Who is the Greatest of the Big Four of Thrash Metal?

[sixshooter500]

Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, or Anthrax.

Metallica has some the most complex music of the four (and most commercially succesful). Many of their songs are consider top contenders for greatest metal songs of all time. However many feel that Metallica sold out for profit with the Black Album and even more so with "Load" and "Reload". And worse yet they were accused of losing touch with the fans completely with "St. Anger". But "Death Magnetic" has been hailed as the "Great Comeback Album" for Metallica.

Megadeth has one of the most unique sounds of the four, both with vocals and instrumentation. They like Metallica stayed thrash for several albums but then diverge to a more radio freindly old school heavy metal sound which included the much disliked album "Risk", they too eventually floated back to their Thrash roots first with "The World Needs a Hero" continueing onward into "Endgame" which is their most recent album.

Slayer is noted for three things above all others. One, they are the fastest of the big four. Two, they parted ways thrash less than the other three.ANd finally the perceived Satanism stand. (which is not true, they are not satanists,) They are also noted for their controvesial lyrics about serial killers and nazis. However one things stands out that can't be argued with, while megadeth and metallica sometimes gets close, the other three can not beat the blistering speed of Slayer. "Reign in Blood" is considered by many to be the greatest of all thrash metal albums (which i personally agree). However Slayer has been accused by some music critics of having a limited range of musical expression and unable to succesfully create a different sound other than the dark Thrash metal.

Finally Anthrax, my least favorite of them. Anthrax is a good band, however they are the least succesful of the four. I haven't as much to say because i don't know as much cause i'm not as big of a fan. However Anthrax is the only one of the "big four" to change lead vocalist, they are also noted for their foray in "Rap Metal". They do have a very unique sound that has contributed to their success over the years and even though not being a fan i'm glad to know that the band did not break up as it was orginally suggested that they would. To lose on of the Big Four would be a terrible loss in the music industry.

Pretty much this about what you think. I tried my best to express what each band was about and what stands out. Ultimately you be the judge. Who is best, Metallica? Megadeth? Slayer? Anthrax?

Here is my list. 1. Metallica 2. Slayer (only just barely do i prefer Metallica over slayer and only because of the beauty that is in some of Metallica's songs) 3. Megadeth 4. Anthrax.

[Pomegrant]

Megadeth all the way. They didn't sell out hard like Metallica and didn't plagiarize their music.

[SATCHMO]

Exodus is the Grand Pappy of them all, but I'm going to go with Anthrax purely for the sake of Scotty Ian's rhythm guitar work. There's never been anything like his style in the history of metal.

[mr dave]

i'd put Megadeth tops with Metallica close behind. Metallica might have been more stylistically varied but they lost some of their edge with their experimentation. Death Magnetic is almost overcompensating. on the other hand, rather than branch off into other styles Mustaine found ways to force the other styles into his metal.

Slayer and Anthrax is another kind of toss up. there's no denying Slayer is quite possibly THE metal band of metal bands, but aside from Dave Lombardo they're kind of boring, it's just too much of the same kind of intensity, as such i'd rather listen to Anthrax. i saw Slayer in concert recently and was actually yawning for most of their set (conversely i was screaming along to Megadeth minutes prior...) plus the costumes the guitar players have been wearing for years are getting effing retarded. what the hell is Jeff Hanneman supposed to be? football jersey and catcher's shin pads... since when is random surplus sporting goods metal?

having said that i'd watch Lombardo drum all day any day. the end of Raining Blood was like winding up a clockwork demon or something. mind blowing.

[Dr.Seussicide]

Well, if I had to do an equality it'd look a bit like this:

Slayer > Megadeth >> Metallica > Anthrax

[sixshooter500]

Wow i'm glad to see someone prefers anthrax (once again not my fav of the four) but when i put this on facebook they were the only band that didn't get picked, i was starting to feel bad for them you know. And Mr. Dave, you descibe to a T what the exact critsim of Slayer is.

[Unknown Soldier]

Metallica- Certainly follow in the line of Sabbath and Maiden as being one the most famous metal groups of all time. To a degree its warranted as their material pre the Black Album was pretty groundbreaking for a metal band, and they went into areas that other metal bands just wouldn`t or couldn`t go to. I also feel that their forays into a commercial sound, dabbling with blues rock influences and experiementing with nu-metal were pretty succesful, making them without doubt the most talented and diverse of the four. For the record I love "Load" and think "St.Anger" is a decent album.

Megadeth- I`d take Mustaine any day over Hetfield as a front-man and their manic sound on those early albums is the stuff of legend. The line ups of Mustaine, Ellefson, Poland & Samuelson or Mustaine, Ellefson, Friedmann & Menza are what its all about!!! The speed and musical ability at times was breathaking, making them for me the best band of the early phase. Sadly though, it was all downhill after "Youthanasia" which actually started the switch to more traditional metal and the truth is they just couldn`t do it. From this period, most of the material is crap to say the least, in fact it took them 10 years to release another great album "The System Has Failed" 2004.

Slayer-Never going too far away from their roots and sticking with what they know best (some people have criticized them for that on here) Slayer are all about intensity, take that away and you lose the essence of the band. They have actually tried to be more diverse on a couple of albums over the years as well. "South of Heaven" saw them slow things down a bit and they were heavily criticized for it, again its an album I love. "Diabolus in Musica" with its Nu-Metal influences was a no no and showed they should stick with what they know best.....intense head pounding metal.

Anthrax- Gimmicky and laying down the basis for the nu-metal movement with their crossover thrash styles a la Suicidal Tendencies. Without doubt the weakest of the four and only ever released one great album "Among the Living" Anyway, how can you take a group that sings about characters like Judge Dredd seriously? Then there is the John Bush era of the band that brought a grungier feel to the band. Admittedly he breathed some new life into them but from there on it was all downhill again.

In terms of who I sooner listen to well it would go as follows, which also indicates who I think are best:

Slayer> Megadeth> Metallica> Anthrax

[Guybrush]

Both Uknown Soldier and Mr. Dave summarize quite well my own thoughts regarding the 4 big. Anthrax I was never that much into. Metallica I like, but I grew somewhat tired of them years ago. They don't have that much replay-value, I think. Slayer are boring I want my metal with a bit of aesthetics and the full-on intensity approach gets old real quick for me. So;

Megadeth > Metallica > Slayer > Anthrax

Megadeth is without a doubt my favourite of the four. Dave Mustaine is a real interesting character in metal and, although there are plenty of negative things you could say about him, I have a real soft spot for the guy. Plus, he's a genius when it comes to music in more ways than one.





He seems like a really nice guy when he's not angry Also, while Risk may have been a bit of a sellout, I think they're well back in shape. Sleepwalker f.ex from United Abominations (2007) is brilliant! So much more interesting to listen to than what Slayer and Metallica currently do, I think.



Of course the lyrics are ridiculous, but that's also fine

[fritter]

I think Metallica is by far the best of the four; their songs vary a lot more than any of the other three bands'. Metallica can pull off power ballads as well as thrash metal anthems, whereas the other three can only do the latter. This was made pretty clear in the Big Four concert broadcast.

[Unknown Soldier]

Originally Posted by fritter

I think Metallica is by far the best of the four; their songs vary a lot more than any of the other three bands'. Metallica can pull off power ballads as well as thrash metal anthems, whereas the other three can only do the latter. This was made pretty clear in the Big Four concert broadcast.

Nothing like a good ballad to pull in the masses.