, a fusion of thrash metal and hardcore punk. The thrash metal genre had declined in popularity by the mid-1990s due to the commercial success of alternative rock and grunge; in response, some bands disbanded or moved away from their thrash metal roots toward groove metal or alternative metal and later nu metal. The genre saw a resurgence in popularity since the 2000s with arrival of bands credited for leading a thrash metal revival scene.
Cultural or musical significance
The genre was commercially successful from approximately 1985 through 1991, bringing prominence to Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax, grouped together as the "Big Four" of U.S. thrash metal. Other bands such as Overkill, Metal Church, Nuclear Assault, Flotsam and Jetsam, Exodus, Testament and Death Angel developed strong followings, and international acts from Brazil, Canada, Switzerland, England, and Germany also became notable within the genre.
