Disclaimer:
Please don’t unleash years of suppressed anger and throw a hot cup of coffee in your dog’s face if you don’t see (insert name of band) at (insert position) or any such situation. This feature is based on the opinions of an author that writes, primarily, based on experiences and makes no claims that the collection of releases you’re going to be reading about is certified by God, Satan, Rick Moranis, or any other extremely prominent deity. Enjoy.
Intro:
The alarms are ringing, and the warning lights are flashing, the surge and electricity of the evolution of extreme metal is here. Proto-death and proto-black metal are stabilizing into meteoric forces of supreme expression. Speed metal and thrash metal are now, formally, sharing the listening space with new strains of metal art that have been transforming over the course of the early and mid 1980s. Within this list, you’ll see the foothold that death metal and black metal began making in the metal world.
In contrast to our previous entries – The Top 25 Demos of 1986 and The Top 25 Splits/EPs of 1986 – this list isn’t packed to the brim with just thrash metal, speed metal, crossover, and hardcore. Early forays into pure death metal and pure black metal are now making their marks.
As far as global spread goes, it wasn’t as varied as our two previous entries focusing on 1986. The United States dominated this list with contributions in the double digits. Germany and Great Britain were second and third place, respectively, and somewhat unsurprisingly. Brazil made two very powerful contributions.
In terms of label spread, the familiar Combat Records was the dominator for this list, with 4 contributions. Metal Blade Records and Roadrunner Records were the only two other labels with multiple contributions, all other entries were single contributions.
Notable names that did not make the list? Ozzy Osbourne, Metal Church, Saint Vitus, Hallow’s Eve, Racer X, Manilla Road, and Crimson Glory. While all releasing respectable albums in 1986, the rapid advancement of death metal and black metal meant these albums were pushed out of the top 25, in regard to the context of the list. While these were in no way whatsoever bad contributions or low quality, the sonic template was evolving, and some of these bands were deep in their careers at this point and weren’t exactly releasing the most high-energy content of their discographies.
Without further delay, here it is, the top 25 metal albums of 1986. I hope your bowel movement is fulfilling.
#25: Sodom (DEU) – Obsessed by Cruelty
Label: Metal Blade Records
The debut album from German legends Sodom takes the opening spot. Raw, feral, and unhinged, the trio of Angel Ripper, Destructor, and Witch Hunter wage war through a cataclysm of thrash metal with a blackened leaning. RIP to Destructor who passed away in 1993 and Witch Hunter who passed away in 2008.
#24: Messiah (CHE) – Hymn to Abramelin
Label: Chainsaw Murder
The lone Swiss entry on the list, Messiah played maniacal proto-death . Sometimes focused and at other times maniacally off-the-rails, Messiah excelled at both atmosphere and riffcraft. For fans of Obituary, Nuclear Death, and Sadistik Exekution.
#23: Possessed (USA) – Beyond the Gates
Label: Combat Records
We ranked Possessed’s debut, Seven Churches, as #4 on our Top 20 Metal Albums of 1985 feature. Their 1986 follow-up, Beyond the Gates, was a worthy display of thrash-minded death. This would be the last Possessed full-length until 2019’s Revelations of Oblivion.
#22: Vulcano (BRA) – Bloody Vengeance
Label: Rock Brigade Records
Our first Brazilian entry of the list, Vulcano, played insane ripping proto-black metal. In true Brazilian fashion, purely aggressive music with no compromise, sloppy, visceral, and a template of the Brazilian extreme metal scene of the 1980s. Very cool cover art.
#21: Sepultura (BRA) – Morbid Visions
Label: Cogumelo Records
The follow-up to the band’s 1985 Bestial Devastation release, Morbid Visions was only slightly more refined than the band’s debut. Buzzsaw guitars, boxy drums and vintage Max and Igor in action. Bestial Devastation’s legacy is significant enough that the entire album was rerecorded and rereleased by Cavalera Conspiracy in 2023.
