"The Big 4" DVD captures thrash-metal's most historic event
Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax provide three decades of metal mayhem
Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax provide three decades of metal mayhem
The Big 4: Live From Sofia, Bulgaria (DVD-only version)
Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax
Warner Brothers
(metallica.com, slayer.net, megadeth.com, anthrax.com, warnerbrosrecords.com)
By Thom Copher
This is the one "they" said would never happen - the first-ever concert event in
which "The Big 4" of thrash-metal (Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax)
shared the stage on June 22, 2010. That historic perspective having been said,
Live From Sofia may be viewed as a micro-encapsulated presentation which
documents the forging and maturation of the thrash genre as it has paved the
way for the evolution of heavy metal music over the past three decades.
Anthrax kicks things off with a rousing set which draws heavily from the band's
New York hardcore upbringing, notably its 1986 breakthrough album, Among the
Living. Vocalist Joey Belladonna, who rejoined Anthrax earlier this year for his
third tour of duty, is in excellent form on standards "Anti-Social," "Madhouse,"
"Metal Thrashing Mad" and "I am the Law." The band also offers up one of the
evening's highlights as it breaks into Black Sabbath's immortal "Heaven and Hell"
(in tribute to the late Ronnie James Dio) during "Indians."
Next up, Megadeth storms the stage with "Holy Wars... the Punishment Due."
True to form, Dave Mustaine and company mince few words into its set which
features the career-spanning classics "Hangar 18," "Symphony of Destruction,"
Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax
Warner Brothers
(metallica.com, slayer.net, megadeth.com, anthrax.com, warnerbrosrecords.com)
By Thom Copher
This is the one "they" said would never happen - the first-ever concert event in
which "The Big 4" of thrash-metal (Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax)
shared the stage on June 22, 2010. That historic perspective having been said,
Live From Sofia may be viewed as a micro-encapsulated presentation which
documents the forging and maturation of the thrash genre as it has paved the
way for the evolution of heavy metal music over the past three decades.
Anthrax kicks things off with a rousing set which draws heavily from the band's
New York hardcore upbringing, notably its 1986 breakthrough album, Among the
Living. Vocalist Joey Belladonna, who rejoined Anthrax earlier this year for his
third tour of duty, is in excellent form on standards "Anti-Social," "Madhouse,"
"Metal Thrashing Mad" and "I am the Law." The band also offers up one of the
evening's highlights as it breaks into Black Sabbath's immortal "Heaven and Hell"
(in tribute to the late Ronnie James Dio) during "Indians."
Next up, Megadeth storms the stage with "Holy Wars... the Punishment Due."
True to form, Dave Mustaine and company mince few words into its set which
features the career-spanning classics "Hangar 18," "Symphony of Destruction,"
"A Tout le Monde," "Sweating Bullets," "Peace Sells" and (from its latest LP, Endgame) "Headcrusher." Live From Sofia also marks the
first time that many fans have had the chance to see the band's reunion with bassist David Ellefson, who came back to the fold earlier
this year. The spirited performance exemplifies that this may well be the best Megadeth line-up to date as lead guitarist Chris Broderick
and drummer Shawn Drover smoke alongside The Two Daves.
Slayer follows, opening with the title track from its most recent disc, World Painted Blood. As did Anthrax and Meadeth, Slayer selects
from a familiar catalogue which features "War Ensemble," "Mandatory Suicide," "Raining Blood," "South of Heaven," "Chemical Warfare"
and the-most-brutal-song-ever staple, "Angel of Death." The band, as usual, is in ripping form as guitarists Kerry King and Jeff
Hanneman trade off plasma-soaked riffs and Dave Lombardo fires away at a maniacal pace from behind the drum kit. Bassist/vocalist
Tom Araya, from a physical perspective, seems a bit displaced as he (in compliance with physicians' orders following back surgery earlier
this year) is unable to execute his familiar front-and-center headbanging; his vocals, though, are urgent and threatening as the words
therein. Overall, another great performance true to the Slayer fashion.
