It's a close match between Megadeth and Metallica. I believe I said this in the metallica thread, but I think they just have more energy than Megadeth. Though, I really like Mustaine's vocals. Plus, the Live in Buenos Aires is a pretty fantastic live DVD. With Metallica though, they just have a lot more songs that I am both more familiar with, and that I can jam out to more. So idk, i'll go with Metallica, but Megadeth is a very very close second.

CAUSE THEY RULE!!!:band:

Slayer. I don't listen to pansy metal so Slayer wins in a landslide.

Oh pah-lease. I agree with you about Slayer being the best, but none of those are what you call "pansy metal".

Metallica totally blows since 89. Megadeth just never appealed to me, Dave Mustaine sounds like he needs to finish taking a dump. And the other is it ANTHRAX? They absolutely suck. And i implore you to watch Some kind of monster and tell me Metallica doesn't come across like seven year old boys in underoos.

You are definitely right about Dave's awful constipated-sounding vocals but Metallica are definitely far from "pansy". They just aren't as self-serious as Slayer. I also think that Slayer showed very little growth over their careers. I don't think a complete change in sound is necessary but you would think after 20+ years they would have shown some variety. Likewise, I'm not a huge fan of Metallica's mainstream songs like "Enter Sandman", but at least the band has shown that they aren't completely limited to one sound. That takes talent. And to say that all their albums since 89 are bad or mainstream is silly. Heck, Death Magnetic could be considered a return to their roots and is farrrrr from mainstream

I'm going to say Megadeath. Just because Metallica are SO over-rated.

my ranking:-

Metallica
Megadeth
Slayer
Anthrax (jury's still out on them, I only have two of their albums)

I have the same ranking, although I also haven't been able to listen to Anthrax much to form an opinion.

Slayer never achieved that much growth as you say. but on some of their albums their was some growth. Megadeth should never have tried to evolve as it was disastrous. Metallica were the only group who were able to evolve and imo did it very well. Despite preferring both Slayer and Megadeth to Metallica, I have to say that Metallica were the most talented and forward thinking of the big 4.

Death Magnetic besides being a return to their roots is one of the best albums in their discography and a classic metal album of the 00`s