80s Filth
this decade wasn't only just about thrash and glam. Festering beneath mainstream appeal, these bands created some of the most heavy and disturbing music on the planet. |
| 1 |  | Swans
Filth
basically the soundtrack to a crazy person trying to make music out of factory machines and welding equipment |
| 2 |  | Autopsy
Severed Survival
legendary debut from one of death metal's greatest bands. the godly riffs, fat bass tone, abrasive vocals, and complex rhythms made this a behemoth in the genre even to this day. |
| 3 |  | Skinny Puppy
VIVIsectVI
my favorite SP of the 80s. The dark lyrical themes, sexy grooves, and extremely abrasive electronic production make this record easily take a spot on this list. |
| 4 |  | Discharge
Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing
when i first heard this, what really amazed me was just how goddamn heavy this album sounded. A lot of punk bands at the time, while being fast and angry, didnt really quite nail the "heavy" aspect of their sound, with tin can-sounding drums, inaudible bass, and guitars that could use an extra amp or two. That wasnt the case for Discharge. Somehow, they made their music heavier and dirtier than almost anyone else in their early years. |
| 5 |  | Hellhammer
Satanic Rites
Ill be the first to admit being a Tom G Warrior fanboy, but the guy made some of the most excellent and downiright filthy albums of the first wave of black metal with CF and Hellhammer. While I think CF were slightly better on a compositional level, Hellhammer were more violent and furious in their sound |
| 6 |  | Carnivore
Carnivore
debut LP from Peter Steele's band pre-Type O. incredible mixture between sludgy hardcore and Sabbath-like, slow dirges. |
| 7 |  | Big Black
Atomizer
perfect industrial noise rock. |
| 8 |  | Napalm Death
Scum
still one of my favorite napalm releases, despite the fact they've released stone cold classics every decade since their inception. While death metal was still getting on its feet, Justin Broadrick and Co. came in and completely raised the bar for how heavy and extreme music could be. |
| 9 |  | Melvins
Gluey Porch Treatments
the OG of sludge. to say this album and band were influential would be an understatement. One of the most important bands in the history of music. |
| 10 |  | Godflesh
Streetcleaner
the pinnacle of 80s extreme metal. Perhaps Justin Broadrick's finest hour (although some cases can be made for a few other Godflesh records being slightly better). The culmination of extremely crude production, blaring guitar and bass, groovy drum machine arrangements, and deep demonic vocals make this thing a seminal and truly unique album of the decade. |
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