at the risk of causing forum wars, let's discuss some thrash bands (or indeed just albums or songs) which you simply don't get the hype about, and don't rate highly.

One I'd have to stick my neck out and say is Testament. I'll be the first to admit that A) I tend to prefer other styles of thrash to what Testament play, such as European or South American, and B) I only own one album, The New Order, although this one generally seems to be raved about so I have a fair appreciation of the band's sound, even if I could hear more.

It's just that for me, Testament do very little to raise themselves above the swamp of catchy and predictable American chuggers. They are redeemed I admit by some startlingly good musicianship, but their all round sound just lacks the oomph that makes me want to listen to their stuff again and again.

I'm sure others will have points to add, and other contributions to make. Let's keep it a light hearted shit-shooting session

at the serious risk of getting flamed I will have to say Anthrax. I think there are far better thrash bands such as Testament, and really just don't get all the hype with Anthrax.

for me sepultura

I agree with Luci - Anthrax are an incredibly overrated band. They don't deserve to be in "The Big Four" one bit. They've never done anything for me and surely I'm not the only one who thinks there are a half dozen other bands at the time who deserve that spot more so than them?

James wrote:I only own one album, The New Order

James, don't make up your mind about Testament until you've heard The Legacy which is easily their best album. It's up there with the best.

Haha, I love all the bands so far mentioned in this thread!

For me the most over-rated is probably Slayer, I like Reign in Blood for its sheer aggresion, you dont get much better than that for 30 minutes of brutality, but apart from that I find them entirely dull.

Testament - Overrated. All of their albums have about 1 vaugely interesting song, and the rest is boring filler.

Slayer - Overrated. YAWN!

Overkill - Overrated. Another boring band + I hate Bobbys voice.

anthrax have their moments but come across as not being very serious, also metallica, although they made 3 worthwhile albums it was all about the money after that...as it was with slayer. as for sodom and kreator, its all ver simplistic stuff apart from the killer agent orange and pleasure to kill.

ok i have probably been a BIT harsh ^^lol

Definitely Testament but also Annihilator, Voi Vod (who just plain suck), Slayer, Forbidden and Death Angel (who also suck ass).

Bane wrote:I agree with Luci - Anthrax are an incredibly overrated band. They don't deserve to be in "The Big Four" one bit. They've never done anything for me and surely I'm not the only one who thinks there are a half dozen other bands at the time who deserve that spot more so than them?

The Big Four refers to the first four Thrash bands who signed big recording contracts does it not? I remember Dave Mustaine saying that Exodus were the fifth band to make the big five but that's not really right seeing as they didn't sign to a major label until 1990 and even then they didn't get very far with it. Anthrax, Megadeth, Metallica and Slayer all had their deals by '85/'86.

Metal Iain wrote:Definitely Testament but also Annihilator, Voi Vod (who just plain suck), Slayer, Forbidden and Death Angel (who also suck ass).

Annihilator are good background music, but nothing more. Voivod are a real love-them-or-hate-them band. Slayer suck. Forbidden are a quality band. Death Angel are OK, but a bit wussy.

Personally I've never cared for Megadeth.

Death Angel have an ok first album, the rest is lame.

All that shit like Gothic Slam and Powermad is a bit to samey too.

I agree about Tesament being a bit too run of the mill, not enough spark for me its just too strieght forward.

Forbidden are a bit thin for me too. In my opinion I think none of these bands have the 'X factor'.

Fuck it though, at least its metal!

Metal Iain wrote:The Big Four refers to the first four Thrash bands who signed big recording contracts does it not?

Not that I'm aware of. I've always be told they're the four Thrash bands considered to be the best, most commercially successful, and influential. I wasn't aware record deals came into it at all.

I suppose I agree that Slayer are "over" rated, but then again I think there is much more to them than Reign In Blood. In fact, I quite often prefer Show No Mercy, and Hell Awaits is pretty much Reign In Blood material from an earlier period.

So yes maybe people (... ) do rave about them a tad more than is necessary, but I certainly wouldn't lump them in with bands like Testament who lack any sort of "x factor" as Atom put it.

What would you describe as "X-factor" then?