Editing Thrash metal (section)

====Continued popularity (1990–1991)====
A number of more typical but technically sophisticated albums were released in 1990, including Megadeth's ''[[Rust in Peace]]'', Anthrax's ''[[Persistence of Time]]'', Slayer's ''[[Seasons in the Abyss]]'', Suicidal Tendencies' ''[[Lights...Camera...Revolution!]]'', Testament's ''[[Souls of Black]]'', Kreator's ''[[Coma of Souls]]'', Destruction's ''[[Cracked Brain]]'', Forbidden's ''[[Twisted into Form]]'', Exodus' ''[[Impact Is Imminent]]'', [[Sacred Reich]]'s ''[[The American Way (album)|The American Way]]'', [[Prong (band)|Prong]]'s ''[[Beg to Differ]]'', [[Pantera]]'s ''[[Cowboys from Hell]]'' and [[Exhorder]]'s ''[[Slaughter in the Vatican]]''; the latter three are often credited for being an integral part of the then-developing [[groove metal]] genre.<ref>{{cite web|first=Chris|last=Dick|title=Prong - "Beg to Differ" - Decibel Magazine|date=16 August 2017|publisher=[[Decibel (magazine)|Decibel]]|url=https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2017/08/16/prong-beg-differ/|access-date=10 December 2021|archive-date=11 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811041608/https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2017/08/16/prong-beg-differ/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Exhorder - Slaughter in the Vatican (album review )|date=26 March 2012|publisher=Sputnikmusic|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/48823/Exhorder-Slaughter-in-the-Vatican/|access-date=2 December 2022|archive-date=19 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230919144745/https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/48823/Exhorder-Slaughter-in-the-Vatican/|url-status=live}}</ref> All of those albums were commercial high points for the aforementioned artists. During this period, Megadeth and Slayer co-headlined one of the most successful tours in thrash metal history called the [[Clash of the Titans (tour)|Clash of the Titans]]; the first leg in Europe included support from Testament and Suicidal Tendencies, while the second leg in North America had Anthrax and then-emerging Seattle band [[Alice in Chains]], who were the supporting act.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wiederhorn|first=Jon|date=13 April 2010|title=Clash of the Titans Tour: Iron Giants|url=https://www.guitarworld.com/features/clash-titans-tour-iron-giants|access-date=16 March 2021|website=[[Guitar World]]|language=en-US|archive-date=16 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200216160040/https://www.guitarworld.com/features/clash-titans-tour-iron-giants|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Gilmore|first=Mikal|date=11 July 1991|title=Heavy Metal Thunder: Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/heavy-metal-thunder-slayer-megadeth-and-anthrax-185010/|access-date=16 March 2021|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|language=en-US}}</ref>

Several albums, some of which had come to be known as technical thrash metal, were released in 1991, including Overkill's ''[[Horrorscope (Overkill album)|Horrorscope]]'', [[Heathen (band)|Heathen]]'s ''[[Victims of Deception]]'', [[Dark Angel (band)|Dark Angel]]'s ''[[Time Does Not Heal]]'', Sepultura's ''[[Arise (Sepultura album)|Arise]]'', Coroner's ''[[Mental Vortex]]'', Prong's ''[[Prove You Wrong]]'' and Forced Entry's ''[[As Above, So Below (Forced Entry album)|As Above, So Below]]''.

In 1991, Metallica released their [[Metallica (album)|eponymous fifth studio album]], known as ''The Black Album''. Produced by [[Bob Rock]] (who was then known for working with the likes of [[Mötley Crüe]], [[Aerosmith]], [[Bon Jovi]] and [[The Cult]]), the album marked a stylistic change in the band, eliminating much of the speed and longer song structures of the band's previous work, and instead focusing on more concise and heavier songs. The album was a change in Metallica's direction from the thrash metal style of the band's previous four studio albums towards a more contemporary heavy metal sound with original [[hard rock]] elements, but still had remnant characteristics of thrash metal.<ref>[[Adam Dubin]], [[Metallica]] ([[James Hetfield]], [[Lars Ulrich]], [[Kirk Hammett]], [[Jason Newsted]]), [[Bob Rock]], [[Spinal Tap (band)|Spinal Tap]], ''[[A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica]]'': Part 1, VHS, [[Elektra Entertainment]], 1992</ref><ref name="Gibson Bob Rock Metallica 2011">{{cite web|last=Hodgson|first=Peter|url=http://www.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/News/en-us/metallica-0802-2011.aspx|title=Metallica Producer: 'Black Album' 'Wasn't Fun'|publisher=[[Gibson Guitar Company]]|date=2 August 2011|access-date=2 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130201005154/http://www2.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/News/en-us/metallica-0802-2011.aspx|archive-date=1 February 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/producer-bob-rock-says-he-had-to-prove-himself-constantly-while-working-on-metallicas-black-album|title=Producer BOB ROCK Says He Had To Prove Himself 'Constantly' While Working On METALLICA's 'Black Album'|publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|access-date=April 28, 2025|date=June 6, 2023}}</ref> ''Metallica'' would go on to become the band's best-selling album and began a wave of thrash metal bands releasing more garage-oriented albums, or else more experimental ones.