I like when thrash bands:

1. write serious lyrics (some tongue-in-cheek stuff a la OVERKILL, MEGADETH, is fine. But no goofy "Ghostbusters" cover or anything like that)

2. play riffs in something at least close to a key

3. have solos that sound like they know what key they are soloing in

4. play predominantly minor scales

5. have a drummer who locks in tight with the rhythm guitar and sounds like he is playing with the
song and not bored. Criticize Lars all you like, but he did this well in the early days and really spiced up the riffs.

6. have audible bass and hopefully some tasty bass fills

7. don't sing about "society" in general. It's just lame and way overdone.

8. play guitar harmonies that aren't the same old diatonic triads a la IRON MAIDEN

9. play in time or at least pretty close to it (is this asking too much?)

10. BONUS POINTS: hopefully add something a bit new to the genre (not necessary to reinvent the wheel, but at least but your own spin on the old formulas)

I like thrash bands that don't inspire me to write lists of what I don't like.

as long as it sounds good to my ears, i don't really care what rule book they go by (or don't, as the case may be). raw & sloppy, tight & clean, etc. etc. can they write a good song? that's all that matters.

tob, do you like ultimatums into the pit?

I like thrash bands that:

1. Harsh vocals. Not too much into clean stuff except a select few bands.
2. Write more about evil and darkness than other stuff.
3. Good riffs that catch and are played aggressive.
4. Solo's in key. They could sound like Slayer as long as they are in key.
5. Isn't playing thrash for the sake that thrash is back. Not in it for the fashion statement.

Never really thought about it that in depth. I mostly just listen and if it trips my trigger, then I like it. I like simple stuff, I like complex stuff. Some newer thrash that's really been working for me is Vektor and Vindicator. Both bands are night and day apart, Vektor being very complex and progressive with harsh vocals, while Vindicator is pretty straight forward and simple bang-yer-head type stuff with cleaner shouted vocals.

Venom are probably some of the most technically inept "players" in the history of recorded music...yet they have a boatload of classic, memorable songs.

I like it alot of different ways,

I like the ones that play tight and clean with high vocals-Toxik,Forbidden,etc

I like the crossover stuff like D.R.I,The Crucified,Municipal Waste

I like the more extreme thrash as well-Kreator,etc

It usually doesnt matter to me if they necessarily write awesome lyrics or play precise.I can usually find something about different bands to enjoy.I also dig the humor that some bands throw in like Hyades,F.K.U.etc.

I know what I like when I hear it.

How's that for a non-answer?

1. Clean or clean-ish vocals. Anywhere from gruff to high-pitched are ok. At the very least, I want understandable vocals.
2. Some groove. Sometimes, but not always, the technical stuff can go overboard.

I guess that's about it. Never thought much about it otherwise. I either like it or I don't.

I know it when I hear it

I like my thrash heavy and ripping.

Wargod52

SPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED! (ala Dark Angel, Slayer, and later Exodus)

"Tear your head off distortion" (ala Pantera's heavier stuff, later Exodus, Lich King)

Relative simplicity (e.g. palm mutted open-E sections, section of just straight speed picking riffs, etc)

Those are the two prime components that do it for me.

I prefer a thrash band to have high vocals (Exciter, Agent Steel, early Overkill, etc) however that doesn't quite explain why two of my all time favorites are Dark Angel and Zetro-era Exodus. I guess I just like whatever I happen to like

Catchy, melodic/aggressive tunes with groove and speed (but not for the sake of just playing fast as possible)

I am all over the place on this. I like technical stuff like Coroner and Believer, I like fast stuff like Exodus and Deliverance, I like more brutal stuff like Vengeance Rising and Kreator, and I like crossover stuff like The Crucified. I like some of the newer bands, too. Bonded by Blood, Warbringer, and Municipal Waste come to mind. So I guess I like most kinds of thrash, as long as they can halfway stay together and get to the end of the song without spectacularly self-destructing.