R.I.P. Paul 'Pee-wee Herman' Reubens. 1952-2023.

The first "one" that started it all. 3 months before the debut's recording, Dave Mustaine was fired while the band was in New York. Kirk Hammett had already auditioned & been hired as the replacement just days before Dave (who is still credited as a co-writer and arranger) was kicked out. The album on a whole is a first signifier for what was a major departure in early 80's mainstream hard rock as it opened doors for metal with bands adopting a faster, heavier, and more aggressive approach. With thrash music's appeal, Dave was not done for his departure quickly led to an idea for his new outift that emerged shortly after within a year. And the rest as they say is history... Happy 40th Anniversary. R.I.P. Cliff Burton.

France

One of punk's all-time best debuts, this amazing cornerstone of hardcore crossover into thrash is still considered the band's masterpiece. Founded in 1981, singer Mike's rantings mixed a quirky personality of goofy humor ingrained in themes of boredom, depression, alienation, conformity and politics. Their classic video for 'Institutionalized' was a popular MTV hit that documented their power to capture memorable teen angst within the slow arrangements charging into anarchic aggression. [BODY COUNT would cover the tune with a clever & funny updated version]. For 'I Shot Regan', the band's record label was apparently paid a visit by the FBI and when convinced that the song was not an advocation for assassination(!) they went away satisfied. Ridiculously catchy and never losing steam, SUICIDAL's impressive & positively received s/t album is a firm establishment of energetic youth and the embodiment of its era. The band would undergo plenty of line-up changes into a more metallic sound but was right on the cusp that would almost immediately see D.R.I come moshing in next. Happy 40th Anniversary.