Anthrax Guitarist Would Add Exodus To Big Four

To see a Big Four show with its lineup of Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax, is to witnessing a masterclass in thrash metal.

But what if it were a Big Five? Who would you add to the lineup?

Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian has an idea. He recently said tat there's only one other band that deserves a place in the elitist thrash school, and that's Exodus.

"The only other band really that it would make sense [to include] as far as American thrash-metal would be Exodus, because they were there right at the beginning as well. Their first album came out right at the same time as the rest of us. So I mean, to me, yes - if you were gonna add a fifth band, certainly I would think Exodus would be able to fill that slot very easily," he told Georgia Straight.

Ian also revealed his personal favorite act from the Big Four:

"If you went into my iTunes and you looked at the play count to see what songs I listen to the most, I would probably bet Slayer gets played more than Metallica or Megadeth."

Their collective live album "The Big Four: Live From Sofia, Bulgaria" went double-platinum this year - though as Blabbermouth note, it helped that the album came with two discs, which meant they only had to sell 50,000 units to pass the 100,000 threshold to claim the double-platinum certification.

Who would you add to the Big Four lineup if you had a choice? Let us know in the comments.

Comments

[ex4ll]

what about diamondhead?? without them none of the big four would exist!

[YorkshireMinor]

Diamonds head are NWOBHM not thrash

[YorkshireMinor]

*Diamond

[link no1]

I facepalmed so hard I'm going to need re-constructive surgery...

[guitarist41]

Sounds like you just slapped yourself really hard, man.

Not smart.

[Zeppfan69]

If u read it scott ian said AMERICAN thrash metal bands, Diamond Head formed in England

[BradIon1995]

'Murica.

[Braykah]

Scott is right, Exodus were one of the first bands along with Metallica and Slayer to lay the foundation for the whole genre, and definitely deserve more recognition. Also, Tom Hunting is one hell of a drummer.

[Lightning_Ray]

Also, f*cking Gary Holt. Exodus, Testament, Overkill, I mean... there's so many bands that it's nearly impossible to pick just a few.

[GhostPlayground]

Contrary to popular belief, the big four actually applies to the four most commercially successful thrash albums of 1986.

Master of Puppets - Metallica
Peace Sells - Megadeth
Reign In Blood - Slayer
Among the living - Anthrax

[Xmaniac]

wasnt among the living released in 1987?

[GhostPlayground]

Yes it was, but the album was popular before then because the band played some of the songs (Indians) live and fans recorded them playing it was with tape recorders and distributed them throughout 1986.

Thrash metal was a scene based on tape-trading, so similar situations happened a lot in the early-mid eighties. Which is pretty ironic, considering how Lars attempted to sue Napster for doing pretty much exactly what he was encouraging his fans to do in the eighties.

[link no1]

To be fair, there is a big difference between going to a gig and making shoddy sounding tape recordings that sound like ass and torrenting entire albums that have cost alot of money to record.

[Anchr]

> 1986
> Among the Living
> wut

AtL was from 1987 like Xmaniac said...

[Lightning_Ray]

Absolutely, especially Master Of Puppets being the 1st album that truly brought Thrash Metal into the mainstream culture.

[Mikethespud]

Again UG, could you please start proof reading these articles before you post them?

[My Last Words]

BIG 7:
EXODUS
METALLICA
MEGADETH
SLAYER
OVERKILL
TESTAMENT
ANTHRAX

[DeathMagneticX]

Agreed! I love your display picture btw xD

[Camron62\m/]

what about Kreator and Demolition Hammer? maybe for openers.

[My Last Words]

Add sacred reich.

[My Last Words]

I don't really understand the downvotes. If we're talking openers.. If I still need to convince you:

Yeah, now tell me again you don't want that.

[Elegitii]

Big 8: Judas Priest!!!

[marijuanaman420]

Judas Priest should definately be in that list

[VanTheKraut]

Judas Priest isnt a thrash band you idiots, and I'm one of the biggest Priest fans out there.

