When discussing the history of thrash metal, the contributions of legendary Los Angeles thrash band Dark Angel cannot be overlooked. The band’s second album, 1986’s Darkness Descends, is widely considered to be one of the seminal recordings of the genre. In fact, Revolver magazine placed the album on its “14 Thrash Albums You Need to Own” list.

The quality of the album owes more than a little to the fact that it was the first to feature powerhouse drummer Gene Hoglan who contributed heavily to the writing process. Hogan would go on to be a key member in both Death and Testament.

Meanstreak was an all-female thrash band from Westchester, New York, that was active from 1985-1994. They were playing at legendary New York metal club L’Amour when Mercenary Records asked them to contribute the song “Lost Stranger” to their compilation album L’Amour Rocks. The favorable reaction that the track generated lead to Mercenary issuing Mean Streak’s one and only full-length album RoadKill.

Meanstreak is notable for several reasons; not only were they one of very few all-female acts in the world of thrash, but three of the ladies went on to marry members of progressive metal titans Dream Theater. Perhaps the band’s greatest contribution to metal though was their drummer Yael. She would go on to become a metal legend and one of the most respected female drummers in the world.

German thrashers Destruction have been doling out their brand of brutality with an astounding consistency for over 33 years. Such is their reputation as to be considered (along with Kreator and Sodom) one of the “Big 3” of German thrash metal. The band was pivotal not only in the creation of the thrash genre, but in the development of death metal and blackened thrash. To date, Destruction has released 13 studio albums and more EPs, Live albums, and splits to keep track of.

Check out Destruction performing “Nailed to the Cross” from their 2001 album The Antichrist here below. And be sure to check them out on tour supporting Sepultura on their 30th anniversary trek this Spring.

The gang at Loudwire teamed up with the folks over at Filthy Frackers to create a video of a “what if” NES-style 8-bit video game featuring the thrash metal giants of The Big 4 – Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax.

The 83-second 8-bit animated video with chiptune audio features Metallica’s “One,” including scenes from the video of the band members as well as the footage from the Johnny Got His Gun movie; Slayer’s “Raining Blood” (with the band in a live performance sequence); Megadeth’s “Sweating Bullets,” which showcases frontman Dave Mustaine’s multiple personalities from the video; and Anthrax’s “Madhouse,” with zany footage from that music video, as well as guest appearances from retro gaming characters.

Watch the video here below.

British thrash upstarts Sylosis are streaming their killer new album Dormant Heart for free over at their label Nuclear Blast’s website.

Dormant Heart is Sylosis’ fourth full-length album and sees them on the verge of becoming one of the biggest bands in metal. Expect a full review of this amazing new offering very soon right here at GoD. The album releases next Tuesday, January 13, 2015. Meanwhile, check out the video for the first single “Mercy” here below.