The thing is, the Big 4 is an 80's label. If you had to choose a "Big 4" from the bands that exist today, Anthrax definitely wouldn't be part of it. That's not a reflection on whether Anthrax are good or bad, but in today's world bands like Machine Head and Lamb of God would be above them. Heck Megadeth and Slayer could drop below them as well. As for Metallica, they could release utter crap and still be the biggest of them all.... oh wait, they have released crap; Load, Re-Load, St Anger, Death Magnetic.
Is it just me, or has the big 4 coming together 20 years too later?
Ah well, I'm away to listen to Acid Reign and Xentrix, and with any luck I can also find God's Gift by Toranaga.
