EXCELLENT list, Progmetalman. It's hard for me to narrow this down to 1 individual. Thrash is near & dear to my heart, so I love so many of the vocalists who crafted the genre. If pressed, I'd have to go with Russ Anderson. He's both melodic & can growl with the best of them. Best of both worlds. By the way, thank you for clueing me into to Souza's new band Tenet. I had no idea he was still doing anything post Exodus, and this is now on my next Amazon haul.

Like ALL lists, it's impossible to include everyone. I just wanted to also list a few 'honerable mention' exclusions from this list.
 
Michael Haaga (dead horse) - Dude had a sick voice, could belt out the growls to match Hetfield in his day, and wrote some of the quirkiest lyrics ever.
 
Ron Broder aka. Ron Royce (Coroner) - Unique voice. Probably the 'weakest link' of Coroner's sound, but the band's music was so rediculously good, it more than made up for it.
 
Brian Troch (Cyclone Temple) - As far as I can remember, Cyclone Temple only did 1 album. But, what an amazing album it was. Brian Troch's vocals on "I Hate Therefore I Am" are, in my opinion, some of the best vocal moments ever for a rock/metal band. Killer killer stuff.
 
Denis Belanger aka. Snake (Voivod) - Believe someone already mentioned Snake in a previous post, & rightly so, as the dude had a unique set of pipes, and drastically changed his vocals throughout the career of Voivod. Definitely worthy of an Honerable Mention.
 
Schmier (Destruction) - NO thrash vocalist discussion is complete without at least a mention of Schmier. Yea, his voice was slightly (weeell, sometimes more than slightly) obnoxious. But, there was NO mistaking his wails in Destruction's discography.
 
David Godfrey (Heathen) - Definitely had some melodic pipes, and could actually sing as well as growl.
 
Brad Divens (Wrathchild America / Souls At Zero) - Definitely a cool voice in thrash, and had a Heatfield vibe to his voice.
 
Jimmy Hamilton (Intruder) - Definitely a unique 'voice' in thrash, in kind of a similiar way as Schmier, but not quite as annoying, and not having the cool German accent. Little know, but Intruder did some kick ass material in their day, and their cover of 25 or 6 to 4 is actually badass.
 
Mike Muir (Suicidal Tendencies / Infectious Grooves) - Sorry. He's not a great vcalist, per say. But, any discussion of greatest thrash vocalists that doesn't include at least a mention of Mike Muir are invalidated!!! Metal's version of Bill Hicks, with his rants during songs!!! "Who the hell you calling crazy? You wouldn't know what crazy was if Charles Manson was eating fruit loops on your front porch!"
 
James Rivera (Helstar/Seven Witches) - Definitely brought a Joey Beladona/Geoff Tate vibe to the thrash scene in Helstar in the 80s.
 
Steve Grimmett (Grim Reaper/Onslaught) - I know the guy is the butt of a few jokes for being the obnoxious looking dude from Grim Reaper, but he definitely has a set of pipes. It's blasphemy to say this to the Onslaught purists, but Steve Grimmett's performance on In Search Of Sanity was nothing short of brilliant, and it is the best album that Metallica never wrote! Welcome To Dying is still one of my all time favorite 'epic' metal songs!
 
Phil Rind (Sacred Reich) - Any Thrash vocalist discussion must include Phil Rind. Nothing overly special about him, except he definitely had the Paul Stanley vibe to his voice. Plus, Reich were one of the 1st thrash bands I recall that started to infuse more political subject matter to their lyrics, which was definitely a change from the satan, death, murder & pillage lyrics of the time.
 
John Connelly (Nuclear Assault) - "Why don't you think for yourself...Live in this self made hell!!!!" Nuff said.
 
David Wayne (Metal Church / Reverend) - Unmistakable set of pipes. Guy could belt it out with the best of them. RIP.
 
Like I say, I know that you cannot include everyone. I just wanted to list a few notible exceptions.

Don't agree with everyone on ShyFlea's list....but I would *love* to shout out a BIG +1 to Shmier, John Connelly and David Wayne (R.I.P.)
 
And I didn't think Shmier's vox were the least bit obnoxious.  I was a fan from when Infernal Overkill was first released, and I always thought his vocals were really amazing.    I've heard bits and pieces of the new stuff....he hasn't lost a step.

John Bush for christ's sake.

nattmorker


Well, for me, it's no question: James Hetfield. He might not be the best singing-wise, but his prescence and attitude, everything in him screams metal! from the way he stands on stage to the way he plucks his guitar.

