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Ranking The Big 4 Discographies


my ranking of the Big 4s Full-Length albums
Near the bottom , the rankings get a bit more 'interchangeable' because I can't be bothered to specifically discern the difference between turd flavors

Created by: sgtrobo | 05.03.2023



1. Slayer - Reign In Blood
1986
2. Megadeth - Rust In Peace
1990
3. Megadeth - Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?
1986
4. Metallica - Ride The Lightning
1984
5. Metallica - Master Of Puppets
1986
6. Slayer - Show No Mercy
1983
7. Slayer - South Of Heaven
1988
8. Slayer - Seasons In The Abyss
1990
9. Megadeth - Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!
1985
10. Slayer - Hell Awaits
1985
11. Anthrax - Among The Living
1987
12. Anthrax - Spreading The Disease
1985
13. Metallica - ...And Justice For All
1988
14. Metallica - Kill 'Em All
1983
15. Megadeth - The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead!
2022
16. Megadeth - So Far, So Good... So What?
1988
17. Anthrax - Persistence Of Time
1990
18. Anthrax - For All Kings
2016
19. Megadeth - Dystopia
2016
20. Anthrax - Worship Music
2011
21. Anthrax - Sound Of White Noise
1993
22. Megadeth - Endgame
2009
23. Megadeth - Youthanasia
1994
24. Anthrax - We've Come For You All
2003
25. Megadeth - Cryptic Writings
1997
26. Megadeth - Countdown To Extinction
1992
27. Slayer - God Hates Us All
2001
28. Metallica - Death Magnetic
2008
29. Slayer - Christ Illusion
2006
30. Megadeth - United Abominations
2007
31. Metallica - Hardwired... To Self-Destruct
2016
32. Anthrax - Fistful Of Metal
1984
33. Anthrax - State Of Euphoria
1988
34. Megadeth - The System Has Failed
2004
35. Anthrax - Stomp 442
1995
36. Anthrax - Volume 8: The Threat Is Real
1998
37. Slayer - Diabolus In Musica
1998
38. Slayer - Divine Intervention
1994
39. Metallica - Metallica
1991
40. Slayer - Repentless
2015
41. Slayer - Undisputed Attitude
1996
42. Megadeth - Th1rt3en
2011
43. Slayer - World Painted Blood
2009
44. Megadeth - Super Collider
2013
45. Megadeth - The World Needs A Hero
2001
46. Megadeth - Risk
1999
47. Metallica - Load
1996
48. Metallica - Re-Load
1997
49. Metallica - St. Anger
2003



Disclaimer: All top lists are unofficial and do not represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
[ More lists by sgtrobo ]



Comments

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Comments: 17   Visited by: 89 users
06.03.2023 - 00:05
F3ynman2000
Nocturnal Bro
My top 10 is the same, I'd say. Just in a slightly different order:
1. Megadeth | Rust In Peace
2. Slayer | Show No Mercy
3. Slayer | Seasons in the Abyss
4. Megadeth | Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?
5. Metallica | Ride the Lightning
6. Slayer | Hell Awaits
7. Megadeth | Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!
8. Slayer | South of Heaven
9. Slayer | Reign in Blood
10. Metallica | Master of Puppets
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06.03.2023 - 07:28
AndyMetalFreak
A Nice Guy
Great list
Here's mine:

1. Slayer - Reign In Blood
2. Megadeth - Rust In Peace
3. Metallica - Ride The Lightning
4. Slayer - Seasons In The Abyss
5. Slayer - Show No Mercy
6. Metallica - Master Of Puppets
7. Megadeth - Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?
8. Slayer - Hell Awaits
9. Metallica - And Justice For All
10. Slayer - South Of Heaven
11. Megadeth - Countdown To Extinction
12. Metallica - Kill Em All
13. Anthrax - Among The Living
14. Megadeth - So Far, So Good... So What?
15. Metallica - Metallica/Black Album
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06.03.2023 - 09:57
Redel

Yes, good idea for a list.
I have:

1 Slayer - Seasons in the abyss
2 Megadeth - Rust in peace
3 Slayer - South of heaven
4 Megadeth - Peace sells... but who's buying?
5 Metallica - Ride the lightning
6 Slayer - Reign in blood
7 Slayer - Show no mercy
8 Metallica - Kill em all
9 Metallica - Master of puppets
10 Slayer - Hell awaits
11 Anthrax - Among the living
12 Anthrax - Spreading the disease
13 Metallica - …and justice for all
14 Metallica - Metallica
15 Slayer - Divine intervention
16 Megadeth - Countdown to extinction
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06.03.2023 - 13:42
JoHn Doe

Nice idea for a list and a difficult thing to rank, all these 4 discographies are hit and miss. Thumbs up for the effort alone.
----
I thought the two primary purposes for the internet were cat memes and overreactions.
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08.03.2023 - 05:57
sgtrobo

