Thrash metal is the metal subgenre associated with distorted guitars, palm muting, and rapid tempos.
The style developed mainly in the United States during the early 1980s, while related scenes emerged in Germany and other countries. Thrash combined the aggression of hardcore punk with the volume and guitar technique of traditional heavy metal.
Its songs commonly use fast tempos, tightly picked guitar riffs, double-bass drumming, and shouted or forceful vocals. Lyrics often address war, politics, social problems, or personal alienation, although themes vary widely between bands.
Thrash metal is sometimes confused with speed metal. Speed metal is a broader term for fast, technically energetic metal, while thrash is generally distinguished by its sharper rhythmic attack and punk-influenced aggression. Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax are widely recognized as the genre's leading American bands.