Thrash metal’s veterans are in no mood to slow down. And neither are the hungry upstarts who want to make their own marks on the scene.
This year, we had the best of both worlds, as thrash brought us crossover chaos, technical ecstasy and total destruction, over a clutch of standout records.
So pull on those hi-tops and jump into the pit, for our Best Thrash Albums of 2025!
10. Inhuman Nature – Greater Than Death (Church Road Records)
Greater Than Death was, well, fucking great. It was the kind of thrash that would kick you into A&E at 3am, bloodied, battered and seething with adrenaline.
The album was certainly a big step up from Inhuman Nature’s 2019 debut, and its heady brew of crossover carnage and slick, Testament-style riffs, put London on the modern thrash map.
Indeed, the quintet – featuring members of the legendary Hang The Bastard – are now going toe to toe with US counterparts like Mindforce and Dead Heat.
Possessed To Die, Mad Man’s Cage and the Sepultura-esque Fortress of Delusion all raised hell on a record made for the pit… and born from it. Rich Holmes.
9. Warfield – With The Old Breed (Napalm Records)
Taking their cue from Kreator, Sodom and Destruction, German disruptors Warfield dropped one of the thrash metal albums of the year.
At a time when bloody battles are once again ravaging Europe, With The Old Breed’s themes of historical social conflict hit home hard.
Shredding solos and breakneck beats paced a punishing 10-track manifesto for the heaviest of metal.
Frontman Johannes Clemens cleared the decks with a vocal tour de force as brother Matthias let rip as Warfield’s riff lord.
Appetitive Aggression and Dogs For Defence were as explosive as they were alliterative. With The Old Breed gave thrash metal’s new boys plenty to ponder. Simon Rushworth
8. Sodom – The Arsonist (Steamhammer/SPV)
After the tumultuous line-up change of 2018, Sodom began embracing a rawer sound, one that harked back to their 80s roots. 2020’s Genesis XIX, didn’t quite live up to the new era’s promise – but thankfully, The Arsonist more than made up for it.
The explosive opening salvo of Battle of Harvest Moon and Trigger Discipline set the tone for Sodom’s 17th album, with Tom Angelripper spitting acidic venom and Frank Blackfire on incendiary form. Gun Without Groom took us back to Persecution Mania, Twilight Void to M-16.
Amongst the sonic barrage, the Germans saluted former drummer Christian Dudek on Witchhunter, and honoured Tank frontman Algy Ward on A.W.T.F.: both were standout tracks, and a fitting tribute to a pair of metal legends. RH
7. Warbringer – Wrath And Ruin (Napalm Records)
When thrash metal melts faces it sounds just like Warbringer.
At the heavier end of a genre in rude health, the classy Californians crushed allcomers with a record that reached its brutal crescendo on set closer The Last Of My Kind.
John Kevill’s uncompromising pipes powered a truly compelling body of work that doubled up a convincing call to arms.
Wrath And Ruin was built on the premise that the sum is greater than its parts – strength in numbers was a recurring theme.
The twin axe attack of Adam Carroll and Chase Becker never relented: check out their best work on the pummelling Strike From The Sky.
Warbringer brought their A game in 2025. Seven albums in and the US scene leaders’ legacy is secure. SR
6. Sarcator – Swarming Angels & Flies (Century Media)
Seething with raw energy and youthful passion, Sarcator’s debut ripped into the thrash scene back in 2020. Five years on from that self-titled record and the Swedes’ evolution was startling.
Like a collision between Voivod’s avant-metal and Sodom and Kreator’s hellfire, Swarming Angels & Flies was like nothing else we’d heard all year. Mutant melodies, head-spinning twists and startling, searing riffs were hallmarks of an album brimming with ambition, and an opus executed with astonishing skill.
Burning Choir radiated rabidity.
Where The Void Begins sent a chill down the spine.
And The Comet Of End Times was a statement of apocalyptic fury.
