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The Big Four of Thrash Metal and Their Guitar Players
Lessons from four bands that shaped a genre and influenced a generation of guitarists.
In the 1980s, thrash stormed onto a metal scene dominated by glam bands and NWOBHM holdovers. For anyone into heavy music at the time, this new “speed metal” featuring ferocious guitar riffs and blazing beats came as a welcome surprise.
Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, and Slayer were arguably the most popular bands of this new genre. They became known as the “Big Four” of thrash.
Thrash raged for a decade until it all fell apart in the 1990s. Grunge became popular, guitar solos became taboo, and anything from the 1980s took a backseat. These were dark days for thrash and for heavy metal in general. It seemed the world had collectively lost its mind.
Fortunately for metal nerds like me, thrash has seen a resurgence over 40 years after it all began, thanks in part to the popularity of European metal and a new breed of American bands. Groups that nearly died out are touring again, and a younger crowd is taking an interest.
Maybe that’s you, exploring thrash for the first time and learning about the great guitarists who made it happen. Or, maybe you’re an old-school metal guitarist like me. Either way, sit for a…