[My Last Words]

Priest is NWOBHM if I'm not mistaken

[Skuzzmo]

Yes you are mistaken....Priest have been around since the early 70's. NWOBHM kicked off 79/early 80's.

[Camron62\m/]

now you are mistaken. NWOBHM "kicked off" before that.

[Skuzzmo]

No i'm not and no it didn't.

[rockczar]

NWOBHM started 79 early 80's and although priest and motorhead pre-dated this they were obviously included to the list of bands that made up NWOBHM. but it was first coined in 79

[marijuanaman420]

preist is actually speed metal i asked around

[shredderdan]

100% agree with this comment. If you had to pick 1 of the 3 to make it a big five i would personally have to pick testament though

[ShrimpthePimp]

came here to say this.

[fraberjam]

Just saw Testament last night. Pretty good, but songs are way to repetitive and boring (at least live). Exodus for sure. Or D.R.I.

[Primoslide86]

I would add Sepultura too...just cuz they're cool x)

[Charvel1030]

That would be the best concert ever....an entire day or weekend even of thrash metal \m/ way better than Metallicas Orion festival..that line up was shitty....

[tim1997]

Where the hell is iron maiden?

[Charvel1030]

Iron Maiden is not an American band.....reading comprehension people

[My Last Words]

Uhm yeah.. so ? The reason Maiden doesn't belong here because Iron maiden isn't thrash.

[NoInnerKind]

Testament?

[Maiden95]

My thoughts exactly.

[Burnzyburns]

I understand that Exodus was more important in shaping the genre, but I definitely think Testament put out better albums back in the day. I'll take The Legacy and The New Order over Bonded By Blood.

[Eclectic Lizard]

They where a bit late in the scene. They are great but the Big Four/Five applies to the bands that started thrash/made it popular. Megadeth formed later than the rest though and Anthrax was more NWOBHM on Fistful but nevertheless

[Metal_Mesh]

Agreed!

[xplosive59]

I would add in Testament and maybe Death Angel as well.

[goochmaster15]

Death Angel is perhaps one of the most unappreciated metal bands. I never even heard about them until my dad told me about them, and I've still only heard little about them since then.

PEOPLE MUST BE TAUGHT ABOUT THE AWESOMENESS THAT IS DEATH ANGEL.

[xplosive59]

Yeah, I remember I picked up Act III from a record store one time without knowing anything about the band, turned out to be a bloody amazing album!

[goochmaster15]

Indeed it is. I'm also super stoked for the new album that drops in the spring.

[My Last Words]

3 words: The Ultra Violence

Damn, their drummer was like 14 at the time of recording, ****ing mental if you ask me.

[Revocati0n]

dude my ex girlfriend saw them in the airport and didn't even go say hi to them because she had no idea who they were.


EX-girlfriend.

[KingV911]

I hadn't heard of them until the late 90's when I found some old cassette mix tape with "Mistress of Pain" on it. Kicked arse.

[Abacus11]

Testament should be in The Big Four over Anthrax.

[Leather Sleeves]

Testament started up a bit later. Exodus was really the very first established thrash band.

[PoorePlaysBass]

Anvil? No one gives them cred. Not as high quality or well known as the California thrashers, but they really did start it up.

[Cheeselord]

Anvil are neither Thrash or good, so why would they be on the list?

[Eclectic Lizard]

Not thrash but definitely good. Check out Free As The Wind

[Leather Sleeves]

I always thought Anthrax was a bit confusing to have in there, 'tallica, Megadeth and Slayer all being from the Bay-Area and LA and Anthrax from NY.

[ExDementia]

It's about the genre they helped create in the 80's, not their geographic location.

[Noob_Brood]

I feel like the only one that believes Pantera belongs in this picture.

[Abacus11]

Pantera is awesome but they were still playing glam rock when thrash was starting up in the early 80's. They didn't start playing anything thrash-like or heavy until Cowboys From Hell which wasn't until 1990.

