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 band name) 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:
1987 wasn’t a particularly big year for either split albums or EPs, with only about 100 releases fitting the classification. The ones that did come out in 1987 were rock solid, with several iconic releases making the list. In our previous series covering 1986, the splits and EPs were dominated by the Japanese heavy metal scene. While Japan made a strong showing for the 1987 version of the list, it was the United States dominating this time around with nine of twenty-five releases. Strangely, however, only one American release broke the top ten. Germany had three contributions to the list, with all three occupying the top ten. Our first ever Columbian contribution is on this list. All of Scandinavia had just a single contribution…but it’s a very important one…
The domination of thrash metal continues, genre-wise. There are some examples of grindcore and proto-death metal on the list, but much like our previous series, thrash, crossover, and hardcore continue to be the main staples, with death metal and black metal still in the demo stages.
The spread between record labels is vast, with only four labels appearing multiple times; Chainsaw Murder, Combat Records, Steamhammer, and Strange Fruit. There are plenty of obscure and obsolete labels comprising the bulk of the list, spanning all around the globe, with some labels on the list still in operation today, such as Metal Blade Records and Peaceville Records.
Notable names that didn’t make the cut? Anthrax and Lizzy Borden. Like I said, there weren’t very many splits or EPs that came out in 1987.
Enjoy the list, and as always, have a fulfilling bowel movement.
#25: White Zombie (USA) – Psycho-Head Blowout
Label: Silent Explosions Records
The opening spot, admittingly, is not a good one. Quite frankly, this is an entirely forgettable release, as many early White Zombie releases were. The band’s success really didn’t start until the release of 1992’s La Sexorcisto: Devil Music Volume One. Psycho-Head Blowout leaves a lot on the table and just flat-out does not deliver. It is, however, an interesting insight to the early workings of Rob Zombie’s music career.
#24: Shellshock (JPN) – Self Defence
Label: Explosion Records
Our first Japanese contribution to the list belongs to Shellshock, performing mid-tempo thrash metal on this debut 7″. Loud, abrasive, and simple, carried by basic riffs comprised of fifth chords structures with spindly leads peppered through out.
#23: Mortician (AUT) – No War
Label: Pure Steel Records
The only Austrian contribution on the list comes from Mortician, playing melodic heavy metal with obvious classic NWOBHM influences in abundance. This was the only formal release from Mortician during the 1980’s. Following a lengthy hiatus, the band returned in 2011 with their debut full-length and have been active since.
#22: Excruciation (CHE) – Last Judgement
Label: Chainsaw Murder
The lone Swiss contribution to the list play rough and abrasive thrash metal with leads laced throughout. With this EP, several live albums, and multiple demos, the band broke-up in 1991. The band has been active again since 2005 and continue to this day.
#21: Impellitteri (USA) – Impellitteri
Label: Relativity Records
Debut EP of soaring epic heavy metal from Los Angeles, California. Shred heavy and filled with testicle-rupturing screams, Impellitteri tore through four well-constructed songs on this 12″ EP.
#20: Corrosion of Conformity (USA) – Technocracy
Label: Death Records
Corrosion of Conformity in their crossover era, delivering five tracks of fast-paced down-picked rancor on this 12″ EP. Arguably one of the better releases of their early career.
#19: Overkill (USA) – !!!Fuck You!!!
Label: Caroline Records
Centered around the cover of a song originally performed by The Stiffs, past the first track are four live songs recorded in Cleveland, Ohio with the band opening for Megadeth. The EP features two live cuts from 1985’s Feel the Fire and two live cuts from Taking Over.
#18: Parabellum (COL) – Sacrilegio
Label: Discos Fuentes
Our first Columbia entry ever on these lists, Parabellum played sloppy, aggressive, confrontational death metal with some minor black metal tinges. This is a great early example of South American extreme metal. The band was only active between 1984 and 1988.
#17: Pentagram Chile (CHL) – Fatal Prediction / Demoniac Possession
Label: Chainsaw Murder
Another South American extreme metal band, Fatal Prediction / Demoniac Possession was the only formal release for Pentagram Chile during their earliest era, lasting between 1986 and 1991, having released only demos during that time period, with the exception of this formal, lone 45 7″.
#16: Anihilated/Lord Crucifier/Civilised Society?/Desecrators (GBR/ITA) – Will Evil Win?
