From their fifth album, 1989’s Thrash Zone, here is Houston’s own Dirty Rotten Imbeciles (aka D.R.I.) with “Beneath the Wheel.”

Watch the video for “Beneath the Wheel” here below.

Here with the opening track of their 1988 masterpiece debut album Rigor Mortis is Dallas/Ft. Worth’s legendary thrash unit Rigor Mortis.

Watch Rigor Mortis perform “Welcome to Your Funeral” live here below.

I chose this track this week for two reasons: first, it showcases the brilliant guitar work of Mike Scaccia (who was also in Ministry), and, second, because Rigor Mortis is set to release their first album in 25 years on October 7, 2014. The album, Slaves to the Grave, will be a bittersweet moment for fans as it will also be the band’s final album. Mike Scaccia passed away from a heart attack while performing onstage December 23, 2012. He was 47 years old. The band has decided not to continue without him.

Carnivore was a thrash band from Brooklyn, New York. The band was short lived, issuing only two full-length albums. Singer/bassist Peter Steele would go on to wider success in the band Type O Negative and as a Playgirl centerfold. “Angry Neurotic Catholics,” which can be listened to below, is from their second and final album Retaliation.

This Thrashback Thursday is dedicated to the memory of Steele, who passed away from an aortic aneurysm on April 14, 2010 at the age of 48.

From their third album, 1989’s Fabulous Disaster, here is Richmond, California’s own Exodus with the track “Toxic Waltz.”

Watch the video here below.

Here with the opening track of their 1986 debut album
Doomsday for the Deceiver is Phoenix, Arizona’s Flotsam and Jetsam.

The album was the first in history to receive 6 Ks from Kerrang Magazine (their version of a perfect score). Flotsam remains active to this day, though they are still best known as the band that bassist Jason Newsted left to join Metallica after the tragic accident that killed Cliff Burton in 1986. While all five band members share music credit for Doomsday, Newsted was the lead lyricist, solely writing all but three songs (for those he had co-writing credit).