well, that's not just an American conception, per se. I would definitely say that's it's recognized worldwide.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Four_Of_Thrash

The wikipedia entry on thrash metal states:

The "Big Four" bands of thrash metal are Anthrax, Megadeth, Metallica and Slayer, who simultaneously created and popularized the genre in the early 1980s.

On the 4 I'd go:
Slayer
Metallica (only if you count the Cliff releases, otherwise switch them with Anthrax)
Anthrax
I'll leave this space open because I can't listen to Megadeth. As a big metal head in high school I always felt like I SHOULD like them, but fuck, Dave's voice is so annoying. He sounds like he's trying to make fun of metal, like it's a joke.

Slayer over Anthrax mainly because they've always seemed more aggressive and have more songs about Satan. Honestly I think I count Metallica (first 3 only) and Anthrax about even, I can listen to Among the Living or Spreading the Disease as many times as Lightning or Master and still not get sick of them. I also ave better memories of seeing Anthrax than Metallica.

True Story: I've never seen Slayer! I've had tickets, been on my way to the venue, but each time something happened! Same with Motorhead, 8 times I've missed them thanks to car damage, wife getting sick (hospital ER sick), show got canceled once. It's like fate is against me seeing these guys. I still try every time though.

On the Birthday Party: I'm too dumb for them, but enjoy Cave's solo work.

+ the 2 first paragraphs is the exact same for me..

Voilà :

http://www.metalinjection.net/tv/view/3 ... d-and-fail

I saw an interview with Slayer where they laughed at being called Satanists and insinuated that they only sing about the devil to sell records. I'm not a big fan of Slayer but if I was, I would have felt betrayed. I have seen them live a couple times and think they put on a good show. But they're not better than Metallica. Even Metallica with those last five abortions they call records. I wonder what would be if Cliff was still alive.

If Slayer really were "Satanists" I'd laugh. I've never heard/read ANYWHERE that they ARE. A lot of bands I like write about Satan and I'm SURE they're not Satanists. I'm not nor do I feel betrayed.

Some say it's the metaphor of the ultimate rebel, but cmon, the devil is just a cool thing to write about. Slayer wrote about Nazis too, I don't think they're Nazis.

Aw man!
Now I'm gonna have to sell all my records....

Master of Puppets was a monumental/total gateway record for me, within a year I was knee deep into hardcore and punk pretty much as a result. This includes purchasing Reigh In Blood a few months later. Even with that said, Reign In Blood is one of my favorite records of all time and easily a top 10 metal record.

Voted for Reign in Blood.

Also, any Slayer satanism is cartoonish at best.

Hymmm.....I guess I had them all wrong. I'll go back and listen to my God Hates Us All and Christ Illusion CDs. If I listen closely, I'll figure out that they're only interested in the subject and their music is not satanic but just a commentary on the subject of religion and the band itself neither supports Chirst or Satan.

I always felt that Slayer's music was darker than that of Metallica. That's what always set them apart for me. It's also my understanding that Araya is a Christian... whatever that means

This is comparing apples to oranges.

Slayer = speed metal
Metallica = thrash metal

If you're being sarcastic as I suspect (it's hard to tell on the internet) I wasn't calling you stupid or anything, so sorry if it came off that way.

But as far as I've EVER known, with almost ALL metal, it's usually just a metaphor or, as I suspect, because writing about Satan is cool. But most bands admit that in interviews I've read, Slayer being one. REAL "Satanists" don't even believe in Satan, or God, or any of that.

Also, though Slayer may touch on Satan/God/religion, Slayer has many other songs about other things like mass murder, having sex with corpses and chemical warfare and I doubt they condone any of that, it's just all good fun I don't think Metallica actually worships Cthulhu though it's theme they use now and than.