Tag Archives: The Big Four
Mindful of metal
Sometimes I take a break from whatever middle aged man activities I’m engaged in and… (wait for it… waaaaait for it)… I think. And sometimes, when I’m in this state of grace, I think metal. To be more precise, I think about the rise and fall of metal.
I remember a time when many young talented guys released album after album of pure awesomeness, inventing new stuff every time they entered a studio, when I would listen over and over again to this and that tune wondering how the hell did they manage to put in it exactly what I wanted to hear before I even knew I wanted to hear something like that. Then, I quickly take a reality check, looking for present time equivalents of that. Granted, there still are talented bands around, and I still find new music to rock to, but it seems to me they are fewer and far between. And, to top that, I notice that the assault wave is still led by The Big Four (judging by the concert sales), Iron Maiden and other bands that pack around thirty years of music under their belts. So, decades after the initial storm, things kinda look the same… only with some gray hairs, bald spots and beer guts added.
Maybe it’s just me, my thrashier (mind the extra “h”) background could hamper my judgment, but I still don’t react to new tunes like I do to older ones. And almost every time when I listen to new stuff I get to the point where I feel like “Ummm… Everything’s been going great but why did they have to do that funny riff or that oddball drum break at this precise point?” Not to mention 27/51 time signatures, which I can enjoy for a while, until some damn solo breaks my concentration, I stop counting and get totally lost in the middle of the track… I must confess I wanted to see another Metallica, going from the gutter to the glory with some strong straightforward music (and, if applicable, without flip flops and Armani bags, thank you), but so far I haven’t, and I fear the chances of someone ever repeating that are slim at best.
I am definitely getting old. This has to be the explanation. But so are these guys, and I think I can safely say they have a bit more authority in this matter than I do. You can judge for yourself after hitting the jump.
Thrash ’til Death – Big Four times four, part 4
Welcome to the fourth and last edition of Thrash ’til Death, four lists of four of my favorite Thrash Metal bands, each list led by a genuine Big Four band. Lots of “fours” in there, eh?
We started with Metallica, then it was Slayer’s turn and after that, Megadeth had the lead so now it’s time for Anthrax. Make the jump for this last piece of a four (oh another “four”) week Thrash special.
Thrash ’til Death – Big Four times four, part 3
I feel like I’m repeating myself when I’m saying that I love Thrash Metal but it’s the honest to Satan’s truth.
This is the third edition of Thrash ’til Death, where I’m basically listing my favorite thrash bands. Four bands a time, each led by a genuine Big Four band, you should know the deal by now. Make the jump to read on.
Thrash ’til Death – Big Four times four, part 2
Last week, I came up with an idea for a Big 16, so to speak. My personal favorite Thrash Metal bands, divided into four seperate groups, each led by a genuine Big Four band. Is there more to it? Not really, I just like to write about Thrash Metal.
So when you make the jump, keep in mind that I’m basically just listing my favorite thrash bands. Success, influence and critical acclaim didn’t play a part in my list but simply personal preferences.
So, what are you waiting for? Make the jump. Now!