They were just a few of the highlights… RH
5. Bomber – Cages And Windows (Self Released)
When Bomber blasted their way into Rushonrock’s inbox back in January we were intrigued.
French thrash metal rarely lands on our desk but this was angsty stuff with a refreshingly old school vibe.
Uncompromising opener From Chaos To Destruction set the tone for a terrifically tight set of Gallic neck wringers.
Think Bay Area cool mixed with a denim and leather-styled beret and a string of metal-studded onions: raw as steak frontman Jürgen Wattiez and shredder supreme Vianney D’Alessandro crafted a chaotic bunch of lightning-fast bangers.
Cages And Windows crushed like dungeons and dragons. Give the deathly Graveyard Spiral a spin and thank us later. SR
4. The Haunted – Songs Of Last Resort (Century Media)
The Haunted have gone through may incarnations since their mid-90s birth. And the ’25 version sounded very, very angry.
Detonating with Warhead, Songs Of Last Resort saw Marco Aro take aim at ruthless warmongers, backed by band off the leash and returning, gleefully, into the fray.
There was little sign of Unseen’s alt-rock influences and the Swedes ramped up the tempo from 2017’s Strength In Numbers, with a hunger and vitality reminiscent of their early death thrash days. Unbound even saw them giving us a d-beating, while Through The Fire scorched the earth and In Fire Reborn nodded to the band’s Gothenburg roots.
Banged your head to Made Me Do It and One Kill Wonder? This was for you… RH
Check out the full review of Songs Of Last Resort here.
The Haunted photo by Linda Florin.
3. Destruction – Birth Of Malice (Napalm Records)
Brilliant album title. The best artwork of 2025. Ear bleeding as hell.
Destruction bolstered their bulging back catalogue with the sweet 16th Birth Of Malice and it was business as usual for the German vets.
Consistency was the key on a near flawless exercise in old school Teutonic thrash… flavoured with a sprinkling of death.
Schmier’s faithful devotion to a Lemmy-like double assault on vocals and bass never gets old – even if he does.
But age is only a number where Destruction’s demonic co-founder’s concerned and stints on the road with Testament served as a timely reminder that one of metal’s most familiar faces still smashes it live.
Scumbag Human Race and God Of Gore gave us goosebumps. SR
2. Coroner – Dissonance Theory (Century Media)
The world has changed out of all recognition since Coroner’s 1993 sign-off, Grin. But more than 30 years later, Ron Broder and Tommy Vetterli remain two of the most intriguing musicians in thrash.
Joined by drummer Diego Rapacchietti for this year’s long-awaited comeback, the Swiss duo delivered something very special on Dissonance Theory. The deft melodic interplay, the dexterous fretwork, that alluring, futuristic shimmer… they were all there as Coroner cemented their legacy with a stunning set.
From the arcing tech thrash of Consequence, to the shuddering cyber grooves of Transparent Eye, this was the sound of a band reborn. RH
1. Testament – Para Bellum (Nuclear Blast)
When it became clear that Death Angel weren’t about to drop a new album any time soon, our 2025 hopes were pinned on Testament.
And the redoubtable Chuck Billy didn’t disappoint as the punishing Para Bellum set the standard for thrash metal’s magnificent year.
We said: “Testament’s latest offering provides sobering commentary on the seemingly unstoppable rise of smart technology. Foreboding messaging is welded to razor-sharp riffs and neck-breaking beats to create a vibe that’s as vivid as it’s ominous.”
And two months down the line the band’s best effort since the mid-80s continues to demand regular rotation at Rushonrock HQ.
Instant turntable melters included Shadow People, The Nature Of The Beast and ballad Meant To Be.
Yup, there was a ballad. And Chuck teared us up on a choker of a track.
New Testament met old Testament on a thrash metal masterpiece. SR
Read the full review here.
Testament photo by Fred Kowalo.
Enjoyed our rundown of the best thrash metal albums of 2025? Check out our Trad Metal Albums of 2025 here.