Can Thrash Metal be revolutionized again?

[Halberd3]

What I mean is- Is thrash metal relevant here in the 21st century and can anything new really be done with it? I ask myself this because a lot of these neo thrash bands I've listened to, don't seem to be well versed in the originality department. And a lot of their stuff just sounds like recycled Slayer/Metallica riffs that just makes them sound uninteresting. I've seen quite a few bands revolutionize themselves and go out of their comfort zone. Bands like Vektor, Hexen, Warbringer (On their latest efforts), Havok (to an extent), Ripper, Skeletonwitch, Overkill (The thrash version of Motorhead). But I say this in response to the New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal. I ask because, is the only way these bands are being innovative is by going backwards? I even thought about this when I listened to Metallica's Black Album. It's the reason I group it more with traditional heavy metal. I'm pretty sure some people have heard of the NWOTHM. Bands like Enforcer, Skull Fist, Cauldron, Steelwing, Holy Grail etc. If you've heard em then you know what I mean. Though I can't really get into White Wizzard, sounds too much like Iron Maiden. So anyway, what do you guys think?

 

[CiG]

Most old school metal bands aren't interested in innovation via progression, that's a fundamental misunderstanding. They're trying to keep something old alive. It's in many ways basically a form of conservation.

These bands that look backwards are necessary for other bands like Vektor to look forwards and progress the style, because without some kind of structure and order, you have no frame of reference by which you can proclaim that a band is progressing the style.

 

[Halberd3]

Most old school metal bands aren't interested in innovation via progression, that's a fundamental misunderstanding. They're trying to keep something old alive. It's in many ways basically a form of conservation.

These bands that look backwards are necessary for other bands like Vektor to look forwards and progress the style, because without some kind of structure and order, you have no frame of reference by which you can proclaim that a band is progressing the style.

I know there's ways to keep something alive, but I just feel some of these bands have an issue with originality. And it leads it to sounding too much like their forefathers. But they do say imitation is the highest form of flattery.

 

[CiG]

It's only an issue if it's unintentional, that's the point I think. They're not trying to be so original.

 

[Halberd3]

It's only an issue if it's unintentional, that's the point I think. They're not trying to be so original.

Jesus it's like if I honestly wanted to listen to D.R.I. I would instead of listening to municipal waste. Or if I wanted to listen to Slayer I would instead of early warbringer. So where do they get attention from in those regards? People who can't tell they're ripping riffs?

 

[CiG]

People who don't want to listen to Slayer or DRI albums for the billionth time. People who also recognise that bands such as Slayer or DRI only managed to do a few albums they truly love before they changed their sound/went to shit.

 

[Halberd3]

People who don't want to listen to Slayer or DRI albums for the billionth time. People who also recognise that bands such as Slayer or DRI only managed to do a few albums they truly love before they changed their sound/went to shit.

That is true. Slayer in my book just can't come up with anything new. D.R.I. Is kinda making a comeback. In other ways of revolution. What about lyrical content of thrash? Should it change as well instead of being about blah blah satan, war, death, society is corrupt?

 

[CiG]

It should just be whatever the band wants I suppose. The social/political crap was always boring to me, mostly because it all seems to come from a dimwitted anti-capitalist/socialist/hippie/pacifist angle. That's boring as shit and has been done to death by punk.

 

[Halberd3]

It should just be whatever the band wants I suppose. The social/political crap was always boring to me, mostly because it all seems to come from a dimwitted anti-capitalist/socialist/hippie/pacifist angle. That's boring as shit and has been done to death by punk.

For a reason I can agree with that. Maybe hippies have something in common with punks lol. But yeah, I understand there are those to preserve the style. So where does this leave the future of thrash metal? Assuming it has one?

 

[CiG]

For a reason I can agree with that. Maybe hippies have something in common with punks lol. But yeah, I understand there are those to preserve the style. So where does this leave the future of thrash metal? Assuming it has one?

Where it's always been I think. Majority of the bands will buttress the style while a few try to push it's boundaries.

 

[Halberd3]

Where it's always been I think. Majority of the bands will buttress the style while a few try to push it's boundaries.

Same as it was 30 years ago. They could always try to mix traditional and thrash together.

 

[CiG]

Sure. They can try many things, but would you want the genre to become nothing but a series of bands who don't sound like classic thrash?

 

[Halberd3]

Sure. They can try many things, but would you want the genre to become nothing but a series of bands who don't sound like classic thrash?

Huh. Good point. A little bit of this reflects on my build for personal inspiration. Am I going for brutality, melodicness, atmosphere. Sometimes I don't know and get mixed and jumbled.