I won't make any excuses for it, I love thrash - it's my favorite genre of metal and since the resurgence of thrash I'm always on the look out for new 'old' sounding thrash bands.

I am bringing this up because I commented to an Evile thread earlier and I also recently bought the new Havok album ...

So my question is ... what do you think are some of the best 'retro-thrash' or generally thrash releases of the last decade leading up to this year.

I love talking thrash! It's also my favourite subgenre! The paragraphs are sorted by my opinion of each band's quality.

For me, the absolute best newer thrash band is Warbringer. Their last two albums (especially Waking Into Nightmares) hold up against most albums from the 80's. I think they are on their own level in terms of the things that are going on these days.

After them, I'd say one of my favourites is Bonded by Blood, mainly because their ex-vocalist had some of the most unique vocals in thrash. Both of their albums are great, and it's hard to pick between them. I would say that Feed the Beast had better songs, but Exiled to Earth was the better album.

Besides those two bands, I have yet to find bands who have been great on more than one album. Gama Bomb had the amazing Citizen Brain, but I didn't think the follow up was anywhere near as good. Mutant put out an amazing EP called Laserdrome. It's definitely on the same quality as BBB, but since it's only 4 songs and they haven't released anything since, I can't put them on the same level. Lich King is another band that is quickly becoming a favourite of mine. Their first two albums suffered from poor production, but World Gone Dead was a tremendous step up in terms of production and songwriting and I look forward to Beneath the Bomb. Hatchet released a great album with tons of catchy riffs called Awaiting Evil. One band that seemed to be destined for greatness was Invection but they've had some troubles getting their debut album, Facet of Aberration, released. Their two most recent EP's are available for free and I highly recommend everyone check them out, especially Derealization. If you are a fan of Demolition Hammer, you'll probably love Laceration, who perfected that sound on their EP Realms of the Unconscious. Bludvera from the UK may still be on the demo level, but I can assure you that they are just as interesting as any of the bands mentioned in this paragraph. Their vocalist in particular is quite astounding. They have a free demo out now, but it doesn't contain their best song "Infection". If you like your thrash a little more blackened, try out Hellcannon from Buffalo. They aren't quite black/thrash in the Witchtrap manner, but they pack a ton of great riffs. Don't let the name Alcoholator turn you off from some quality straight-ahead thrash. I don't drink, but even I can appreciate their music and laugh along at the lyrics. Mortifier is a relatively unknown band, but they put out a short (26 minute) album that has some quality riffing. This is one band who gets by on the strength of their riffs alone, as I can't remember much else from the album. Merciless Death seem to be ignored by a lot of people, but I think they have a lot to offer. Their music is extremely dark and raw, but very concise.

All of the bands listed above are 100% worth getting into. There are some other cool bands out there who I'll name drop now, but I'd say you wait until you've heard all of the above bands before you listen to the following: Excruciator, Fatal Embrace, Fog of War, Fueled by Fire, Head on Collision, Hexen, Hospital of Death, Lost World Order, Mantic Ritual, Mass Extinction, Mortal Infinity, Toxic Holocaust, Vektor (I'm really not a huge fan ), Violator

You mentioned Evile and Havok and I'd agree they are probably two of the better bands in the scene. I still haven't heard the new Evile though, and Havok went from a very mediocre debut to an amazing follow-up.

Thanks for the run down! Some great suggestions there

Also to throw in another band that you may like:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqIFRfnZFec

Suicidal Angels - I love the greek accent the singer has, it has that feel Max Cavalera's accent had back in the early days in Sepultura (of course Max is Brazilian but you get the picture..)

Evile and Havok are the best modern thrash metal bands, in my opinion.

The best thrash album in recent years, however, is definitely Heathen - The Evolution of Chaos.

From 2011:

In Malice's Wake - The Thrashening
Bloodride - Crowned In Hell
Cricified Mortals - s/t
Accu§er - Dependent Domination
Antichrist - Forbidden World
Crustacean - Greed, Tyranny & Sodomy
Excruciator - Devouring
Godslave - Into The Black
Mortillery - Murder Death Kill
The Force - Nations Under Attack
Chainsaw - Permanent Menace
King's-Evil - Sacrosanct
Headshot - Synchronicity
Onslaught - Sounds Of Violence
Tyranex - Extermination Has Begun
Injury - Unleash The Violence
Degradation - Juggernaut
Hellfighter - Damnation's Wings
Beyond The Grave - The Terror Beyond
Armor Column - Maximum Collateral Damage
Amoricide - Storm Of violence
Martyrd - Maniac
Havok - Time Is Up
Decimator - Bloodstained
Witheria- Vanishing Order
Godslave - Into The Black
Breathless - Thrashumancy
Violentor - Violentor
Deathraiser - Violent Aggression
Warbringer - Worlds Torn Asunder
Cyst - Despisers Of This Mortal Coil
Diamond Plate - Generation Why?
Sakrificer - Relentless Torment
Insinnerator - Stalagmite Of Ice
Axegressor - Next
Evile - Five Serpent's Teeth
Mortal Sin - Psychology Of Death
Battery - Nuke
Bitter End - Have A Nice Death
Tornado - Amsterdamn, Hellsinki
Stillnes - Prision Del Miedo
Stagewar - Living On Trash
Sabretung - Conquest
...

