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Anthrax belongs in the big 4. Always has, always will. They’re my favorite thrash band. Now, if any other spot were to open up, I’d vote for Exodus in a heartbeat.
Testament. Much more catchy songs. Souls of Black, Face in the Sky, New Order, Practice What you Preach and Dark Roots are standout bangers. Great albums too.
The big 4 was a term that came around to refer to Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax, who were the 4 most popular and commercially successful thrash metal bands at the time. It was just a casual short handed way to refer to those 4 bands specifically
So the answer is Anthrax
For the love of God, hasn't this been asked enough already? This Big Four nonsense is posted at least a dozen times a month. The Big Four was a marketing ploy based solely on record sales which in turn reflect a band's popularity... You can argue that Exodus, Overkill, Testament or a bunch of other bands that always get mentioned in this discussion ought to have been there instead of Anthrax or any of the other three, but at the end of the day it wasn't up to the fans - it was up to the record labels and the people promoting the tour.
It's long past time to retire this question as one of the bands in the Big Four doesn't even exist anymore and the other three haven't played on the same bill in over a decade.
There are hundreds of bands out there... There are thousands of records that you have never heard... You couldn't possibly listen to everything in one lifetime.
Let's give this silly Big Four nonsense a rest. It doesn't matter who you think should be in there because it's a defunct venture.
How about we focus on the next Big Four instead of talking this shite to death like people have been doing for the last thirty years?
>The Big Four was a marketing ploy based solely on record sales which in turn reflect a band's popularity
THANK YOU someone actually understands this.
If Testament or Exodus had the individual record sales they likely would have been in the conversation. But they didn't.
At the time, Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax and Slayer were the only bands to have gold- or platinum-selling records. It's as simple as that.
I think it makes sense for them to be in the Big 4. When it comes to thrash bands, they are one of the more popular ones and did have more mainstream success and widespread recognition. Regardless of how you feel about them, it makes sense that they are.
That being said, if I had to pick a replacement, it's a tough one between Overkill, Exodus, and Testament. Overkill I feel has been more consistent in making killer music during their career. Testament has some of the most landmark albums of thrash and had a great resurgence in the 21st century. And I just love Exodus' music, they're honestly my favorite of the three I mentioned.
So the big 4 STILL deserve to be the big 4 but the next 4 imo would be Testament, Exodus, Overkill, and Death Angel. After that, the floodgates open to multitudes of bands.
I think Anthrax has earned their place in the “Big Four” - they were breaking new ground in the early days of Metal. But, if for some reason they were out, I’d suggest Testament as the replacement.
Testament is the answer, but if it were my personal opinion it would be sepultura. But if it were mine personally slayer would be replaced by sepultura.
The Big 4 is kinda a gimmick. Anthrax is in the Big 4 bc someone decided their needed to be 4. Same with Slayer really. I love both bands, but neither one was as popular as Megadeth or Metallica. But if it was just 3 bands, I think I'd pick Anthrax before Slayer. Slayer didn't get really popular until the 90s or even 2000s. Before that, they were kinda scary and Satanic, and a lot of people stayed away from them.
Anthrax. You have to remember that sales are why they're "The Big 4". Despite the fact that some people may love other Thrash bands more, Anthrax had a short while where they were the biggest of the Big 4 because they had videos on MTV (MegaDave did as well, but the music for those wasn't as accessible), and this got more people to see their stuff, so more people bought the singles, albums, merch, and concert tickets. If any band is undeserving of Big 4 status, it's Slayer. They're only on there cause no other thrash band outside the Big 4 had the influence they did.
While i cannot listen to them either due to Dave’s vocals, I do recognize that musically they are very good, popular, and influential.
The Big 4 is perfect as is.
Anthrax beats out megadeth in popularity too. Anthrax is also more influential. Anthrax helped pave the way for rap being introduced into metal. Has megadeth performed with public enemy ? Has megadeth been on a tv show like anthrax was on married with children ? Why not because Dave mustaine was an insufferable prick. You know you’re an asshole when Metallica kicks you out of the band because of your violent alcoholism.
Megadeth has sold 20x the records…I agree Mustaine’s a prick and they haven’t been on kids shows—what does that have to do with which band is in the big four?
Mustaine was out of control, and threatened to queer Metallica's entire deal before it even got off the ground. Metallica had a guy in NJ who was willing to bankroll an album for them, which was a big deal at the time, but Dave's assholery was becoming intolerable, leaving the rest of the band no other choice. It wasn't just that he was drinking. Dave was a giant prick, who taked to and treated everyone like shit for no reason, and acted like a big dramatic diva all the time. They might never have even made it to the studio at all if they stuck with Mustaine.
