With the anthemic call-to-arms opening track of their fifth album, 1993’s Chaos A.D., here is Sepultura.

Watch the official video for “Refuse/Resist” here below.

Hailing from Brazil and led by brothers Max and Igor Cavalera, the band broke new ground and paved the way for many bands that would follow in their footsteps. AllMusic declared Chaos A.D. one of the best heavy metal albums of all time, calling it “a remarkable achievement not only in its concentrated power and originality, but also in the degree to which Sepultura eclipsed their idols in offering a vision of heavy metal’s future.” To me, the same could be said of each and every one of the first six albums that the band issued.

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.