There are way to many good albums from the decade 2001-2010 to mention them all, so only some highlights:

Lazarus A.D. - The Onslaught
Space Eater - Aftershock
Lethal - Annihilation Agenda
Fog Of War - s/t
Vindicator - The Antique Witcheries
Wicca - Bloodrush
Desilence - Wreck The Silence
Explosicum - Conflict
Bloodrunner - Total Annihilation
Crucifier - Cursed Cross
Hellcannon - Infekted With Violence
Prayers Of Sanity - Religion Blindness
National Suicide - The Old Family Is Still Alive
Aggression - Moshpirit
Urto - Upside Down
Mutant - Laserdrome
Pitiful Reign - Visual Violence
Warpath - Damnation
Nuclear - Jehovirus
Bloody - Engines Of Sin
Mortifier - Underground Noise
Scythe - The Seventh Day
Tormenter - Pulse Of Terror
Forgery (Hellbringer) - Hellbringer
Arkayic Revolt - Undead Man Walking
Fatal - The Law
Bomb Threat - Inquisition
Bywar - Heretic Signs
Gama Bomb - Citizen Brain
Violator - Chemical Assault
Violent Attack - The Final Massacre
Judgment Hammer - Arbiter Of Fate
No Race - Tears Of Nature
Mass Extinction - Creation's Undoing
Mentally Defiled - The Thrash Brigade
Guillotine - Blood Money
Hexen - State Of Insurgancy
Holy Moses - Agony Of Death
Negligence - Options Of A Trapped Mind
Prophecy - Legions Of Violence
Redimoni - Into The Coiling Arms Of Mayhem
Torture Squad - Hellbound
Anger As Art - Disfigure
Bothers - No Way Out
Grief Of War - Worship
Invection - Demented Deception
Mantic Ritual - Executioner
Minax - Vengeance Rising
Potential Threat - A New Threat Level
Sacrifice - The Ones I Condemn
Savage Messiah - Insurrection Rising
Septic Christ - Infected Existence
Suicidal Angels - Sanctify The Darkness
Tenet - Sovereign
Warbeast - Krush The Enemy
Whorehouse - Execution Of Humanity
Vulcan - Stripped Into Reality
Rezet - Have Gun, Will Travel
Legen Beltza - Need To Suffer
Korzus - Discipline Of Hate
Kaos - The Pits Of Existence
Horrifier - Grim Fate
Andralls - Inner Trauma
Hatred - Destruction manual
Fueled By Fire - Plunging Into Darkness
Deathfist - Too Hot To Burn
Dark Order - Cold War Of The Condor
Anihilated - Scorched Earth Policy
Spellbound - Incoming Destiny
Dekapitator - The Storm Before The Calm
Mastery - Lethal Legacy
Abandoned - Thras Notes
Uppercut - Reanimation Of hate
Cyst - Concussion Symphony
Blackness - Dawn Of The New Sun
Mechanix - History Re-Rotten
...

what the other guys said so far, plus INVECTION, IMMACULATE, TEMPLE OF BLOOD, the HORDE

Avenger of Blood - Death Brigade

Havok's Time is up leads the way. By far...

There isn't a bad song on this album. It's fast, memorable and aggressive.

I wish the old school bands like Metallica and Megadeth can still deliver such music, instead of experimenting new sounds, which the fans try to force and convince themselves to like.

I don't know what it is but I just never find myself listening to these new thrash bands as much as the older bands despite liking what I hear.

I own albums of Evile, Fueled By Fire, Toxic Holocaust, and Vektor, but the only one I frequently listen to is Black Future.

I keep hearing a lot of good about Havok though so I'm definitely giving them a shot

The only new retro-thrash band I like right now is Evile. But i'm sure there are a few other good ones. Most are crappy and half-assed...

Gee wiz firestarter! Now that is an infernal amount of thrash bands... you can't seriously tell me you listen to that never ending list... how about picking like 10 of your favorites that you actually listen to

Skeletonwitch by a mile.

Sure they throw in a good bit of blackened goodness, but the roots are still pure old thrash.
Havok is also great, they stand out a bit more from the other bands in the retro-thrash movement
Hexen is also a personal favorite.
And last but not least, Dr. Living dead for my crossover needs.

I dig me some Hatchet

Adamantine - Downfall Of Adamastor
Am I Blood - Existence Of Trauma
Beyond Description - Proof Of The Truth
Blackend - The Last Thing Undone
Breathless - Thrashumancy
Chaos Divine - The Human Connection
Decimator - Bloodstained
Devil On Earth - Hunting, Shooting, Slashing, And Thrashing.
Dynahead - Youniverse
Essence - Lost In Violence
Generation Kill - Red, White, And Blood
Injury - Unleash The Violence
Predatory Violence - Hate Nation
Revoker - Revenge For The Ruthless
Thrash Or Die - Poser Holocaust
Vortex - Drink Bat Blood
Volture - Shocking It's Pray

Wargod

NP: Trillium - Alloy

First off,
very glad you properly call it THRASH as I seen others call it "trash"... these are the Yngwie/TonyMacalpine type shredders I knew back in highschool in the 1980s who thought they knew it all.

lots of new stuff out there is great, like Ultimatum, Diamond Plate, Fatality, Thrash Or Die, etc
but what about older bands that are still around?

AT WAR
ANVIL BITCH
DEATHRASH
ROTTING CORPSE

Eliminator - Breaking The Wheel
Avegenger Of Blood - Death Brigade

ELIMINATOR - Breaking the Wheel
LICH KING - World Gone Dead
EXODUS - Tempo of the Damned, Atrocity Exhibition B
TEMPLE OF BLOOD - Overlord
MEGADETH - The System Has Failed, Endgame
MASTERIFF - demo
INFANTRY - demo
IMMACULATE - Atheist Crusade
SLAYER - World Painted Blood
WARPATH - Damnation
SUICIDAL ANGELS - Eternal Domination
VIOLATOR - Chemical Assault
GAMA BOMB - Citizen Brain

avenger of blood is my fave.t he other band i liked was lethal strike, they where very energetic and lotso f fun, i even moshed when they played around jersey city on new jersey last month

Havok rates pretty high on my list of newer bands.

Also like Disaffection "Begin the Revolution" quite a bit.