[Noob_Brood]

I get that they weren't "founders" of thrash, but for christ's sake would people consider "Nothing Else Matters" or "Bring The Noise" thrash? It was my assumption that the Big Four represented the Top 4 metal bands of a certain age, reguardless of titles, because those few songs I listed (which there are plenty more) shows that it isn't the title of thrash that means jack...the bottom line is the music and Pantera was one of the most influential bands of my time. Look now...you have bands like Avenged Sevenfold wishing they were Pantera.

[HoddiDarko]

Well, the big four are usually considered the founders of thrash so if another band was added it would have to live up to that.
So I kinda agree with Scott. It's all about 1985 to 87'.

[Camron62\m/]

the big 4 are, and always have been the MOST POPULAR thrash metal bands that POPULARIZED it. they may not ALL be the very first, but i say leave them be. other thrash bands to include should just be openers, although Scott makes a great point.

[goingnowhere21]

I get what you're saying. No one's saying Nothing Else Matters is thrash, but Metallica released a lot of thrash before that time period. These bands are legends in the genre, they've done the most for it, so frankly, it only makes sense that they're the Big 4. No one's putting down any other quality bands that were associated with the genre, but had it not been for these four, perhaps some of the later ones wouldn't have come along.

[gunsnroses#1]

Just because a band has more musical interests besides *chug chug chug chug Raaaawwwwwrrrrr* doesn't mean they're any less entitled to the Thrash Metal moniker.

[Anchr]

If you think Pantera is thrash, then yes, because Pantera isn't thrash.

[gray96]

"Pantera isn't thrash?" Oh, c'mon. They may not always have the speed, but the certainly got the attitude. Besides, songs like "F***ing Hostile" and "Strength Beyond Strength" are as fast as most anything.

[iommi600]

Last time I checked, music had to do with music, not attitude.

[link no1]

Many bands have that attitude. Would you call Limp Bizkit thrash?

[gray96]

I see your point, but you know as well as I do that nu metal and thrash metal have vastly different outlooks. Regardless, it's not like there's a big four of groove metal.

[Revocati0n]

Pantera isn't thrash metal, and everyone here but you knows it.

[plbrynt]

According to Pantera circa 1992 - Real Heavy Metal with a Power Groove..

[gray96]

Perhaps I'm not making myself clear. You do realize that I'm not arguing their case for the big five, right? Regardless, from what seems to your definition of "thrash metal," Metallica haven't been playing thrash since Kill 'Em All !

[rockczar]

i dont think Pantera's playing many concerts these days

[soulgrenade]

Pantera without Dimebag? come on man.

[milkface]

i understand that they weren't thrash. but who **** down voted this!!!

[priestfan76]

Where's the love for overkill? One of the most consistently good thrash bands out there, and plus rat helped start the tape trading movement which is what helped launch bands like Metallica in the first place. Plus Bobby blitz rules

[Agent 00Awesome]

Overkill!

[RichieJovie]

Pretty Boy Floyd

[iommi600]

trololololol

[iommi600]

Fuck yes, Exodus are one of the founding fathers of thrash and never seem to get the recognition it deserves. Respect, Ian, lots of it.

[dd_k]

Instead of Metallica, lol

[link no1]

Yes, instead of the arguably most influential of the big 4.

Go away.

[broken ipod]

you even listen to kill em all retard?

[iowaguitarshred]

That's because Pantera didn't get any recognition until the 90s, and even in their time in the 80s they were just a mediocre power metal band. Pantera is ****ing awesome, but I think they're more pioneers to the dropped tuning, angry 90s era metal.

But these big four had a foothold on the thrash genre long before anybody ever heard of Pantera.

[Camron62\m/]

plus Pantera introduced "groove" metal. some material was thrashy, yes, but still.

[The jazz Man]

Testament

[jfitch832]

I would remove Anthrax from the big four and add either Exodus, Testament, or Overkill.

[hellfireshell]

^ agreed!

[Northernmight]

Yeeea. Pux Exodus and Testament in there. Then maybe i'd come!

