The Big 4:Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax – At the Movies
By
Charlie Steffens, aka Gnarly Charlie,
Writer/Photographer
Thursday, June 24, 2010 @ 7:57 AM
Sonisphere Festival, Levski Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria, June 22, 2010
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Most people’s idea of an all-out heavy metal extravaganza might not include sitting in a movie theater for four hours while eating popcorn and drinking Coke. That idea didn’t fire me up until I saw the much anticipated “Big Four” movie on a big screen with a pretty good sound system. A “not-so-metal-like” environment: a West Los Angeles mall/ theater with only 60 people or so, in a room with a 400 + seating capacity added to the surrealism of the evening. The most amazing part of the experience was that Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax were together to make history. The sounds and visuals of this movie are incredible. It’s hard to say what kind of post-production or cleaning up they’ll do to it later. As is, let’s give it a five star-rating. Who would have thought that an event like this could go down in Bulgaria? After you see the energy exchange and the sea of fans singing songs word for word, you know that the Big Four’s infection has been pandemic—no country is exempt from the power of metal. And it’s almost laughable that I’m sitting in an air-conditioned theater, with only a handful of people who seem into what’s going on. They are kids, male and female, who are half my age. The rest might be thinking about their golf swing, waiting to hear “Enter Sandman.”
I’ll speak in the past tense about the concert, but since it’s been immortalized in film I’ll use the present tense as well.
To see Anthrax, with recently rehired singer, Joey Belladonna, storm the stage and take possession of the place, playing hits like “Madhouse”, “Indians”, and “Metal Thrashing Mad” is mind-blowing. Bassist Frankie Bello always works the stage like an animal, and this performance is no exception. Anthrax pays a moving tribute to Ronnie James Dio, playing a portion of “Heaven and Hell.” Belladonna’s voice sounds great and his onstage antics and sense of humor let you know he’s glad to be back.
Megadeth looks and sounds like a well-oiled machine, having plenty of stage practice as of late. Being no strangers to big audiences, Dave Mustaine, Dave Ellefson, Chris Broderick, and Shawn Drover cheerfully and confidently kick the shit out the place with their opener “Holy Wars”, following with Hangar 18 and other classics as a light rain begins to fall onto the thousands of celebrants. Sofia, Bulgaria is the best audience in the world, but a ripping display of guitar from Mustaine and Broderick in “Skin of My Teeth” could only bring out the best in any crowd, regardless of where.
Slayer’s stage set up was stripped down and basic compared to how we’ve seen them over the years. Marshalls stacked to the max and a black curtain backdrop. No logos or upside down crosses or video walls. Their set was very good, though bassist/frontman Tom Araya’s connection with the crowd was nothing like Belladonna or Mustaine’s had been. Araya’s a different kind of showman: more subdued, but certainly a giver. And Slayer gives a great show, playing new songs “World Painted Blood” and “Hate Worldwide”, along with old school favorites like “Angel of Death” and “South of Heaven.”
In a short segment before the Metallica set, Kerry King, Dave Mustaine, Lars Ulrich, and Scott Ian fondly share about times they remember with Ronnie James Dio, who passed away on May 16, 2010.
Metallica takes the stage as night falls and excitement abounds at Sonisphere. The madly-received headliner plays a slew of their hits, including “For Whom the Bell Tolls”, “Harvester of Sorrow”, “One”, “Master of Puppets”, and “Seek and Destroy.” They even threw “Frayed Ends of Sanity” in there. Kirk Hammett absolutely tore the place down with his guitar solos. Each member of Metallica looked fit and seemed driven by a need to please every soul that was in the crowd.
Another historic moment took place when all bands joined together for “Am I Evil.”
Enough said. Get to the theater and see this movie. Do not wait for it to go to DVD. Invest four hours of your life and $18 bucks and you’ll be a better human. Hey, you can eat popcorn, too.
scrapmetal - 8/4/2010 6:29:37 AM i think we will see this show come this winter-footage on the net is incredible & also kills the overdone mustaine hates metallica bs....
NSMFB - 7/27/2010 7:34:11 AM NUCLEARSKULL-N-MUTHAFUCKIN BONES AFFIRMED MUTHAFUCKERS!
floyd4ever - 7/20/2010 5:37:21 AM A sad shame that great events like these only take place overseas.
bosox1 - 7/18/2010 5:27:39 PM The greatest event in metal since the 1983 US Festival. wish i could have seen it live here in SF.
cannibal4life - 7/7/2010 10:21:54 AM rumor has it anthrax might be joining the american carnage tour w/slayer, megadave, and testament.
MrkyMcSkullrson - 7/6/2010 11:58:58 AM Check out my Psycho Fuckin Maniac site for NuclearSkull band merch and bumper stickers \m/
metalpimplehead - 7/3/2010 8:15:05 PM The reason why Slayer wasnt playing Am I Evil is because they didnt want to been seen with Metallica. Hey Metallica, its the Big 4, not Metallica and the Big 3 you money hungry ego-manics. I'll go to the show if it hits the states, but i'll walk out on Metallica. I dont want to hear James sing or see Lars's receding hairline. I wonder if they would have turned into such crap if Cliff was still alive and in the band.
phrydom - 7/3/2010 4:00:10 AM Unless there is drug use and sodomy in this movie, I ain't going. Oh, if there are oriental midgets beating dictated to by Lars, then I might go see to.
magor - 7/3/2010 2:27:44 AM Any kids reading this, pining to see these bands, take it from a concert vet, it's almost always better in real life. Just the way it is, and I tell it like it is.
magor - 7/3/2010 2:24:32 AM Why see them in a movie, when I've seen them all in real life, as have many other Metal fans. I mean, concert movies never do as well as regular movies, so you shouldn't be surprised by low theater attendance. Most people who want to see them, want to see them live. For home listening the CDs and MP3s are always the cheaper way to go next to DVD's of course,
digi_aussie - 6/30/2010 12:04:42 AM I'd like to see the movie. If not the movie, then buy it on dvd. Saw some of the live video clips. They were good. Pitty that the copyright people have stopped them from being viewed here.
Portland_Girl - 6/27/2010 7:06:03 PM I loved this show!! Thanks for the review. Been rocking hard since I lived in LA (live in Portland Oregon now)and listened to KNAC on terrestrial radio. As a 40-something at the end of a long workday, it was nice to sit and get the great view and awsome sound. Wished I has beer instead of coke though! Only about 50 people turned out where I saw it. I was surprised at how few came. I don't think it was promoted as much as it could be. Anyhow, if you didn't see it inthe theater, you should look for the DVD.
BrokenClone - 6/27/2010 1:21:30 AM Blah... hated it, two thumbs down! Slayer looks fat, Mustaine sounds like shit and Anthrax? Why are they on this bill?
Hellhammer69 - 6/25/2010 8:50:21 AM I went last night for $15 bucks...worth every penny....and I thought Lombardo joined the bands for Am I Evil?....Araya came out at the end....I was disappointed at t9he lack of Slayer representation!
DrMengele - 6/25/2010 7:00:25 AM good review. I got to see the show live on 06.16.10
