In an interview by Italy’s SpazioRock, Tom Angelripper of Sodom goes on a journey back through time to discover the origins of thrash metal.

Tom does mention that they are entering the studio in July, and aim to release their next album in October or November.

Later in the piece, he talks about the main three pioneers of the European thrash scene, being Sodom, Kreator, and Destruction. Tom says, “My dream is to do a tour with the three bands one day. The problem is that we have different record companies  and also we have to keep alive the business. You know, the situation in Europe and in Germany is really bad. So, for now we’re looking forward for the next Sodom album and then we will see how it will go touring with other bands.“

So while there’s nothing on the cards now, it’d be awesome to see the three together. Even if it’s a one-off show that they release a DVD for, that’d be something a lot of fans would get into. We all know how unlikely the Big 4 were a few years ago. All it takes is someone driven enough to pull it together. Takers anyone?

I never thought I’d see anything more epic than every member of Manowar, past and present, playing Battle Hymn on stage together:

But it’s happened. Anthrax, Megadeth, Slayer and Metallica all on the same stage:

These are pro-shot, so the video quality is very good. The audio is a bit tinny, but they’re expected to release this on DVD later this year, so hopefully the crappy audio is just a result of my laptop + youtube quality and won’t reflect what we hear on the disc.

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Metal Assault did an audio interview with Jeff Waters of Annihilator which is posted in two parts.

On top of that are several clips of Annihilator‘s show at Hellfest in France on the 19th of June.

I should do a review some time soon of their self-titled album, as I just managed to pick up a copy of the limited edition deluxe boxset. They certainly don’t fail to disappoint. King of the Kill was the last album of theirs I bought many many years ago, so I’m out of touch with most of their latest stuff, but the new album shows that Waters is still at the top of his game.

There are plenty of free samples and info on the official Annihilator page.

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Even though this is fan-filmed footage, it’s actually reasonable, and the audio quality doesn’t sound like it’s been passed through a black metal filter. So, here’s Annihilator playing Alison Hell at France’s Hellfest.

NME interviewed each of the Big Four during the first show they did together on June 16 at Sonisphere in Warsaw, Poland.

Kerry King was stunned: “Who would’ve ever thought the four of us getting together would be important enough to have 80,000 people to show up in Poland?”

Those interviewed with Kerry King of Slayer, Charlie Benante of Anthrax, Robert Trujillo of Metallica, and Dave Ellefson of Megadeth.

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The Big Four (Anthrax, Megadeth, Slayer, and Metallica) played their first show together at Sonisphere in Warsaw, Poland, and their set lists were as follows:

Anthrax

Caught in a Mosh
Got the Time (Joe Jackson cover)
Indians
Heaven and Hell (Black Sabbath cover)
Antisocial (Trust cover)
Madhouse
Only
Efilnikufesin (N.F.L.)
I Am The Law

Slayer

World Painted Blood
Jihad
War Ensemble
Hate Worldwide
Angel of Death
Dead Skin Mask
Disciple
South of Heaven
Raining Blood

Metallica

Creeping Death
For Whom The Bell Tolls
Fuel
The Four Horsemen
Fade To Black
That Was Just Your Life
Cyanide
Sad But True
Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
All Nightmare Long
One
Master Of Puppets
Blackened
Nothing Else Matters
Enter Sandman
Stone Cold Crazy (Queen cover)
Hit The Lights
Seek & Destroy

Megadeth

Holy Wars … The Punishment Due
Hangar 18
Take No Prisoners
Five Magics
Poison Was the Cure
Lucretia
Tornado of Souls
Rust in Peace … Polaris
Headcrusher
Sweating Bullets
Symphony Of Destruction
Peace Sells

source: Metal Hammer
source: Metal Hammer

Sitting on Youtube are all the songs from Metallica‘s set at Rock in Rio, held in Madrid, Spain. They played on the closing day of the festival, and their setlist was as follows:

01. Creeping Death
02. For Whom The Bell Tolls
03. Through The Never
04. Disposable Heroes
05. Fade To Black
06. That Was Just Your Life
07. The End Of The Line
08. Sad But True
09. Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
10. Cyanide
11. One
12. Master Of Puppets
13. Fight Fire With Fire
14. Nothing Else Matters
15. Enter Sandman

Encore:
16. Am I Evil?
17. Phantom Lord
18. Seek and Destroy

It’s pretty funny watching Trujillo. I haven’t seen him live since he played with Suicidal Tendencies here in New Zealand many years ago. He prances around like a monkey far more now.

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