Since i never liked Megadeth or Anthrax, i've never been too tempted by the Big 4 tours.

GIEF OTHER BANDS!

[Heideck]

The big four is the Big four, if you want to add other groups and do a super big show with 7 of the pioneers of thrash metal, it would be awesome.

There is a difference between pioneers of thrash Metal (which are more than only the big four). And the the big four itself

[zalant]

Exactly. Thank you! That's why we don't lump Lincoln in as one of this country's (USA) "Founding Fathers". He wasn't there when it all started.

[guitaristren]

It's funny because Anthrax is the worst out of the five. Plus, newer Exodus > old Exodus.

[Darth_Pietrus]

Well if you would base the Big 4 by who came first, then Exodus and Overkill should be in there seeing as they came a year before Anthrax, Metallica and Slayer. Megadeth should be out of the picture entirely as they came 3 years later.
Dave, how do I break this too ya...youre out of the big 4..xD that would suck for him..again xD

[Eclectic Lizard]

Yeah, but when were their first albums? Exodus didn't release BBB until 85. Metallica, Anthrax, Megadeth Slayer were already out there influencing people by the time the rest released anything. Exodus definitely deserves more cred though.

[motortallica]

think about it, lars and james got kirk from exodus. obviously exodus was going same time as metallica but didn't get big which is why it took them longer to release their first album

[SteveStevens]

Britney Spears and Lady Gaga

[Camron62\m/]

not sure if trolling or a failed attempt to get laughs.

[gray96]

I like Exodus, but I think that you could make stronger cases for Testament, Dark Angel, and especially Sepultura.

[gray96]

Stupid comment errors!

[JB95]

Testament!

[SweepSDMF]

The Atrocity Exhibition (both 1 and 2) were two of my favourite thrash albums. Exodus really does still have it, I believe recent Exodus albums are better than any of the new albums put out by the current Big 4.

[Kazaza]

IMO they lacked the technical prowess that Exodus are known for on earlier albums

[hellawaits81]

I believe the Big 4 is based on album sales. That's why Anthrax is there and Exodus isn't.

[Set-Abominae]

Overkill is the best thrash band imo, they're the Big One.

I think Testament is more deserving than Exodus, Bonded By Blood is thrashier than hell but Testament has better albums overall.

[soulgrenade]

Ditch Metallica and add Testament. Of the current "big four" metallica is the most commercial sounding.

[soulgrenade]

7 people slobbered on Kirk Hammets balls.

[Sparda93]

How about Slayer, Testament, Exodus and maybe Annihilator? Not that they are as heavy, but **** me, that guitarplaying just makes love to your entire body.

[Shyak]

I would have to go with Testament over Exodus...

[SkepsisMetal]

I've always said I'd rather put Exodus in the 4 over Megadeth. And Annihilator over Slayer.
Not saying they should, but I would.

[marijuanaman420]

Judas Priest??

[joecobhcmaggot]

testamnet a thousand times more than exodus

[mastodude13]

I totally agree, I would add them before Exodus and Anthrax

[mastodude13]

(Testament)

[GREENWARRI0R]

Anthrax are barely even part of the 4. Also, Exodus suck.

[qrEE]

You suck, Exodus is by far the best Thrash band of the 1980's. Of course, the only competition for them in recent years is Vektor.

If I could make a personal Big 4, Vektor would be in there.

[GREENWARRI0R]

To each their own. I find thrash to be kind of lame anyway. Just can't get into it.

[Braykah]

"Favorite bands: *Various generic electronic and post-hardcore bands*"

Look out, guys, we've got a badass over here!

[GREENWARRI0R]

I like how you have to resort to attacking my personal taste in music when all I said is that I don't prefer thrash. Did I hurt your feelings? Sorry I don't like what you don't like.

[link no1]

Doesn't like thrash metal.

Comes to Thrash metal article to voice his opinion.

Nobody cares.