Label: Peaceville Records
Look at the price tag in the bottom right corner. Back in 1987 for a single dollar, you could have picked up this split 7″, which features one song each from four different thrash/crossover bands. Excellent cover art as well! Well-constructed and well executed thrash and crossover.
#15: Extreme Noise Terror (GBR) – The Peel Sessions
Label: Strange Fruit
The second formal release of ripping grind band Extreme Noise Terror came helmed by legendary English producer John Peel. This ultra-fast 45 rpm 12″ contained only ten minutes of music, but its impact on the grindcore scene is still recognized to this day.
#14: Blood Feast (USA) – Face Fate
Label: New Renaissance Records
This four-song EP followed Blood Feast’s debut, Kill For Pleasure. This five-piece played well-constructed thrash metal with no corny gimmicks. One of the better east coast thrash bands.
#13: Possessed (USA) – The Eyes of Horror
Label: Combat Records
The final release of Possessed’s founding run featured fan-favorites such as ‘Confessions’ and ‘Swing of the Axe.’ The band would go dormant until 1990.
#12: Omen (USA) – Nightmares
Label: Metal Blade Records
The only EP released during Omen’s early run, this block of songs separated 1986’s The Curse from 1988’s Escape from Nowhere. High-powered heavy metal with power metal leanings.
#11: Defender (NLD) – City ad Mortis
Label: CBS
The lone formal release in Defender’s entire discography. The band would formally dissolve in 1990 and would briefly reform in 2007 with no music released. This Netherlands-based group played highly-charged speed metal with power metal leanings.
#10: Prong (USA) – Primitive Origins
Label: Spigot
The debut formal release from this New York-based group was pure thrash and crossover, as opposed to later releases in their discography which straddled multiple genres.
#9: Destruction (DEU) – Mad Butcher
Label: Steamhammer
No introduction is necessary for German thrash giants Destruction. This four-song EP was the follow-up to 1986’s Eternal Devastation and features one of the most iconic songs in the band’s library.
#8: Protector (DEU) – Misanthropy
Label: Atomic H
Another German thrash release in the top 10, Protector played furious thrash that flirted ever so slightly with proto-death metal.
#7: Sabbat (JPN) – Born by Evil Blood
Label: Evil Records
Venom-worshipping blackened thrash from Japan, released by a band with a staggering discography.
#6: Broken Bones (GBR) – Trader in Death
Label: RFB Recordings
Classic English thrash and hardcore that was fast as hell and heavy to boot. Easily some of the best hardcore of 1987.
#5: Napalm Death (GBR) – The Peel Sessions
Label: Strange Fruit
Released soon after the legendary Scum LP, Napalm Death delivered an impossibly fast and disjointed burst of grind that served as an early blueprint for the entire genre.
#4: Doom/Shellshock/X Japan/Jurassic Jade/Ground Zero/Rose Rose – Skull Thrash Zone Volume I
Label: Invitation
This Japanese split featured six different bands and six different interpretations of extreme music.
#3: Nuclear Assault (USA) – The Plague
Label: Combat Records
Yet another release for the American thrash titans who were on a hot streak between 1986 to 1989. Criminally underrated band.
#2: Sodom (DEU) – Expurse of Sodomy
Label: Steamhammer
German thrash titans delivering their brand of blackened thrash metal. The release that bridged 1986’s Obsessed by Cruelty to 1987’s Persecution Mania was a solid block of thrash metal. Sodomy and lust!
#1: Mayhem (NOR) – Deathcrush
Label: Posercorpse Music
The number one spot belongs to the legendary Norwegian black metal outfit Mayhem. The iconic intro into the legendary riff of the title track was the stuff of legends. Featuring split vocals between Maniac and Messiah, bass by Necrobutcher, and guitars by the late Euronymous, this was the launching point of one of the most iconic bands in extreme metal history.
There you have it. As you’ll remember from the introduction, the pool of albums to draw from was pretty small, but it definitely had some heavy hitters in it, courtesy of groups such as Nuclear Assault, Sodom, Destruction and Mayhem.
What do you think? Would you have ranked the releases differently? Let me know in the comments.
And, as always, thanks for reading. We’ll see you back in 1987 for the Top 25 Metal Albums.
-AJK
apanthropy 
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