Anthrax vs. Testament – Metal Madness 2017, Round 1

It's an old East Coast / West Coast throwdown as Anthrax's Fistul of Metal and Testament's The Legacy duke it out in the Stage Dive Region of Round 1 in the March Metal Madness to determine the Best Debut Metal Album of All Time!

Anthrax's Fistful of Metal debut hardly ever manages to escape the shadow of the band's ensuing albums, but it's getting its deserved recognition here. The sole Anthrax album to feature the wailing pipes of Neil Turbin showed thrash wasn't exclusive to America's West Coast. While the band hadn't implemented the signature style they'd soon develop, there's no denying that Fistful of Metal is a true sonic force.

When Testament debuted with The Legacy, the feeling at the time was that the band would overtake Metallica as thrash's titans. With the advanced chops of a young Alex Skolnick to fuel their riffing mania, Testament were among the most musically astute acts in the genre, capable of surging adrenaline mixed with a fleeting flair for classically influenced guitar playing.

So which album will move on to Round 2 of March Metal Madness 2017? Vote below for either Anthrax's Fistful of Metal or Testament’s The Legacy as the Best Debut Metal Album of all time in the poll below!

(Voting in Round 1 will end on Friday, March 17, at 10AM ET. Fans are able to vote once per hour, so keep coming back to make sure your favorite debut album advances to the next round!)