[GREENWARRI0R]

Considering all the whining and crying it's caused, I'd say quite a few people care.

[CapnCrunch3]

Don't get me wrong thrash is pretty good, but it is pretty generic.

[soulgrenade]

Then why bother commenting at all greenwarrior? if you don't like thrash then move along.

[Braykah]

I'm not attacking your taste in music, just questioning why you even bother to comment on the page when you don't like thrash? Seems pretty pointless to me, don't you think?

Besides, pretty hilarious how you refer to the replies to your posts "whining and crying", when you drop comments like "Exodus suck" and "I find thrash to be kind of lame anyway".

[RndyW0]

You must be listening to some other sort of genre, because if it's thrash metal you heard then you would definitely not be saying that.

[soulgrenade]

You clearly have never listened to Shovel Headed Kill Machine by Exodus.

[dx4life68]

Sepultura

[Colgate Total]

Testament is better than Anthrax and Exodus combined. Exodus is also just a shell of what they used to be without Baloff, and Hunolt to a lesser extent.

[Camron62\m/]

nice to see another deadmau5 fan on a website that looks down on that kind of music most of the time.

[Valgoroth]

The Big Four are the most commercially successful out of the thrash metal scene. I don't recall ever hearing that it was the "best", especially because that is so subjective. I would take Metallica out and replace them with Exodus or Testament, but I think even Exodus or Testament would disagree with me. So by that defnition, the current Big Four is correct.

[gray96]

I like Exodus, but I think that you could make stronger cases for Testament, Dark Angel, and especially Sepultura.

[Joeseye]

Annihilator? Testament?

[AzureMurakumo]

There are too many awesome thrash bands out there to have just a big 4. Testament, Exodus, Death Angel, Forbidden, Kreator, Sodom, Destruction, Dark Angel, Sadus, Demolition Hammer, Aspid, Coroner, Sacrifice, Razor, Annihilator, Voivod, Sepultura, Sacred Reich, Xentrix, Nuclear Assault, Onslaught, Tankard, Holy Moses, Heathen, Flotsam and Jetsam, Metal Church, Anacrusis, Holy Terror, Sabbat(UK), Toxik, Whiplash, Lääz Rockit...

[gray96]

You forgot Vio-lence! (Of course, you remembered every other obscure thrash metal band ever!)

[Face R1pper]

Atrophy and Assassin

[Scourge441]

Morbid Saint, Artillery, Messiah, Slaughter, and Armoros as well.

Props to you for mentioning Razor and Sacrifice, although I'm surprised you weren't already familiar with Morbid Saint and Artillery.

[mylanta2837]

Morbid Saint is possibly the greatest thrash band ever

[mjvdeth160]

dude you forgot Acid Reign, Agent Steel, Mordred, Paradox, Protector, Raydead, Realm, Rigor Mortis, Sarcasm, Shah, United, Vendetta, Vectom, Znöwhite, Watchtower, Jersey Dogs, Incubus, Believer, Hirax, Hallows Eve, Gomorrah, Exumer, Exciter, Entropy, Détente, Defiance, D.R.I., Anihilated, Cromok; all of those are great thrash bands well 2 or 3 are from early 90's but the majority are from the 80's

[rcm93]

surely testament over exodus..? testament over anthrax in my opinion.

[danis666]

Sepultura?

[IrishConnor1994]

If it was a Big Five of Thrash, I'd say Diamond Head is way more deserving than Exodus

[link no1]

By that logic the Venga Boys are an extreme metal band because Devin Townsend admits to being heavily influenced by them.

Come back when you learn the difference between musical genres and influences. Until then, never comment about either topic.

[ToxXicSixString]

To me the tour should have been called the big 5 and had Pantera's name on there in honor of Dime, and what he and Rex,Vinnie, and Phil did. I just wish one of these people who claim they knew dime the best said he the tour is great but it is missing something it can never have, and thats Pantera.

[ToxXicSixString]

Slipknot!!!!!

Just kidding.

