I think they should be in the Big four instead of Anthrax but that is just my opinion.What does everyone think of them?

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They can have Metallica or Megadeth's spot instead.

Agreed.

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They could have been one of the Big Four if their album had been released when it was ready in '84 but it's history now.

Anyway, they are a good band. The first album is an essential thrash classic, the next two albums are decent then the 4th is below average. I haven't heard the 5th. Their 2 'comeback' albums are nothing special.

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I agree with this statement now... but if it was 1984, I probably wouldn't

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Yeah I agree, I don't even see why Anthrax is on that list. Everything I hear from them is goofy shit, involving some sort of hip-hop.

Try listening to more than 4 songs.


Metallica has always sucked. No matter what year it is.

I think there should be a bigger list. It should include Exodus and Sepultura. Early Sepultura was the shit

MTM introduced me to Exodus back when I was in 9th grade! BOUNDED BY BLOOD

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whether you think they sucked or not, they did help kick off the thrash metal movement, so they deserve that spot in the "big four"

and as for "big four" and whether sepultura shouldve been on it, it was mainly the "big four" american thrash acts

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Alright, that makes sense to me now.

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The idea of the big four changing doesn't really make sense. It doesn't refer to best. If that was the case, no one, as exemplified by a few posts already, would be able to agree on what's what.

The big four are what they are because they are just what the name implies: the biggest four. Slayer, Metallica, Megadeth, and Anthrax simply outsold their peers. You could certainly argue Exodus for the next step down, (alongside Testament, Overkill, and I dunno, Kreator or something) if only due to longevity and new popularity.

The big four won't change. Their space was solidified years ago, and even now, with the exception of Anthrax, they usually play headlining shows at significantly bigger venues than their less successful counterparts. If you want to say that Exodus were more influential, okay, I can see that. If you want to say that they have a better consistency record, sure, I'll get behind that. History rarely changes though. The big four label was created as a tool for music and entertainment media. if you use the big four at all, you'll have to accept who's in it.

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yah it has nothing to do with best, just the bands that got big quickly in america.
if it was best it would be like: Testament, Kreator, Exodus, and Nuclear Assault

I'll pass, I've heard quite enough of them. Just to be straight, I've probably heard a total of six songs.


Metallica really didn't suck till after the black album.

I think you're really missing out then. Their first album, "Fist Full of Metal" is really badass.

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totally agree, i would say metallica wasn't horrible though. I mean if im in the mood for catchy thrash then they are one of the first bands that comes to mind (after testament, tourniquet, nocturnus, pestilence, and believer)

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Some of their old material is prety nice, but they're incredibly overrated. All the material they've put out in the past few years sucked balls too.

The REAL best 4 IMO: Sodom, Kreator, Megadeth, Nuclear Assault. Slayer and early Metallica get an honorable mention.

Sepultura has never been a straight up thrash band so they don't really count IMO, but they still rule.

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This is stupid on several different levels.

#1. The 'Big 4' isn't some official list that is updated and edited periodically for purposes of musical quality, quantity, or consistency.

#2. Those of you contesting are constesting an unofficial list popularized by metal rags and a metal scene that existed nearly 25 years ago.

#3. The 'Big 4' were who they were. They were there because they were the 4 biggest bands of their particular genre. They helped to shape and define that genre.

#4. The name of this list which, I would like to reiterate, is unofficial, is the BIG 4. Not the best 4, not the most prolific 4, not the prettiest, happiest, or horniest 4. The Big 4.

The big 4 aren't necessarily my favorite 80's thrash bands, but I can enjoy select material from all of them. These bands (along with Nasty Savage and Fates Warning) were the bands that got me into thrash when I was a kid, and they did the same for many other kids in the 80's. The gateway bands are naturally going to get more attention that a few bands that might have been more talented, and I don't have a problem with that. Without the gateway bands, who the fuck listens to Tankard, Coroner, or Nuclear Assault?

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THANK YOU!

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exodus fucking rule. EVERY ALBUM KICKS ASS.

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yeah exodus is fucking awesome

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Destruction and Testament anyone?

Fuck Metallica and Megadeth. One sells out, the other one writes albums full of ballads... but have you heard all the other old school thrash band's newer stuff? It still kicks just as much ass(some even more) as their early writing.

Destruction
Testament
Exodus
Overkill
Kreator
Sodom
Venom
Mercyful Fate
Sodom
Flotsam & Jetsam
Demolition Hammer

Lets not forget the bands out there today who still are killing with the old thrash roots like Violator, Warbringer, Crucifier, Merciless Death, Bomb Threat, Malicious Assault, Sakrificer, Slaver, Blasthrash, Havok, Infantry and so much more.

