Dave Mustaine calls for new 'Big Four' of thrash metal as Slayer retires. Who are the worthy contenders?
Earlier this January, thrash metal legends Slayer announced they would embark on a final world tour, following which they intend to disband and retire.
They announced a string of dates through North America supported by a host of legendary metal acts like Lamb of God, Anthrax, Behemoth and Testament to celebrate their final journey as a band.
The announcement marks an end of an era because Slayer, along with Metallica, Megadeth and Anthrax are together widely regarded as 'The Big Four' of thrash. It's a phrase that's in the dictionary of every metalhead around the world and also one that's a great conversation starter in the same circles because of the controversies and ego-clashes centered around it.
Ever since the 80s, the golden era of thrash metal, there has been a constant tussle between the Big Four bands, mostly because of Metallica's overshadowing nature. As recently as last year, Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine expressed how he would love to play a Big Four show where all the bands "got treated fairly" instead of Metallica performing a longer set and getting more stage space than the others.