10 Most Underrated Metal Albums Of The 80s

Slaughter's 1987 debut LP is a neat showcase of the heavier, darker side of the metal world in the '80s.

The Toronto crew entered the budding thrash scene, throwing together relentlessly harsh, fast-paced compositions to blister listeners' ears with. Death frontman Chuck Schuldiner briefly entered the line-up in the year prior to 'Strappado's release. One of the originals of death metal, the aptly-named Death's influence is apparent in Slaughter's work as they drag thrash into guttural, doom-laden stylings.

The pounding, dizzying drums form a perfect backbone to this subtlety-free barrage of metallic rage. The group alter the pace and speed in their songs to allow the choruses some breathing room, ensuring the tracks are more than just a headbanging good time. Look no further than 'Tortured Souls', a speed metal-influenced thrill ride that takes a breath and lets a slower, gloomier chorus break up the maddened proceedings.

Then-frontman Terry Sadler delivers the goods as a vicious, growling vocalist, storming through lyrics that range from genuinely menacing to amusingly boneheaded. His aggressive demeanour is exactly what music like this needs, taking it to that next level of audio ferocity in the process. All in all, this cult classic is a quietly seminal bridge between the thrash and death scenes of its day.