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The Big Four of Thrash Metal

Among mainstream and underground circles, the Big Four of thrash metal are generally considered to be:
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music, one of the extreme metal subgenres that is characterised by its signature high speed and aggression. ...

• Metallica
• Megadeth
• Slayer
• Anthrax

Since thrash metal's inception, these four bands have been the genre's most influential and recognized artists, thus the coined term 'The Big Four of Thrash'.
While the first true origins of thrash are still highly disputed, it is for certain that 'The Big Four' pioneered and shaped this style of metal to a major extent, arguably more so than all other bands to come. Even though there are other bands that are still popularly known for their efforts (due to their commercial and critical success), such as Testament, Exodus, Overkill, Sepultura, Annihilator, Kreator, and Venom, it is widely accepted that they are not part of 'The Big Four of Thrash'. Metallica is a Grammy Award-winning American heavy metal/thrash metal band formed in 1981[1] and has become one of the most commercially successful musical acts of recent decades. ... Megadeth is an American heavy metal band led by founder, frontman, and songwriter Dave Mustaine. ... Slayer is an American thrash metal band founded by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. ... Testament is an American thrash metal band from California. ... Exodus is the second book of the Torah, the Tanakh, and the Old Testament. ... Overkill is one of the first Thrash Metal bands, formed in the early 1980s in New Jersey (but often attributed to New York City), and very active ever since. ... Sepultura is a Brazilian thrash metal band, formed in 1984. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Kreator is a popular thrash metal band from Essen, Germany. ... This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling. ...

Metallica

Thrash Summary

Without any doubt, the most commercially successful thrash metal band of all time, Metallica are viewed as the 'biggest' of 'The Big Four'. With more than 90 million albums sold worldwide, they are the biggest selling thrash metal act ever.

Metallica formed on October 28, 1981, and ever since have been hugely influential to the face of metal. The very first line-up consisted of James Hetfield (vocals/guitar), Lars Ulrich (drums), Lloyd Grant (lead guitar), and Ron McGovney (bass).(for further details see members) This initial line-up did not last long, and never released a full-length album, but it did signal the start of the band's amazing journey to stardom. In 1981, a very early version of the song Hit the Lights was recorded for the Metal Massacre compilation, and yet, the band failed to get signed to any labels. Metallica is a Grammy Award-winning American heavy metal/thrash metal band formed in 1981[1] and has become one of the most commercially successful musical acts of recent decades. ... Nickname: Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates: , State California County Los Angeles County Settled 1781 Incorporated April 4, 1850 Government  - Type Mayor-Council  - Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa  - City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo  - Governing body City Council Area  - City  498. ... James Hetfield (born James Alan Hetfield, 3 August 1963, Downey, California[1]) is the main songwriter, lead vocalist, guitarist and a founding member of the American thrash/heavy metal band Metallica. ... Lars Ulrich (born December 26, 1963) is the drummer and co-founder of Metallica. ... Biography Kirk Hammett is Metallicas lead guitarist. ... Roberto Trujillo (born on October 23, 1964) is a bassist, who has played in Suicidal Tendencies, Infectious Grooves, Black Label Society and Ozzy Osbournes band before joining Metallica in 2003. ... Clifford Lee Burton (February 10, 1962 – September 27, 1986) was a bass guitarist, best known for his work with the thrash/heavy metal band Metallica from 1982-86. ... Jason Curtis Newsted (born March 4, 1963, Battle Creek, Michigan) is an American bass guitarist currently a member of Voivod and Rock Star Supernova, but is best known as a former member of the band Metallica from 1986-2001. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Ron McGovney (born November 2, 1962 [1]) was Metallicas first bass player when they formed in 1981. ... Image:Hff026 112. ... The following is a complete chronology of the various line-ups of Metallica, from the groups inception in 1981 until the present. ... Hit the Lights is the first track on Metallicas 1983 album Kill Em All. ...

Sensing things needed to be changed, James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich decided to fire Lloyd Grant in 1982, and in turn recruited a young Dave Mustaine (now of Megadeth fame). With this line-up in place, Metallica recorded the classic No Life 'Til Leather demo. In underground metal circles the demo was an instant hit, sparking major interest in the band's fresh new sound. They played raw, energetic metal, a sound that was largely unheard of at the time. It was young, amateur thrash metal, but it showed a band with enormous potential. Megadeth is an American heavy metal band led by founder, frontman, and songwriter Dave Mustaine. ... No Life Til Leather is Metallicas widely circulated demo tape featuring Dave Mustaine on vocals. ...

