The Big 4 = Kings of Thrash Metal

History was made yesterday in the middle of the desert, as the Big 4 (Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth & Anthrax) delivered historical performances to the 50,000+ headbangers that united at the Empire Polo Grounds in Indio, California, as one big Heavy Metal family . Seeing so many headbangers in one place is living proof that Heavy Music is alive and well!

The show of the year here in the US kicked off at 4 o'clock with a highly energetic set by Anthrax, who banged out song after song to the hungry crowd. The band sounded very tight and from the moment they hit the stage with a very energetic set, it didn't take them long at all to get the sweaty crowd on their feet, inside the pit, and singing in unison to songs like "Caught In a Mosh", "Among the Living", "Indians", and "I Am the Law". Here is Anthrax's complete set-list:

1) Caught in a Mosh
2) Got the Time (Joe Jackson cover)
3) Madhouse
4) Among the Living
5) Antisocial (Trust cover)
6) Indians
7) Fight 'Em Till You Can't
8) Metal Thrasing Mad
9) A.I.R.
10) I am the Law

Next up was Megadeth, a band that is always ready to melt faces and get the crowd headbanging out of control. Dave Mustaine and company delivered the goods as usual, and made it evident that the technicality of this band is mind blowing, crushing, and any headbangers dream. While Dave Mustaine has lost vocal power throughout the years, his attitude has not aged one day. The thousands of Megadeth fanatics lost their minds when the band demolished their ear drums with songs like "Sweating Bullets", "Symphony of Destruction", and "Peace Sells". Here is Megadeth's complete set-list:

As soon as Slayer stepped on stage, the sweaty crowd recharged their batteries and entered the pits of hell. Performing at big shows is something Slayer is very used to, and it is actually were the band puts on the best shows. The entire band sounded amazing, specially Dave Lombardo who's drums sounded like thunder! Filling in for Jeff Hanneman was Gary Holt from Exodus, who proved to be a perfect fit.

The band unsurprisingly got the pit to revolt out of control as they played crowd favorites such as "War Ensemble", "Raining Blood", and "Seasons in the Abyss". The band concluded their set with their epic hits "South of Heaven" and "Angel of Death" with their original guitarist Jeff Hanneman, who is recovering from surgery. Jeff was on fire and his performance definitely shut the mouths of those who hinted that he was quitting Slayer.

Here is Slayer's complete set-list:

1) World Painted Blood
2) Hate Worldwide
3) War Ensemble
4) Postmortem
5) Raining Blood
6) Black Magic
7) Dead Skin Mask
8) Americon
9) Silent Scream
10) The Antichrist
11) Seasons in the Abyss
12) Payback
13) Snuff
14) South of Heaven
15) Angel of Death

Right after Slayer left every single member of the crowd with their ear drums pounding, seas of people entered the pit area in order to be as close as possible to Metallica. After impatiently waiting for the biggest band in Heavy Music to take center stage, the roar of the crowd was absolutely insane once the band kicked off their set with "Creeping Death", and it continued throughout their entire set which included anthems like "Fade to Black", "One", "Master of Puppets", "Nothing Else Matters", "Enter Sandman", and "Seek & Destroy."

The highlights of the night was when Metallica performed "Orion" and when they invited the rest of the bands on stage to perform Diamond Head's "Am I Evil". This was a historic moment, and everyone in the crowd had to rub their eyes a few times. Here is Metallica's complete set-list:

1) Creeping Death
2) For Whom the Bell Tolls
3) Fuel
4) Ride the Lighting
5) Fade to Black
6) Cyanide
7) All Nightmare Long
8) Sad But True
9) Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
10) Orion
11) One
12) Master of Puppets
13) Blackened
14) Nothing Else Matters
15) Enter Sandman
16) Am I Evil (Diamond Head cover)
17) Hit the Lights
18) Seek & Destroy



It was absolutely amazing to be part of this historic event and there is no doubt in our minds that all four bands proved to be the Kings of Thrash Metal. Metallica also made it clear that they are the biggest band in Heavy Music and that they have plenty of fire left (even though they literally burned a lot of it last night). Stay tuned for our EXCLUSIVE video. \m/




Here's what the fans have to say about the BIG 4:
"Fuck this years Big 4 was better than Bulgaria's show, but i still enjoyed both shows... ANTHRAX, MEGADETH, SLAYER, METALLICA: thank you for the best fucking performance in Metal history....u guys will always have my support \m/" - Oscar Barrera Guardiola (Spain)

"I gotta say that the M.V.P. of the entire night was Jeff Hanneman, the lead guitarist for Slayer. Dude hasn't played in a while now... has flesh-eating bacteria on his arm... let me repeat:A GUITAR PLAYER WHOSE ARM IS EATING ITSELF... and he came out to join the band for the last two songs of the set wearing a shirt with only one long sleeve... likely covering all the massive bandages/wounds. THAT is truly 'METAL!" - Jason Lee Beckwith (California)

"BEST SHOW IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. A PART OF METAL HISTORY I WILL TAKE IT TO MY GRAVE. LOVE ALL OF YOU VERY MUCH. METAL FOREVER." - Linda May (Mexico)

"EPIC SHOW! I stood up for 12 hours straight, got sunburned, didn't eat for 15 hours, beer spilled on me, and my arms sore as hell. I loved it! the PIT was great!" - Christian Armenta (California)

"We can't think of a better place to have the first US Big 4 show, then right here in Southern California. We will see you all again very soon! Thank you for being part of history, Metallica loves you!" -Lars Ulrich (Metallica)







Related links:
The Big Four Festival
Metallica
Slayer
Megadeth
Anthrax