Well, as you can see I am a big fan of him.

Well, I totally agree with you, so count me in as big fan of him too!

Holy thread resurrection. I forgot I did this poll awhile back. No one take offense to this but I'm surprised at the amount of James Hetfield love going on here. I get Metallica is the most successful and biggest selling thrash band of all time but these days James just does not sound good compared to a lot of guys on this list. I'd take the runner up of this poll (Chuck Billy) any day of the week over James.
 
Oh and Paul Baloff needs more love. Everyone thing I've read about that guy says he lived and breathed thrash metal. If Zetro wasn't around, Paul probably would've gotten my vote. Wish he was still alive today and Exodus' current front man. No offense to Rob Dukes. He just sounds like a maniac having the time of his life on Bonded By Blood.

@ShyFlea
"Phil Rind (Sacred Reich) -  He definitely had the Paul Stanley vibe to his voice."
LOL. I really don't hear that.

James Rivera - Helstar

How has Matt Barlow NOT been mentioned yet?!  The KING of metal vocalists!

Ya know im not very qualified to answer best thrash singer, out of those bands I could say who I enjoyed more, it would be James Hetfield.... but I didn't cast a vote cause Im really not answering based on the desired criteria.

Firewings


How has Matt Barlow NOT been mentioned yet?!  The KING of metal vocalists!

Iced Earth is power metal bro. Not thrash.

I couldn't vote for any of 'em unfortunately. What is thrash anyways?

Jason Gillespie


I couldn't vote for any of 'em unfortunately. What is thrash anyways?

 
 
Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax, Testament, Exodus, Overkill, Death Angel, ect, ect...
 
Typically the earlier albums from the discographies of some of these bands are better examples of what thrash metal really is as some of them really started straying from the sound starting in 1991 and onward...

Progmetalman

Firewings


How has Matt Barlow NOT been mentioned yet?!  The KING of metal vocalists!

Iced Earth is power metal bro. Not thrash.

Disagree.  They have power metal elements and their last few albums have certainly been more power metal, but to say they aren't thrash metal is crazy talk, in my opinion.  They're listed on Metal Archives as thrash/power metal, as well.  Listen to Stormrider, or hell, all of the Something Wicked album, and tell me they aren't thrash.  Disciples of the Lie is a great thrash song and they have plenty of other songs that fit the bill.  I wouldn't classify their last few albums as thrash metal but definitely their old albums work.  I stand by my guns.  Matt Barlow has an amazing thrash voice. 

I voted other for Phil Anselmo

Ahh dang, too late to edit.  Well, I meant to add that while Iced Earth may not be thrash like Exodus, Morbid Angel, Exodus, Testament etc. etc. I do feel that Barlow is eligible enough for the thrash vocalist spot given his style and the type of metal he recorded with Iced Earth.  I consistently see him in polls for thrash vocalists, at least ;)

Firewings

Progmetalman

Firewings


How has Matt Barlow NOT been mentioned yet?!  The KING of metal vocalists!

Iced Earth is power metal bro. Not thrash.

Disagree.  They have power metal elements and their last few albums have certainly been more power metal, but to say they aren't thrash metal is crazy talk, in my opinion.  They're listed on Metal Archives as thrash/power metal, as well.  Listen to Stormrider, or hell, all of the Something Wicked album, and tell me they aren't thrash.  Disciples of the Lie is a great thrash song and they have plenty of other songs that fit the bill.  I wouldn't classify their last few albums as thrash metal but definitely their old albums work.  I stand by my guns.  Matt Barlow has an amazing thrash voice. 

+1...the claim that Iced Earth is not thrash just blew my mind.  

Hetfield sounds like a poor man's Danzig these days :)
Chuck Billy for the win sir!
Gotta show some love for Zetro also.
Honorable mention: Mike Howe - He only did 3 albums with Metal Church & basically fell off the face of the earth, but damn did he have a set of pipes.
 

GUTS





But seriously, Phil Anselmo

Hysterical!  Well done!

Pantera's groove metal.

I hate, hate, hate when people get nitpicky with metal subgenres.  Only a few types of metal really warrant their own category.  Subsubgenres are even worse.  Pantera's definitely thrash.  It may just be me, but I don't consider 'groove' metal a genre.  It's like when people call a band 'melodic' metal -- well, yeah, all music is melodic by nature...  I hope I don't sound like an asshole, that's not my intention!  Just a peeve of mine. ;)