Towards the end of 1982, Ron McGovney was replaced with the enigmatic Cliff Burton, and what would be considered the first of three 'power line-ups' was formed: Hetfield on vocals and guitar, Mustaine on lead guitar, Lars Ulrich on drums, and Cliff Burton playing bass. Many of the songs that would be released on their first full-length (and some on their second) were written with the band in this format. An untitled demo (commonly called the Megaforce Demo) featuring the songs Whiplash and No Remorse was produced, and this led to the band signing with Megaforce Records. Whiplash is the sixth track on the first album by the heavy metal band Metallica, Kill Em All, released in 1983. ... No Remorse is the eighth track on Metallicas 1983 album Kill Em All. ...

Upon signing with their new label, the band decided that one last change needed to be made. Dave Mustaine allegedly suffered from a serious alcohol addiction, and with the band on the brink of recording their first album, they needed someone who was more stable. Thus, Mustaine was ejected, and Exodus guitarist Kirk Hammet was quickly recruited. This was the second 'power line-up', and what most long-time fans would come to consider the most innovative and influential Metallica. In 1983, they recorded their debut album, Kill 'Em All, and thus Metallica become metal giants. Exodus is the second book of the Torah, the Tanakh, and the Old Testament. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Under the guise of a thrash metal band, Metallica released another two highly successful CD's: the notorious Ride the Lightning, and the critically acclaimed Master of Puppets. Both albums cemented the band's place in metal history as a class act, with hit songs such as Creeping Death, For Whom the Bell Tolls, Battery, and Damage, Inc. Arguably, these two releases confirmed that Metallica were the band to spearhead metal's movement into the mainstream. Ride the Lightning is American trash metal band Metallicas second album, released in August 1984 on Elektra Records. ... Master of Puppets is the third album by American thrash metal band Metallica, released by Elektra Records on February 28, 1986 (see 1986 in music) in North America. ... Creeping Death is a song by Metallica and is the seventh track on their album Ride the Lightning. ... For Whom the Bell Tolls is a 1940 novel by Ernest Hemingway. ... Battery is the opening track of Metallicas 1986 album Master of Puppets. ... Damage, Inc. ...

In 1986, however, tragedy struck the band as Cliff Burton was killed in a freak tour bus accident. His death occurred in the final leg of the band's Master of Puppets Tour, and for months following, the band's future was highly uncertain. Yet Metallica quickly rebounded, and soon hired Flotsam and Jetsam bassist Jason Newsted. This was the third 'power line-up', and with the group in this format, they would release both an EP, Garage Inc., and the classic 1988 album ...And Justice for All. While the album still retained a lot of thrash elements, it emphasised on progressive elements only vaguely introduced in previous albums (long songs, uncommon time signatures, increasngly complex riffs and drum beats, etc). This is most notably seen in the songs One, Blackened, and Dyers Eve. Still, it is most commonly considered Metallica's last thrash album to date. Traditionally, flotsam and jetsam are words that describe goods of potential value that have been thrown into the ocean. ... Garage Inc. ... ...And Justice for All is American heavy metal band Metallicas fourth studio album released August 25, 1988, by Elektra Records. ... ..And Justice for All track listing Eye of the Beholder (3) One (4) The Shortest Straw (5) One is a song performed by thrash metal band Metallica. ... This page may meet Wikipedias criteria for speedy deletion. ... Dyers Eve is the final song from the Metallicas 1988 album . ...

See also:

• Metallica band members
• Metallica discography

The following is a complete chronology of the various line-ups of Metallica, from the groups inception in 1981 until the present. ... The discography for the American heavy metal band Metallica. ...

