Speed Metal
Speed metal is the high-velocity bridge between classic heavy metal and thrash, with Motörhead's relentless tempo and NWOBHM precision pushed to the limit. It prizes fast, clean riffing over thrash's harsher attack.
Speed Metal on Riffiter: 763 albums, 61 rated by the community, averaging 3.8/5, spanning 1977 to 2026, from 23 artists including Motörhead, Aggressive Perfector, Deliverance.
Key artists
Albums
Painkiller
Judas Priest · 1990
★ 4.2 · 59
Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?
Megadeth · 1986
★ 3.6 · 44
Show No Mercy
Slayer · 1983
★ 3.8 · 35
Kill 'em All
Metallica · 1983
★ 3.9 · 32
Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!
Megadeth · 1985
★ 3.9 · 28
The Very Best Of
Motörhead · 2007
★ 4.0 · 21
PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard · 2023
★ 4.1 · 14
The Löst Tapes, Vol. 8 (Live at Winter Gardens, Margate, 5th Nov 1984)
Motörhead · 2026
★ 3.9 · 8
Spreading the Disease
Anthrax · 1985
★ 3.3 · 6
State of Euphoria
Anthrax · 1988
★ 3.6 · 6
The Greater of Two Evils
Anthrax · 2004
★ 4.3 · 6
Attack of the Killer B's
Anthrax · 1991
★ 3.0 · 5
FAQ
- Who is the most popular speed metal artist?
- The most popular speed metal artist on Riffiter is Motörhead, rated by 142 listeners.
- What is the best speed metal album?
- Ranked by community ratings, the best speed metal album on Riffiter is Painkiller by Judas Priest (4.2/5 from 59 ratings). See the full best speed metal albums ranking.
- How many speed metal albums are on Riffiter?
- Riffiter has 763 albums, 61 rated by the community, averaging 3.8/5. Browse them all on the speed metal albums page.
- When was speed metal's most active era?
- By community ratings, the most active era for speed metal on Riffiter is the 1980s. Its catalogue here spans 1977 to 2026.
Know the Speed Metal canon?
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