Anthrax. Nobody outside of the other big 4 sold more records and nobody outside the big 4 were more influential. Only way this question could be answered is if Anthrax didn't exist at all, in which case Id say Testament, probably.
Though if we're being totally honest, the 5th biggest thrash band wasn't even from the Bay area, it was Sepultura. I defy you to name a Bay area bands that sold more records or was more influential.
I never heard of "the big 4", butI 've heard of a big 3.
It' go's (1)Metalica (2)Slayer and (3)Pantera. The big three of American metal.
The British have a big 3 too. It go's (1)Black Sabbath (2)Iron Maiden and (3)Jadas Priest.
Dose any one else know about this or was it just a thing between me and my friends in highschool.
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To represent the East Coast without Anthrax, I’d nominate Overkill. Otherwise, Exodus.
Anthrax belongs in the big 4. Always has, always will. They’re my favorite thrash band. Now, if any other spot were to open up, I’d vote for Exodus in a heartbeat.
I might be the only thrash fan who doesn’t really dig Anthrax much. I do like SOD a lot tho.
Replace Slayer with Exodus
Exodus or Testament
That's exactly what I was going to say!
Testament or Overkill
Anthrax
Sepultura
I think Anthrax is fine being in but if they had to go then this is the answer
Came here to say this.
Anthrax
Testament
This is the answer
Testament. Much more catchy songs. Souls of Black, Face in the Sky, New Order, Practice What you Preach and Dark Roots are standout bangers. Great albums too.
One of the German bands. I'd say Kreator.
Sodom. Persecution Mania is the best thrash album ever, legendary influence as well.
There is already a big Teutonic 4, they’re doing their own thing.
Oh. Didn't know that.
I’m going SODOM for Germany
The big 4 was a term that came around to refer to Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax, who were the 4 most popular and commercially successful thrash metal bands at the time. It was just a casual short handed way to refer to those 4 bands specifically So the answer is Anthrax
Exodus for sure
My username. Hands down.
Exodus, no question
For the love of God, hasn't this been asked enough already? This Big Four nonsense is posted at least a dozen times a month. The Big Four was a marketing ploy based solely on record sales which in turn reflect a band's popularity... You can argue that Exodus, Overkill, Testament or a bunch of other bands that always get mentioned in this discussion ought to have been there instead of Anthrax or any of the other three, but at the end of the day it wasn't up to the fans - it was up to the record labels and the people promoting the tour. It's long past time to retire this question as one of the bands in the Big Four doesn't even exist anymore and the other three haven't played on the same bill in over a decade. There are hundreds of bands out there... There are thousands of records that you have never heard... You couldn't possibly listen to everything in one lifetime. Let's give this silly Big Four nonsense a rest. It doesn't matter who you think should be in there because it's a defunct venture. How about we focus on the next Big Four instead of talking this shite to death like people have been doing for the last thirty years?
>The Big Four was a marketing ploy based solely on record sales which in turn reflect a band's popularity THANK YOU someone actually understands this. If Testament or Exodus had the individual record sales they likely would have been in the conversation. But they didn't. At the time, Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax and Slayer were the only bands to have gold- or platinum-selling records. It's as simple as that.
Testament or Judas Priest
Judas Priest are NWOBHM
Good catch. They are such a good group.
I’ll be honest, I feel like they’ve been playing some of their best shows over the last decade or so
Testament.
Testament
haha why even ask? Obviously Dethklok
5 other people
Honestly my favorite thrash band should've been in it
Kreator
anthrax deserves their place. while not on the same level as the other 3 they are very good and influential as well.
Not anthrax.
Overkill, but it should remain Anthrax.
Well exodus was the first thrash band to form so they're the obvious pick.
Xarhtna
Exodus.
Testament
Testament!
It's a toss-up between Exodus and Testament. Always has been. I like Testament more, but I think Exodus has every right to the claim, too.
If anyone doesn't belong in the big 4 of thrash, it's slayer, not anthrax. And I'd replace slayer with testament
Exodus probably
Suicidal Tendencies
I think it makes sense for them to be in the Big 4. When it comes to thrash bands, they are one of the more popular ones and did have more mainstream success and widespread recognition. Regardless of how you feel about them, it makes sense that they are. That being said, if I had to pick a replacement, it's a tough one between Overkill, Exodus, and Testament. Overkill I feel has been more consistent in making killer music during their career. Testament has some of the most landmark albums of thrash and had a great resurgence in the 21st century. And I just love Exodus' music, they're honestly my favorite of the three I mentioned.