#20: Cryptic Slaughter (USA) – Convicted
Label: Metal Blade Records
A build-up of thrash metal and crossover that reached proto-grindcore territory. This debut release from Cryptic Slaughter was the first of four albums released by the band before calling it quits. Grinding guitars meet flat boxy drums, wrapped in tape grain. Maniacally off-the-rails at times, this band was one of the first in the US scene to amp up and deliver thrash and crossover to new, uncharted territory.
#19: Exumer (DEU) – Possessed by Fire
Label: Disaster
Our first proper pure trash metal album of the list belongs to German band Exumer. Exumer produced two albums before going on a lengthy hiatus that lasted decades in terms of new musical output. While not as fast and heavy as other members of the international thrash scene, Exumer excelled at mid-tempo and riffcraft.
#18: Mortal Sin (AUS) – Mayhemic Destruction
Label: Mega Metal Productions
A surprising entry from Australia, Mortal Sin played pure thrash metal with tinges of progressive songwriting, as seen in tracks like ‘Lebanon’ and ‘Mayhemic Destruction.’ Competent, well-produced, great riffcraft, Mortal Sin ended up being another band that released a handful of albums in their early career before going on a lengthy hiatus.
#17: Kat (POL) – 666
Label: Polmark
Our first and only Polish contribution to the list, Kat was a band that got its start way back in 1979 playing largely instrumental music inspired by hard rock and NWOBHM. Kat eventually evolved into a full line-up and embraced thrash metal, however, unlike most bands, there was an explicit focus on occult elements. Absolutely loaded with riffs and with both the hard rock and NWOBHM influences shining through at times, Kat stands as a forgotten gem of the mid 1980s scene.
#16: The Accused (USA) – The Return of…Martha Splatterhead
Label: Subcore Records
An off-the-wall combination of crossover and thrash that was a platter of riffs, The Return of…Martha Splatterhead was a debut album that highlighted the vitality of the scene’s younger musicians who were hungry to make their mark. Beautiful analog production, no compression, and with a fat-as-fuck bass tone to tie it all together.
#15: Destruction (DEU) – Eternal Devastation
Label: Steamhammer
German legends Destruction’s follow-up to their debut, 1985’s Infernal Overkill, was a natural evolution for the band. Admittingly, between the vocals and the production, this is a bit of an acquired taste.
#14: Onslaught (GBR) – The Force
Label: Under One Flag
After a lineup restructuring following 1985’s Power From Hell, Onslaught returned with their follow-up, The Force. Well-produced and highly competent thrash metal with some blackened leaning
#13: Megadeth (USA) – Peace Sells…But Who’s Buying?
Label: Capitol Records
Megadeth needs no introduction. The follow-up to 1985’s Killing is My Business…and Business is Good saw the quartet sawing through iconic thrash metal hits like ‘Wake Up Dead’ and the well-known title track. Arguably the best soloing in terms of any other record on this list.
#12: Iron Maiden (GBR) – Somewhere in Time
Label: EMI
Another band that needs zero introduction, Iron Maiden’s follow-up to 1984’s Powerslave saw the band performing more of their iconic and epic NWOBHM. Soaring melodies, grandiose harmonizations, and the meteoric vocals of Bruce Dickinson combine to create another solid album for the legendary British band.
#11: King Diamond (DNK) – Fatal Portrait
Label: Roadrunner Records
King Diamond’s debut album after the demise of Mercyful Fate, Fatal Portrait was the first showcasing of the Andy La Rocque/Michael Denner guitar combo, add in the testicle-rupturing vocals of King Diamond and a rhythm section consisting of Mikkey Dee and Timi Hansen and you had all the ingredients for an iconic debut.
#10: Motorhead (GBR) – Orgasmatron
Label: GWR Records
The iconic fusion of hard rock, punk and heavy metal that made Motorhead such an iconic band is on full display on Orgasmatron. The anthemic ‘Deaf Forever,’ the hard charging ‘Mean Machine,’ and the stomp of the title track helped to create one of the best British albums of 1986.
