List of thrash metal bands

The genre evolved in the early 1980s from combining the drum beats of hardcore punk with the guitar style of the new wave of British heavy metal.

[3] Four American bands, Anthrax, Megadeth, Metallica, and Slayer, are credited with popularizing the genre, earning them the title of the "Big Four of Thrash".

[6][7] The Clash of the Titans tour, which featured Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax, Testament, and Suicidal Tendencies, is considered to be the genre's pinnacle, after which thrash metal saw a decline in popularity throughout the 1990s.

[9] A new generation of thrash metal bands emerged in the early 2000s, drawing lyrical and visual inspiration from the older groups.

These bands essentially played thrash metal with a heavy emphasis on Satanic and occult themes in the lyrics and imagery.