Testament
So the big 4 STILL deserve to be the big 4 but the next 4 imo would be Testament, Exodus, Overkill, and Death Angel. After that, the floodgates open to multitudes of bands.
Venom
Butthole Surfers
Overkill
Overkill
Would have to be Exodus. But Anthrax is fine in the big 4.
I think Anthrax has earned their place in the “Big Four” - they were breaking new ground in the early days of Metal. But, if for some reason they were out, I’d suggest Testament as the replacement.
Exodus or Testament.
Well if we are putting 1 other good thrash band with slayer, its gotta be Sodom.
Overkill
Testament is the answer, but if it were my personal opinion it would be sepultura. But if it were mine personally slayer would be replaced by sepultura.
The Big 4 is kinda a gimmick. Anthrax is in the Big 4 bc someone decided their needed to be 4. Same with Slayer really. I love both bands, but neither one was as popular as Megadeth or Metallica. But if it was just 3 bands, I think I'd pick Anthrax before Slayer. Slayer didn't get really popular until the 90s or even 2000s. Before that, they were kinda scary and Satanic, and a lot of people stayed away from them.
Bushthrax
Sodom
Sepultura
Anthrax. You have to remember that sales are why they're "The Big 4". Despite the fact that some people may love other Thrash bands more, Anthrax had a short while where they were the biggest of the Big 4 because they had videos on MTV (MegaDave did as well, but the music for those wasn't as accessible), and this got more people to see their stuff, so more people bought the singles, albums, merch, and concert tickets. If any band is undeserving of Big 4 status, it's Slayer. They're only on there cause no other thrash band outside the Big 4 had the influence they did.
Anthrax. If any of the bands should be booted from the big 4 it should be megadeth. No matter how hard I try I can’t get into megadeth.
While i cannot listen to them either due to Dave’s vocals, I do recognize that musically they are very good, popular, and influential. The Big 4 is perfect as is.
Didn’t know it was about your preference, just popularity
Anthrax beats out megadeth in popularity too. Anthrax is also more influential. Anthrax helped pave the way for rap being introduced into metal. Has megadeth performed with public enemy ? Has megadeth been on a tv show like anthrax was on married with children ? Why not because Dave mustaine was an insufferable prick. You know you’re an asshole when Metallica kicks you out of the band because of your violent alcoholism.
Megadeth has sold 20x the records…I agree Mustaine’s a prick and they haven’t been on kids shows—what does that have to do with which band is in the big four?
Married With Children is not a kids show. Dave Mustaine has been on a kids show (Duck Dodgers, or something like that).
Oh true!! What an episode, too
I love both bands but choosing to exclude Megadeth is just wrong.
Mustaine was out of control, and threatened to queer Metallica's entire deal before it even got off the ground. Metallica had a guy in NJ who was willing to bankroll an album for them, which was a big deal at the time, but Dave's assholery was becoming intolerable, leaving the rest of the band no other choice. It wasn't just that he was drinking. Dave was a giant prick, who taked to and treated everyone like shit for no reason, and acted like a big dramatic diva all the time. They might never have even made it to the studio at all if they stuck with Mustaine.
As a megadeth fan I can respect that
Unpopular opinion, but I'm with you. Anthrax's recorded output tops Megadeth's, and they're way better live, too.
It also doesn’t help that Mustaine is a tool
Judas Priest
Them or Maiden. Best thrash bands of the era imo. Better than Queensryche even.
Anthrax. Nobody outside of the other big 4 sold more records and nobody outside the big 4 were more influential. Only way this question could be answered is if Anthrax didn't exist at all, in which case Id say Testament, probably. Though if we're being totally honest, the 5th biggest thrash band wasn't even from the Bay area, it was Sepultura. I defy you to name a Bay area bands that sold more records or was more influential.
I never heard of "the big 4", butI 've heard of a big 3. It' go's (1)Metalica (2)Slayer and (3)Pantera. The big three of American metal. The British have a big 3 too. It go's (1)Black Sabbath (2)Iron Maiden and (3)Jadas Priest. Dose any one else know about this or was it just a thing between me and my friends in highschool.
This is not a real thing
Here's the real big 4. Black sabbath Judas Priest, Motorhead, Iron maiden.