Jump to content

Who is the best out of the big 4 ???


Radio ollerhead

Recommended Posts

Re: Who is the best out of the big 4 ??? I don't know why the four bands were even likened to each other in the first place. Yeah sure, Metallica and Megadeth to a certain extent, but then Anthrax are an anomaly in that they're East Coast, not West Coast like the other three, and would instead be likened to Overkill in both location and sound, which was heavier than Metallica and Megadeth but not as heavy as Slayer. Slayer, on the other hand, are the true odd one out in terms of sound. They are far heavier and should instead be compared to Kreator, Testament and Exodus

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Re: Who is the best out of the big 4 ???

I don't know why the four bands were even likened to each other in the first place. Yeah sure' date=' Metallica and Megadeth to a certain extent, but then Anthrax are an anomaly in that they're East Coast, not West Coast like the other three, and would instead be likened to Overkill in both location and sound, which was heavier than Metallica and Megadeth but not as heavy as Slayer. Slayer, on the other hand, are the true odd one out in terms of sound. They are far heavier and should instead be compared to Kreator, Testament and Exodus[/quote'] As I've said before, the "Big Four" is merely a term denoting commercial success. They were not necessarily the first four, best four, heaviest four, or fastest four, just the four that have sold the most records.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 months later...

Re: Who is the best out of the big 4 ??? if we're talking purely at a commercial level one must deduce that Metallica are the best of the "big four" as they have sold the most albums and acheived the highest level of commercial success, so in that regard the list would read Metallica Megadeth Slayer Anthrax however looking that the entire bodies of work from all four bands I would suggest Slayer have stayed the "truest" to their thrash roots although their work has been pretty weak since South Of Heaven and certainly since Divine Intervention, I think Megadeth has the most consistent body of work so my list in this regard would read Megadeth Anthrax Slayer Metallica interestingly the first list is the order I discovered the bands, whilst the second is how I've been rating them since discovering the four

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 months later...

Re: Who is the best out of the big 4 ??? Didn't go to Soundwave that year godammit! Oh well at least Machine Head were awesome for this year's festival... As for Metallica, well hard to argue with you there. I still love the black album (I've heard some metal-head describe it as a "guilty pleasure" ;) )and Death Magnetic though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Re: Who is the best out of the big 4 ??? I heard Manson was woeful (booed off stage apparently). I'm not a Slipknot fan either BUT the stage show was a real mindfuck (upside down drumkits, fireworks, crazy clowns running around). Yeah I know it's meant to be about the music but I can appreciate spectacle like everyone else. By contrast System put on a bare-bones show. A few lights, a huge System banner at the back (and even that came down half-way through the set) and that was about it. But fuck me the entire band's sound was the best I've ever heard (especially for an open air gig)!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


  • Join Metal Forum

    joinus-home.jpg

  • Our picks

    • Whichever tier of thrash metal you consigned Sacred Reich back in the 80's/90's they still had their moments.  "Ignorance" & "Surf Nicaragura" did a great job of establishing the band, whereas "The American Way" just got a little to comfortable and accessible (the title track grates nowadays) for my ears.  A couple more records better left forgotten about and then nothing for twenty three years.  2019 alone has now seen three releases from Phil Rind and co.  A live EP, a split EP with Iron Reagan and now a full length.

      Notable addition to the ranks for the current throng of releases is former Machine Head sticksman, Dave McClean.  Love or hate Machine Head, McClean is a more than capable drummer and his presence here is felt from the off with the opening and title track kicking things off with some real gusto.  'Divide & Conquer' and 'Salvation' muddle along nicely, never quite reaching any quality that would make my balls tingle but comfortable enough.  The looming build to 'Manifest Reality' delivers a real punch when the song starts proper.  Frenzied riffs and drums with shots of lead work to hold the interest.


      There's a problem already though (I know, I am such a fucking mood hoover).  I don't like Phil's vocals.  I never had if I am being honest.  The aggression to them seems a little forced even when they are at their best on tracks like 'Manifest Reality'.  When he tries to sing it just feels weak though ('Salvation') and tracks lose real punch.  Give him a riffy number such as 'Killing Machine' and he is fine with the Reich engine (probably a poor choice of phrase) up in sixth gear.  For every thrashy riff there's a fair share of rock edged, local bar act rhythm aplenty too.

      Let's not poo-poo proceedings though, because overall I actually enjoy "Awakening".  It is stacked full of catchy riffs that are sticky on the old ears.  Whilst not as raw as perhaps the - brilliant - artwork suggests with its black and white, tattoo flash sheet style design it is enjoyable enough.  Yes, 'Death Valley' & 'Something to Believe' have no place here, saved only by Arnett and Radziwill's lead work but 'Revolution' is a fucking 80's thrash heyday throwback to the extent that if you turn the TV on during it you might catch a new episode of Cheers!

      3/5
      • Reputation Points

      • 10 replies
    • I
      • Reputation Points

      • 2 replies
    • https://www.metalforum.com/blogs/entry/52-vltimas-something-wicked-marches-in/
      • Reputation Points

      • 3 replies

    • https://www.metalforum.com/blogs/entry/48-candlemass-the-door-to-doom/
      • Reputation Points

      • 2 replies
    • Full length number 19 from overkill certainly makes a splash in the energy stakes, I mean there's some modern thrash bands that are a good two decades younger than Overkill who can only hope to achieve the levels of spunk that New Jersey's finest produce here.  That in itself is an achievement, for a band of Overkill's stature and reputation to be able to still sound relevant four decades into their career is no mean feat.  Even in the albums weaker moments it never gets redundant and the energy levels remain high.  There's a real sense of a band in a state of some renewed vigour, helped in no small part by the addition of Jason Bittner on drums.  The former Flotsam & Jetsam skinsman is nothing short of superb throughout "The Wings of War" and seems to have squeezed a little extra out of the rest of his peers.

      The album kicks of with a great build to opening track "Last Man Standing" and for the first 4 tracks of the album the Overkill crew stomp, bash and groove their way to a solid level of consistency.  The lead work is of particular note and Blitz sounds as sneery and scathing as ever.  The album is well produced and mixed too with all parts of the thrash machine audible as the five piece hammer away at your skull with the usual blend of chugging riffs and infectious anthems.  


      There are weak moments as mentioned but they are more a victim of how good the strong tracks are.  In it's own right "Distortion" is a solid enough - if not slightly varied a journey from the last offering - but it just doesn't stand up well against a "Bat Shit Crazy" or a "Head of a Pin".  As the album draws to a close you get the increasing impression that the last few tracks are rescued really by some great solos and stomping skin work which is a shame because trimming of a couple of tracks may have made this less obvious. 

      4/5
      • Reputation Points

      • 4 replies
×
×
  • Create New...