[stratomaiden]

why do ppl keep mentioning Testament they're not as great as the big 4. theyre not bad but they wouldn't make a big 5 though.

[Kazaza]

Are you actually joking?
Anthrax, Megadeth, Slayer, Metallica and even Exodus have all released at least one dreadful album. Testament have had a couple of weaker albums, but they're still better then some of the shit released by "the big four"

[Dynamight]

I believe Black Sabbath single-handedly invented thrash when they made Symptom of the Universe, but that's just me.

Bring on the downvotes.

[Face R1pper]

"because they were there right at the beginning as well"

*looks at Overkill*

[Prog_Metal_Head]

Neither Exodus, Testament or Overkill have the mainstream appeal to really add anything to a "big five" billing. I'm a fan of all three bands and not putting them down, but come on, the big four are so-called because they were the biggest, most successful and mainstream bands of the thrash metal boom in the 80's. Adding a band like Exodus isn't really going to suddenly sell thousands of extra tickets, and to be honest, probably won't really do anything but please a few fans who'll already be there anyway.

[AxeHappy]

More Kreator needed.

[zigslip]

Anthrax are the Ringo of the big 4. Testament deserves their spot much more.

[Mr E Meat]

metallica megadeth and anthrax are such boring shite

[slaygod666]

replace megadeth with exodus since megadeth did not exist when slayer anthrax an metallica got there breaks...

[gedlee]

KREATOR!

[33SLASH33]

I would replace Slayer with Exodus ,
Bonden by Blood is legendary thing!

[ImagineTheThorn]

I'd rather see Testament.

[Rebel Scum]

Testament > Exodus

[MichaelScarn]

obscure 80s metal generally sucks especially heavy or thrash- of the big 4, the only great band is metallica, megadeth is alright

[latviancheese]

exodus? No.

SEPULTURA (original) is the only other band to match the other four.

[gray96]

Hell yeah. In their prime, they were even better than Anthrax and Slayer, in my opinion. In fact, I bet Scott said "American thrash metal" as if to imply that he would choose Sepultura otherwise.

[mylanta2837]

Nuclear Assault! Probably the most underrated thrash metal band I can think of, besides Morbid Saint, but they're a little closer to death.

[Wakko444]

Kick anthrax off, add overkill

[arabmetallion]

overkill!

[Benjumanji]

Death Angel ftw!

Also... FLOTSAM AND JETSAM.

[aerosteel666]

PANTERA!!!!! is the 5th no doubt

[Miyagi84]

Sorry, IMHO, Testament should be number 5... Dark Roots of the Earth is simply an amazing album and formation of Damnation is awesome; they've found a way to bring Thrash metal and death metal together and Chuck Billy has never sounded better.

[Wintrow100]

Overkill should definetly be added

[HARTATTACK69]

add Exodus, Testament, Over Kill and have Machine Head open

[FlyingVManiac]

Yes, because Boards of Canada & Converge are generic... somehow I don't think you've listened to either.

[RUSTDOGG666]

Not Exodus but Motorhead. Get it right Scott Ian.

[Ace Guitarist]

Testament should have been in the big 4 to replace Metallica. So it'd be:Megadeth, Slayer, Testament, and Anthrax. Make sense?

[mjvdeth160]

Obviously there are many great thrash bands but come on besides Exodus (not sayin' Exodus shouldn't be there), there's Overkill, Testament & Lääz Rockit which they are pretty thrash titans, obviously bands like Vio-lence or Dark Angel could enter but there are no longer active soo..those above are the best options also I would consider Heathen or Forbidden

[sickassfoo]

no there could only be 4. so you either give them your spot or shut the **** up anthrax.

[essex23]

Wouldn't that almost be like a slap in the face of Exodus though? I mean even they admitted at one point that they seemed like the stopping ground for a lot of musicians that went on to bigger and better things.....Kirk Hammett primarily.

I honestly can't recall ever hearing a song from Exodus....but I can recall too many songs from every other band in the Big Four/Five/Six...however many more people are throwing into the mix here. Personally, I know Testament came along a little later....but so did Megadeth, so I am a little inclined to want to see Testament added to the bill.