There is sooooo much killer thrash out there. It pisses me off when everyone only sticks to Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax. Fuck them.. thousands of bands have already flown way over them and yet don't get notice.

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Yeah, some may not get noticed, but come on. I mean, those four got big due to commercial appeal, not them necessarily being the best. Also, while thye definitely had influence, Mercyful Fate and Venom are not thrash. Come on.

While I agree that several of the bands you listed are going above and beyond what the big four did, some are obscure because they couldn't keep their shit together, and some are obscure because they simply weren't that great.

And in a "frothing at the mouth" shot of personal indignant rage, I can't stand what Warbringer, Merciless Death, Fueled by Fire and the like are doing to thrash. Just because they learned an Exodus song or two and found a pair of their older brother's old Reebok's does not make it okay to write the same rip off song again and again. Bonehead thrash at its finest. No thought in lyrics, no variation in songwriting, and just an overrall feeling of bands that should have stayed in the fucking garage for a bit longer and waited for the pubes to grow in. Give me a fucking break.

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Municipal Waste anyone?

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no

What would you define Venom and Mercyful Fate as being then? They aren't Black Metal, they just influenced it.

What are "Warbringer, Merciless Death, Fueled by Fire" doing to thrash that is bad? Have you ever been to a show of theirs? Its balls out good times, moshing, head banging, drinking.. etc.. thats thrash at it's finest(and what thrash is about). It beats the shit out of what people are trying to define as "new wave thrash" like "Shadows Fall" and so on.

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Well, both outfits were out or a sound that was a slight evolution and tweaking from the NWOBHM sound. Mercyful Fate blended it with a bit of prog, Venom with Motorhead, but both pretty much played NWOBHM.

I have been to shows with those bands, I've played shows with those bands, and what they do is create a fad scene. Its all kids who are diving headlong into the lowest common denominator of thrash and passing it off as genuine. There's a difference between showing your influences and ripping them off.

To top it off, none of those bands can write a page of lyrics to save their lives. The music is middle of the road thrash, but it seems like a bit of a sham when these bands honestly should be in the garage stage still.

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you dont like Execution or Witchaven?



what band were you in? hey look at the brightside, its not that fagXdancing faux-melodeath shit thats plaguing LA also

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Yep yep. All those guys. There are too many to remember the names to right now. Since Seattle has absolutely no thrash scene at all, I depend on all the California thrashers to keep it up.

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I'm in Necroscope out of Riverside. We're not trying to start any fights over this shit or anything, but this throwback stuff really pisses me off.

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well most of the things you said about them was narrow minded.



Those are some harsh words, i think so at least. It's balls out thrash metal that they are playing. They dont need complex songwriting or thoughtful poetic lyrics to create good music. I mean, goond songwriting is good songwriting and good lyrics are good lyrics, and i know what you mean with completely stupid lyrics cause Fueled by Fire do indeed have some very cheesy lyrics, but it doesnt mean that they suck. And as for them being in the garage longer...these bands have been around for at least 5+ years, i know most of them personally, just myspace gave them big exposure around here, and even worldwide I'm pretty sure you know that already. just because theyre unoriginal, does not mean they suck

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I probably came off a bit more harsh than I intended. I know that they've been around for a bit, and I didn't mean that they aren't proficient players. I mean, my biggest beef is that they don't seem to be meshing or really trying to. I don't judge on their recordings, but when I see them live, where a thrash outfit should really shine, it just seems like they're not really trying.

My personal tastes head more for bands trying something of their own. I mean, there are plenty of great bands in the socal area, and hell, those ones we're discussing aren't the worst in the world, I just prefer something a bit meatier. Bands like Exmortus, Sacred Storm, Deception, stuff like that. Bands that take the influence of thrash bands like Testament, Exodus, Overkill, etc. and meld it to something their own. I mean, I'm happy for them in the fact that they got signed doing what they like, we just don't share the same idea as to how we like our thrash played.

I meant no offense, its just a frustration. However, the one thing I'll give them all the credit in the world for doing is getting media attention for thrash. That's great, and every band in the area owes them for that.

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wooo Evildead! although they only had like 1 good album...sadly...exodus was good...i wish they would of stuck with their cheesy "evil" lyrics...i loved those hehehehe.

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Evil Dead! Have you heard the new Agent Steel stuff?

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MUNICIPAL WASTE IS GONNA FUCK YOU UP!

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Evildead's first album is actually really fuckin' good, it surprised me. The second only has some decent moments.

And back with Exodus, I am quite enjoying Impact is Imminent recently. I never really gave it a chance.

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One of my fav Thrash acts.Tempo,Bonded,Fabulous...........GREAT SHIT!As far as the big four is concerned,they could have Slayer's place imo.Never liked Slayer................

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