#9: Whiplash (USA) – Power and Pain
Label: Roadrunner Records
With tracks like ‘Stage Dive’ and ‘Power Thrashing Death’, Whiplash brought the fast and heavy out of thrash metal. For a debut album, this is certainly amongst the best of 1986 in that classification and capacity.
#8: Voivod (CAN) – Rrroooaaarrr
Label: Combat Records
Canadian chameleons of progressive-minded thrash, Voivod deliver one of the stronger thrash performances of 1986. A plethora of tonal glory on the production front, with screaming guitars and a huge bass presence, Rrroooaaarrr finds an easy spot in the top 10.
#7: Flotsam and Jetsam (USA) – Doomsday for the Deceiver
Label: Metal Blade Records
Featuring an early Jason Newsted on bass, Flotsam and Jetsam delivered a stellar performance in 1986 with Doomsday for the Deceiver. At times directly to the point, and other times embracing a progressive nature on such songs as the nine-minute-long title track, with great production and solid songwriting, this was an easy decision for the top 10.
#6: Nuclear Assault (USA) – Game Over
Label: Combat Records
Further proving that 1986 was a critical year for the thrash metal scene, Nuclear Assault, like many bands on this list, delivered a stellar debut that was loaded with speed, riffs, and powerhouse songwriting. Dan Lilker is a human bong.
#5: Candlemass (SWE) – Epicus Doomicus Metallicus
Label: Black Dragon Records
The first entry in the proper top 5 are the legendary Candlemass and their epic doom metal debut. Six tracks of crawling doom metal with insanely powerful vocals. Not a skippable track on the album.
#4: Dark Angel (USA) – Darkness Descends
Label: Combat Records
The follow-up to 1985’s We Have Arrived, Dark Angel delivered crushingly powerful thrash metal. A front-runner for album of the year and, at times, heavier than many other bands on this list. Gene Hoglan gives a noteworthy performance, rivaling the capabilities of every drummer on this list.
#3: Kreator (DEU) – Pleasure to Kill
Label: Noise Records
Kreator’s 1986 release, Pleasure to Kill, is a genuine icon in both the German and international thrash metal scenes. From the first chords of ‘Ripping Corpse’ to the final crushing blow of ‘Under the Guillotine,’ Pleasure to Kill was the best German release of 1986, hands down.
#2: Slayer (USA) – Reign in Blood
Label: Def Jam Recordings
Not much needs to be said here and the presence of Slayer this deep in the list should be a shock to literally no one. From the iconic ‘Angel of Death’ to the legendary album closer ‘Raining Blood,’ this half hour whirlwind of total hell was the crown jewel in the amazing run of early Slayer releases.
#1: Metallica (USA) – Master of Puppets
Label: Elektra Records
It did bring me a little pain to place Metallica at the number one spot but the album, as of the time of writing, has sold over 10,000,000 copies. While at times not matching the raw intensity of Dark Angel and Kreator, and not quite hitting the ferocity of Slayer, Metallica excelled at expert-level songwriting and pure riff writing. The title track has reached levels of notoriety not common in the heavy metal world. Overall, the success of Master of Puppets was not an accident, the chemistry on this record and songwriting make it an iconic release and the standing champion record of 1986.
There you have it, that brings us to the end of our list.
It’s safe to say that 1986 was a pinnacle year for the thrash metal scene, with 80% of the top ten albums belonging to the thrash metal scene. What makes this impressive is that many of the entries on this list were debut albums, marking the start of impressive careers for many bands.
We saw the foothold death metal and black metal were beginning to make at the early part of the list, courtesy of Sepultura, Sodom, and Vulcano. You will see soon in 1987, that foothold dramatically expand, and the explosion of early extreme music wreak havoc on the metal scene.
What do you believe were the top albums of 1986? Let us know in the comments and, as always, thanks for reading.
To check out the other entries focusing on 1986, take a look at The Top 25 Splits/EPs of 1986 and The Top 25 Demos of 1986.
See you in 1987.
-AJK
apanthropy 
Leave a reply to Extreme Metal News – August 11th, 2025 – apanthropy Cancel reply