[damillion]

If I could make my own big four I'd even kick Metallica and Slayer out to make room for Annihilator and Testament (and I know they didn't release any albums in 1986 and that Annihilator are from Canada and not the US. My list, my rules ).

Exodus though? Meh. They're ok.

[adibadaya]

Machine head?

[--IzuaL--]

Maybe they should add Testament-Overkill-Exodus to this group...

And also I think Pantera's sound is very different from the Bay Area Sound...So that's why they cannot be in the same category with these bands.They have the trash feel but not very similar with them...

[Anchr]

Pantera is by many considered to be groove metal. They might have some thrashy songs, but Metallica aren't a softpop band because of Nothing Else Matters are they?

[Wisthler]

Testament, I mean come on, when they were still called "The Legacy" they were kicking ass already.

Lets not forget that Frankie and Scott love exodus couse just like Anthrax, Exodus encourages Moshpit and Walls of Death during shows, unlike Metallica, Slayer and Megadeth that they don't quite stop if they see the croud preparing a large moshpit or a wall of death

[ottyk]

Get your facts right people. Testament were around at the start, it just took them a while to get an album out but they WERE prominent in the Bay Area in the early eighties.

[Dr. Knox666]

Well, as for American thrash metal they definitely should make it the Big 8, including Testament, Exodus, Death Angel and Overkill.
And here's the Big 3 for Europe: Kreator, Sodom and Destruction.

[sewoo55]

Metallica
Testament
Megadeth
Kreator
Exodus

And get rid of Anthrax

[Nameless742]

That would be sweet. I saw them in Glasgow a year back and they were awesome.

[Irwin Navarro]

Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, Slayer, AVENGED SEVENFOLD. nuff said.

[Wisthler]

Not sure if troll or 0 knowledge of music...

[guitarist41]

Big Four, Big Five, Big Seventy-Two...

Still no Big Deal.

[g.k]

Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, Slayer and Lou Reed.

[Kazaza]

I laughed so hard

[scawti]

Weird for him to say that starting a tour with Testament...

[Stringz of Fury]

I don't get why people argue about which bands are better. Seriously who cares? Just listen to the music you like and shut up.

[iron_man74]

.. an now... best 'heavy metal album of all times: Metallica - master of puppets...(at least,according to Rolling stone).
The complete outcome of the poll:

1. Master Of Puppets - Metallica
2. Paranoid - Black Sabbath
3. Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath
4. The Number Of The Beast - Iron Maiden
5. ...And Justice For All - Metallica
7. Appetite For Destruction - Guns n' Roses
8. Metallica - Metallica
9. Led Zeppelin II - Led Zeppelin
10. Ride The Lightning - Metallica

Four out of ten... not bad..

[logicbdj]

ANVIL (two years before Exodus formed)

[thkoby]

Papa Roach and P.O.D.

[Swanny1989]

I think Testament should be in there in place of either Slayer or Anthrax. Also Pantera should definitely be in there too, if only they were all still alive.

[jordanzio]

this is absolutely correct. Not to mention that exodus has kicked more ass since the 80's than any one of the big 4 bands. Do yourself a favour and put on the atrocity exhibition and ask yourself if metallica could even attempt something that heavy....the answer would be forget about it

[JelloCrust]

Yes Exodus does deserve this slot, I also feel though, that Motorhead should replace Megedeath. . . you know, since Dave Mustain is more than kind of a jerk.

[Synyster430]

Originally, I think there was a Big 6... with Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax, Sepultra and Pantera...There shouldn't just be a Big 4 of Thrash, there should be more for like other sub-genres of metal like Death Metal, Black, Goth, Extreme, Speed, Power, etc.

[DScarface]

Havok and Warbringer

[DScarface]

Goddamnit I was supposed to reply to another comment. >_>

[stratomaiden]

says the guy with a deadmau5 picture