Kreator

Pleasure to Kill (1986)

It is clear to me (at least) that Kreator were a step above most of the Thrash of the time (especially for 1986) on Pleasure to Kill. I put this in the Death Metal basket, because in a song-writing sense it sounds a lot more like Death Metal, than Thrash Metal to me. The raw, blunt and jagged production, and the sharp riffing style screams of blood, gore and internal revolt. Kreator also understood the need for texture (through different chord shapes), dynamics (layered sections, replete with tempo changes) and ultimately how to construct phrases through power chords (harmony) and tremolo (melody) and weave them together to make something meaningful that did not rely on bouncy, rock-laden riffing. Here we have the raw backbone of what Death Metal would ultimately become, the tree-like structures that branch off into different directions whilst still being attached to the main trunk (thematic idea). 

This is a release full of a desire for violence, and bloodlust; a remarkable pillar that became the foundation for great things to come. There's certainly nothing subtle here, but its the razor-sharp honesty and hunger for death that gives this album endless power.