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

Necromancer · 10-06-2010, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JVB

But it seems to me Metallica have a greater number of songs that really stand out.

Metallica is more mainstream than any of the other bands.

jackhammer · 10-10-2010, 07:03 PM

Anthrax- attitude and the band that introduced many fans to music outside of metal- namely Hardcore and Hip Hop. No mean feat.
Megadeth- probably the most musically dexterous of the big four but their constant line up changes mean that they have never achieved cohesiveness and they are probably the most commercial out of the big 4.
Metallica- rightly held up as the pinnacle of Thrash but beset by ego's and commercial suicide (Napstergate, black eyeliner) and still missing Cliff Burton to this day.
Slayer - It's a cliche but Reign In Blood is still the most intense Metal album out there but their dogged attitude to try to staying intense has actually been to their detriment and have almost become a parody of themselves.

AmongstTheRiot · 10-10-2010, 07:15 PM

I'd say Metallica because of what they did for thrash.

They also got me hooked on thrash metal as one of my favorite genres, and as a bass player I must say that they've had three of the best. RIP Cliff.

**Janszoon** · 10-10-2010, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmongstTheRiot

I'd say Metallica because of what they did for thrash.

What did they do for thrash?

AmongstTheRiot · 10-10-2010, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

What did they do for thrash?

IMO,mainly their commercial success, expanding the audience, etc.

They also got Dave Mustaine writing alot of stuff that would later be used for Megadeth's early albums (Mechanix for instance)

Unknown Soldier · 10-11-2010, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmongstTheRiot

IMO,mainly their commercial success, expanding the audience, etc.

They also got Dave Mustaine writing alot of stuff that would later be used for Megadeth's early albums (Mechanix for instance)

More than just their commercial stuff, they showed that thrash groups if they had the ability, should be writing longer more complex material, and progress the thrash sound beyond the confines of hardcore thrash fans, in order for it to survive as a leading metal genre.

Therefore, we had on one axis Metallica showing where thrash could go, at the expense of not really being thash anymore. On the other axis were Slayer, who despite some variation (nu-metal influences on one album) never ventured too far away from their core thrash sound.

Around the late 8o's most thrash groups had started to slow it down anyway and a number outside the big four had put out albums that were heavily influenced by doom metal. Overkill "Years of Decay" Testament "The Ritual" Exodus "Force of Habit" Being three great examples.

When thrash metal had lost its flame around the early 90`s, groove metal stepped into the void as the economically viable metal alternative.

CISElite · 10-13-2010, 01:57 PM

Metallica routinely checked their music into cash, and for that, they win.

Ska Lagos Jew Sun Ra · 10-13-2010, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CISElite

Metallica routinely checked their music into cash, and for that, they win.

Well, however they made a cent off of Load and Reload takes some variety of talent.

DoctorSoft · 10-14-2010, 07:11 PM

For my money, it's Slayer by far. They are one of the few Metal bands I actually enjoy listening to.

Mary#13 · 10-22-2010, 09:41 AM

In my opinion Metallica's the best from the Big four... =] But I really like the other bands, too... I'm so happy and proud I saw them live on one stage! ^^

View Poll Results: Who is the Greatest of the Big Four of thrash metal?
Anthrax	12	6.98%
Megadeth	47	27.33%
Metallica	69	40.12%
Slayer	44	25.58%
Voters: 172. You may not vote on this poll

10-10-2010, 07:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	Anthrax- attitude and the band that introduced many fans to music outside of metal- namely Hardcore and Hip Hop. No mean feat. Megadeth- probably the most musically dexterous of the big four but their constant line up changes mean that they have never achieved cohesiveness and they are probably the most commercial out of the big 4. Metallica- rightly held up as the pinnacle of Thrash but beset by ego's and commercial suicide (Napstergate, black eyeliner) and still missing Cliff Burton to this day. Slayer - It's a cliche but Reign In Blood is still the most intense Metal album out there but their dogged attitude to try to staying intense has actually been to their detriment and have almost become a parody of themselves. __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

10-10-2010, 07:15 PM	#3 (permalink)
AmongstTheRiot Groupie Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Southern Pines, NC Posts: 36	I'd say Metallica because of what they did for thrash. They also got me hooked on thrash metal as one of my favorite genres, and as a bass player I must say that they've had three of the best. RIP Cliff. __________________ www.myspace.com/amongsttheriot http://www.last.fm/user/TarSaint76

10-22-2010, 09:41 AM	#10 (permalink)
Mary#13 Groupie Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Plovdiv, BG Posts: 7	In my opinion Metallica's the best from the Big four... =] But I really like the other bands, too... I'm so happy and proud I saw them live on one stage! ^^ __________________ I'm not the one that's so far away...

10-13-2010, 01:57 PM	#7 (permalink)
CISElite Groupie Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle/California Posts: 11	Metallica routinely checked their music into cash, and for that, they win.

10-14-2010, 07:11 PM	#9 (permalink)
DoctorSoft Rocket Appliances Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,335	For my money, it's Slayer by far. They are one of the few Metal bands I actually enjoy listening to.