As nightfall descends, Metallica hits the stage - all guns blazing - with "Creeping Death." From there, the band re-establishes once again
why it is, in all likelihood, the last remaining great arena-rock band. Guitarist/vocalist/emcee-extraordinaire James Hetfield has the
audience screaming, thrashing and singing to its impressive cache of tunes which concentrates mainly on best-of-the-best faves, including
"One," "Nothing Else Matters," "Enter Sandman," "Master of Puppets" and an extreme, breakneck rendition of "Hit the Lights." Hetfield's
masterful frontman prowess aside, Kirk Hammett (lead guitar), Robert Trujillo (bass) and Lars Ulrich (drums) all handle spotlight moments
with style and grace. It all seems perfectly natural that Metallica is, always has been and always will be the avatar of thrash metal.
The evening's showcase comes toward the end of Metallica's set as nearly all of the performers join in to crank out Diamond Head's "Am I
Evil." Say what you will about this staged number, but to see Hetfield and Mustaine playing along side one another... priceless!!!
All in all, Live From Sophia delivers a lotta bang for the buck as The Big Four gives us timeless classics that we've all come to know, love
and expect. As an added bonus, the DVD gives a ton of behind-the-scenes footage including interviews, rehearsals and other cool
shenanegans. Whether you go for the DVD, CD or one of the deluxe packages which contain both DVD and CD presentations, "Live From
Sophia" is much more than just a nice souvenir of this monumental gathering - it represents an evening for the ages in all its
metal-thrashing glory.
first time that many fans have had the chance to see the band's reunion with bassist David Ellefson, who came back to the fold earlier
this year. The spirited performance exemplifies that this may well be the best Megadeth line-up to date as lead guitarist Chris Broderick
and drummer Shawn Drover smoke alongside The Two Daves.
Slayer follows, opening with the title track from its most recent disc, World Painted Blood. As did Anthrax and Meadeth, Slayer selects
from a familiar catalogue which features "War Ensemble," "Mandatory Suicide," "Raining Blood," "South of Heaven," "Chemical Warfare"
and the-most-brutal-song-ever staple, "Angel of Death." The band, as usual, is in ripping form as guitarists Kerry King and Jeff
Hanneman trade off plasma-soaked riffs and Dave Lombardo fires away at a maniacal pace from behind the drum kit. Bassist/vocalist
Tom Araya, from a physical perspective, seems a bit displaced as he (in compliance with physicians' orders following back surgery earlier
this year) is unable to execute his familiar front-and-center headbanging; his vocals, though, are urgent and threatening as the words
therein. Overall, another great performance true to the Slayer fashion.
As nightfall descends, Metallica hits the stage - all guns blazing - with "Creeping Death." From there, the band re-establishes once again
why it is, in all likelihood, the last remaining great arena-rock band. Guitarist/vocalist/emcee-extraordinaire James Hetfield has the
audience screaming, thrashing and singing to its impressive cache of tunes which concentrates mainly on best-of-the-best faves, including
"One," "Nothing Else Matters," "Enter Sandman," "Master of Puppets" and an extreme, breakneck rendition of "Hit the Lights." Hetfield's
masterful frontman prowess aside, Kirk Hammett (lead guitar), Robert Trujillo (bass) and Lars Ulrich (drums) all handle spotlight moments
with style and grace. It all seems perfectly natural that Metallica is, always has been and always will be the avatar of thrash metal.
The evening's showcase comes toward the end of Metallica's set as nearly all of the performers join in to crank out Diamond Head's "Am I
Evil." Say what you will about this staged number, but to see Hetfield and Mustaine playing along side one another... priceless!!!
All in all, Live From Sophia delivers a lotta bang for the buck as The Big Four gives us timeless classics that we've all come to know, love
and expect. As an added bonus, the DVD gives a ton of behind-the-scenes footage including interviews, rehearsals and other cool
shenanegans. Whether you go for the DVD, CD or one of the deluxe packages which contain both DVD and CD presentations, "Live From
Sophia" is much more than just a nice souvenir of this monumental gathering - it represents an evening for the ages in all its
metal-thrashing glory.
"Are we evil... yes, we are!!" Members of Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax gather after the all-star jam.
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