Rank the Big 4

by Pethead Fri May 12, 2023 11:27 am

Yes, a big 4 thread. I’m tired at work and I need something to keep me awake. For bonus points, list your favorite album from each.

If I’m not taking lyrics into account:

Anthrax>Metallica>Slayer>Megadeth (sans RiP, which is an absolute masterpiece).

Fav albums: Persistence of Time; AJfA, ~~Seasoning the Obese~~ Seasons in the Abyss, RiP

However, in practice I do count lyrics, so Slayer easily drops to dead last.

by Black Rider Fri May 12, 2023 12:44 pm

Megadeth
Anthrax/Metallica tie
I barely tolerate Slayer, would put Testament before them.

by Pethead Fri May 12, 2023 12:49 pm

I’d put Testament above Slayer, as well.

But where would you rank Torn Flesh???

by MagnusPrime Fri May 12, 2023 12:58 pm

Metallica - ...And Justice For All
Megadeth - Countdown To Extinction
Anthrax - Sound Of White Noise
Slayer - Divine Intervention

(I used to rank Spreading The Disease and Worship Music as my favorite Anthrax albums, but upon revisiting SoWN lately, that one has become my favorite.)

by Black Rider Fri May 12, 2023 1:13 pm

Pethead wrote:I’d put Testament above Slayer, as well.

But where would you rank Torn Flesh???

As embarrassing.

by Black Rider Fri May 12, 2023 1:14 pm

MagnusPrime wrote:Metallica - ...And Justice For All
Megadeth - Countdown To Extinction
Anthrax - Sound Of White Noise
Slayer - Divine Intervention

(I used to rank Spreading The Disease and Worship Music as my favorite Anthrax albums, but upon revisiting SoWN lately, that one has become my favorite.)

You totally missed on Megadeth and Metallica.

by Pethead Fri May 12, 2023 1:14 pm

Black Rider wrote:
Pethead wrote:I’d put Testament above Slayer, as well.

But where would you rank Torn Flesh???
As embarrassing.

No argument here!

by MagnusPrime Fri May 12, 2023 2:39 pm

Black Rider wrote:
MagnusPrime wrote:Metallica - ...And Justice For All
Megadeth - Countdown To Extinction
Anthrax - Sound Of White Noise
Slayer - Divine Intervention

(I used to rank Spreading The Disease and Worship Music as my favorite Anthrax albums, but upon revisiting SoWN lately, that one has become my favorite.)
You totally missed on Megadeth and Metallica.

What did I miss?

Wait...hold on...let me redo this:

Metallica - Master Of Puppets
Megadeth - Rust In Peace
Anthrax - Among The Living
Slayer - Reign In Blood

There...now I have the correct opinion. Whew! That was a close one! I was almost an individual!

Nah just kidding...it's still this:

Metallica - ...And Justice For All
Megadeth - Countdown To Extinction
Anthrax - Sound Of White Noise
Slayer - Divine Intervention

Razz

by Follower of Jesus Fri May 12, 2023 5:27 pm

Metallica
Megadeth
…
…
…
Anthrax

Slayer

by Son of Nun Tue May 16, 2023 8:26 pm

Musically, I always favored Slayer. Their work through Seasons is just legendary. They have the ferocity that I'm always looking for as a Death Metal fan first. Obviously, their lyrics leave much to be desired (mostly due to Kerry King). I distanced myself from them for a long time, but decided to pick up the trio of Reign in Blood, South of Heaven, and Seasons in the Abyss again. Probably their strongest run and surprisingly not too bad lyrically. I always loved Show No Mercy too but oof.

I've become much more of a Megadeth fan over the years (probably drawn in by Dave Mustaine's conversion). I was always a big fan of Countdown and now recognize that Rust in Peace is one of the (if not the) finest Thrash albums of all-time. Megadeth also has a lot of good later period stuff that the others don't.

Obviously, the first four Metallica albums are mandatory and I enjoy them all a lot (especially Ride the Lightning). It is sometimes difficult to feel enthusiastic about Metallica knowing their trajectory which includes not being very good for almost my entire lifetime.

I never got into Anthrax and just don't care about them at all.

1. Slayer/Megadeth
3. Metallica
4. Anthrax

by Pethead Tue May 16, 2023 8:32 pm

I will confess to occasionally spinning South of Heaven and Seasons in the Abyss because lyrically they aren’t really blasphemous and stick to more social or horror themed lyrics.

by Son of Nun Tue May 16, 2023 8:36 pm

Just found this meme

by Pethead Tue May 16, 2023 8:37 pm

As an Anthrax fan, that meme is hilarious.

Anthrax probably fell just about as low as Metallica did when they released Stomp and Vol 8. Yikes.

by Pethead Tue May 16, 2023 8:39 pm

For Slayer, it usually splits between Hanneman and King. When the former was in more creative control, both the music and the lyrics were better. When King was, yuck.

by Son of Nun Tue May 16, 2023 8:43 pm

Yeah, not a Kerry King fan. He tries too hard to be edgy and his theological/philosophical sophistication is about the level of Glen Benton's. "I'M MAD AT GOD. HE MEAN."

by Pethead Tue May 16, 2023 8:45 pm

Exactly. “I don’t believe in God, but I hate him.” Logic.

by Pethead Tue May 16, 2023 8:59 pm

While Kerrick claims to not be a thrash fan, I found this gif of him at the latest doom metal fest he went to:

Rank the Big 4 Slayer-slayer-fan

by crucifyd Tue May 16, 2023 9:14 pm

by Pethead Wed May 17, 2023 7:21 am

Speaking of Slayer, Diabolus in Musica is an underrated album. It’s largely Hanneman compositions and, so long as you skip the garbage “In the Name of God,” it’s a pretty solid listen.

by Pethead Wed May 17, 2023 8:46 am

Side note: other than Fabulous Disaster, I’ve never been able to get into Exodus. I don’t jive with their riffing style, and their lyrics are often just as moronic as Slayer’s.

by Black Rider Wed May 17, 2023 8:55 am

I'm the opposite, I find Slayer one dimensional but I agree about the lyrics.

by Sevenoneself Wed May 17, 2023 10:21 am

Pethead wrote:While Kerrick claims to not be a thrash fan, I found this gif of him at the latest doom metal fest he went to:

Wow, he must have been on really good diet and exercise regime this winter!

by Kerrick Wed May 17, 2023 11:04 am

LOL. For those unaware, my last name is King. I'll happily sign any of your Slayer albums for a small fee. Razz

by Son of Nun Wed May 17, 2023 11:55 am

Black Rider wrote:I'm the opposite, I find Slayer one dimensional but I agree about the lyrics.

Really? Show No Mercy, Reign in Blood, and Seasons in the Abyss are drastically different albums. South of Heaven sounds pretty different too, but I'm less familiar with it.

by Son of Nun Wed May 17, 2023 11:56 am

Pethead wrote:While Kerrick claims to not be a thrash fan, I found this gif of him at the latest doom metal fest he went to:

Doom > Thrash

Fo sho

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