Megadeth

Megadeth is an American heavy metal band led by founder, frontman, and songwriter Dave Mustaine. ... Nickname: Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates: , State California County Los Angeles County Settled 1781 Incorporated April 4, 1850 Government  - Type Mayor-Council  - Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa  - City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo  - Governing body City Council Area  - City  498. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Glen Drover (born May 25, 1969) is a heavy metal guitarist from Ottawa, Ontario Canada. ... Shawn Drover (May 5, 1966 - ) is the drummer with the band Megadeth. ... James LoMenzo posing with his bass while still with Black Label Society, circa 2003. ... David Ellefson (born November 12, 1964 in Jackson, Minnesota) is a bass guitar player who is currently a member of Avian, Temple of Brutality, F5 and Killing Machine, but is best known as a former member of the thrash metal band Megadeth. ... Marty Friedman was the lead guitarist for the thrash metal band Megadeth for a period of almost twelve years (1988 to 2000). ... Nick Menza (born 23 July 1964 in Munich, Germany) is a drummer. ... Gar Samuelson born in 1958 in Dunkirk, New York, was the drummer for the Thrash Metal band Megadeth from 1984 through 1987. ... Chris Poland (born as Christopher Poland on December 1, ????) is a jazz - fusion guitar player. ... Chuck Behler played drums for the heavy metal band Megadeth from 1987 through 1988, recording the album So Far, So Good… So What! with the group in 1988. ... Jeff Young is a former member of the band Megadeth from 1987 to 1988, replacing original guitarist Chris Poland - now a solo artist. ... Jimmy DeGrasso (born March 16, 1963 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania) is a American heavy metal drummer. ... Al Pitrelli (born September 29, 1962 in New York, NY) is a guitarist, best known for his work with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Megadeth, Savatage, Blue Öyster Cult and O2L. // Al Pitrelli attended Berklee School of Music in Boston in the early 80s where he studied with other notable... James MacDonough was born on April 3, 1970 in Jacksonville, Florida U.S.A. and is currently the bassist for Megadeth. ...

Thrash Summary

Formed following Dave Mustaine's departure from Metallica and subsequent anger at his dismissal, Megadeth quickly became one of the premier thrash metal bands, and are the second-most successful in sheer commmercial terms, with over 20 millions albums sold to Metallica's 90 million.

Given the reasons for their formation, Megadeth and Metallica fans are often polarised to their respective band, refusing to listen to the music played by the other. It should be noted that, although Megadeth are classed as a thrash metal band, Dave Mustaine originally meant for the band to develop a distinctive sound known as speed metal.

Megadeth came to the fore with their first LP,Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!, followed by,Peace Sells...But Who's Buying? with Capitol Records in 1986. This second album is considered not only to be their breakthrough album, but also one of the defining thrash albums of all time. Killing Is My Business. ... Peace Sells. ...

Megadeth have frequently undergone line-up changes, due in part to Mustaine's known substance abuse and personality conflicts within the band. However, the iconic line-up is generally considered to be that of Dave Mustaine, David Ellefson, Chris Poland and Gar Samuelson, with Ed Repka doing the cover artwork featuring Vic Rattlehead, the band mascot. At one stage, due to damage suffered by Mustaine to the his radial nerve, they disbanded entirely, but have since reformed due to Mustaine's impressive recovery, with their eleventh studio album,'United Abominations' released on May 15, 2007.

See Also:

• Megadeth band members
• Megadeth discography

The following is a complete chronology of the various line-ups of Megadeth, from the groups inception in 1983 until the present. ... The discography for the American Thrash metal band Megadeth. ...

Slayer

Slayer is an American thrash metal band founded by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. ... Location of Huntington Park in California Coordinates: Country United States of America State California County Los Angeles Incorporated (city) 1906-09-01 [2] Government  - Mayor Juan R. Noguez [1] Area  - City  3. ... Tom Araya (born Tomás Enrique Araya June 6, 1961 in Valparaíso, Chile) is the vocalist and bassist of the American thrash metal band Slayer. ... Kerry King (born June 3, 1964 in Los Angeles, California) is a guitarist, best known as one of the founding members of the thrash metal band Slayer. ... Jeff Hanneman (born January 31, 1964, in Oakland, California) is the guitarist and a founding member of the American thrash metal band Slayer. ... Dave Lombardo (born February 16, 1965) is a heavy metal drummer born in Havana, Cuba. ...

Thrash Summary

Anthrax

Thrash Summary

References

External link

• Movie Review: Get Thrashed: The Story of Thrash Metal, including some discussion of the "Big Four"