Bay Area thrash metal referred to a steady following of heavy metal bands in the 1980s who formed and gained international status in the San Francisco Bay Area in California. Along with Central Florida, the scene was widely regarded as a starting point of American thrash metal, crossover thrash and death metal.
Jeff Becerra of Possessed, 2008
Slayer's Jeff Hanneman, Tom Araya and Kerry King at the 2007 Hellfest. Although Slayer were not formed in the Bay Area, the band had gotten an early headstart in the Bay Area thrash metal scene, and are often associated (along with Megadeth) as being a part of it.
Exodus guitarist and songwriter Gary Holt live in concert, 2005
Greg Christian of Testament, live at Hole in the Sky, 2007
Thrash metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its overall aggression and fast tempo. The songs usually use fast percussive beats and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead guitar work.
Kirk Hammett and James Hetfield of Metallica (pictured in 2008). Metallica's early work is regarded as essential to the development of the genre in the 1980s.
New York band Anthrax was among the earliest and most successful thrash acts.
Venom's early work is considered a major influence on thrash metal.
Slayer (pictured in 2007) released Reign in Blood in 1986, considered a landmark achievement in the genre's history.