Thanks for the kudos
for my next trick, I shall rank the discographies of the "big 4" of traditional heavy metal:
Iron Maiden Judas Priest Black Sabbath and Motorhead
...
nah f that...that'll be way too damned difficult. There are literally 15+ albums between those bands that are stone cold perfection
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08.03.2023 - 08:41
F3ynman2000
Nocturnal Bro
Written by sgtrobo on 08.03.2023 at 05:57

Thanks for the kudos
for my next trick, I shall rank the discographies of the "big 4" of traditional heavy metal:
Iron Maiden Judas Priest Black Sabbath and Motorhead
...
nah f that...that'll be way too damned difficult. There are literally 15+ albums between those bands that are stone cold perfection

Do it! We won't judge you... maybe

But seriously, it's a good idea. It gives me a reason to look back at their discographies
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17.03.2023 - 01:16
F3ynman2000
Nocturnal Bro
Written by F3ynman2000 on 06.03.2023 at 00:05

My top 10 is the same, I'd say. Just in a slightly different order:
1. Megadeth | Rust In Peace
2. Slayer | Show No Mercy
3. Slayer | Seasons in the Abyss
4. Megadeth | Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?
5. Metallica | Ride the Lightning
6. Slayer | Hell Awaits
7. Megadeth | Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!
8. Slayer | South of Heaven
9. Slayer | Reign in Blood
10. Metallica | Master of Puppets

Actually I just revisited ...And Justice For All and remembered how great it is. So it's going into my top 10, pushing out Master Of Puppets. My personal ranking of favorites is now:
1. Megadeth | Rust In Peace
2. Slayer | Show No Mercy
3. Slayer | Seasons in the Abyss
4. Megadeth | Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?
5. Metallica | Ride the Lightning
6. Slayer | Hell Awaits
7. Megadeth | Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!
8. Metallica | ...And Justice For All
9. Slayer | South of Heaven
10. Slayer | Reign in Blood
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17.03.2023 - 01:47
JoHn Doe

Written by sgtrobo on 08.03.2023 at 05:57

Thanks for the kudos
for my next trick, I shall rank the discographies of the "big 4" of traditional heavy metal:
Iron Maiden Judas Priest Black Sabbath and Motorhead
...
nah f that...that'll be way too damned difficult. There are literally 15+ albums between those bands that are stone cold perfection


maybe stick to one band + solo and side projects the musicians have been in.
----
I thought the two primary purposes for the internet were cat memes and overreactions.
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18.03.2023 - 18:09
sgtrobo

Written by F3ynman2000 on 17.03.2023 at 01:16

Written by F3ynman2000 on 06.03.2023 at 00:05

My top 10 is the same, I'd say. Just in a slightly different order:
1. Megadeth | Rust In Peace
2. Slayer | Show No Mercy
3. Slayer | Seasons in the Abyss
4. Megadeth | Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?
5. Metallica | Ride the Lightning
6. Slayer | Hell Awaits
7. Megadeth | Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!
8. Slayer | South of Heaven
9. Slayer | Reign in Blood
10. Metallica | Master of Puppets

Actually I just revisited ...And Justice For All and remembered how great it is. So it's going into my top 10, pushing out Master Of Puppets. My personal ranking of favorites is now:
1. Megadeth | Rust In Peace
2. Slayer | Show No Mercy
3. Slayer | Seasons in the Abyss
4. Megadeth | Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?
5. Metallica | Ride the Lightning
6. Slayer | Hell Awaits
7. Megadeth | Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!
8. Metallica | ...And Justice For All
9. Slayer | South of Heaven
10. Slayer | Reign in Blood


whoa, pushing out MoP? Ooh, spicy take!
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19.03.2023 - 11:56
24emd
Theory Snob
I dare you to add Lulu.

Jokes aside, good idea for a list. I'll definitely have to do some thinking for my ranking
----
"I am too stupid to be human, and I lack common sense." - Proverbs 30:2
"Music? Well, it's just entertainment, folks!" - Devin Townsend

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19.03.2023 - 17:15
qlacs
"The Quaker"
For me Reign In Blood has flaws production wise (bit hollow sound and dull top end - kind of a Rick Rubin + Slayer thing) and while it's an unstoppable juggernaut, the songs overall lack variety when compared to the rest of the Big 4 records in that year, or even their other albums. It still deserves most of the praise it gets but Megadeth and Metallica definitely eeks it out for me. Can't really comment on Anthrax I never could get into them
----
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20.03.2023 - 15:20
sgtrobo

Written by qlacs on 19.03.2023 at 17:15

For me Reign In Blood has flaws production wise (bit hollow sound and dull top end - kind of a Rick Rubin + Slayer thing) and while it's an unstoppable juggernaut, the songs overall lack variety when compared to the rest of the Big 4 records in that year, or even their other albums. It still deserves most of the praise it gets but Megadeth and Metallica definitely eeks it out for me. Can't really comment on Anthrax I never could get into them


totally reasonable takes. The phrase "unstoppable juggernaut" is exactly why I have RiB at the top. It was revolutionary, to say the least. But it definitely isn't what one would refer to as "well rounded"
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13.03.2024 - 12:16
nonZero

Good idea for a list! Clearly Lulu is too much of a masterpiece to feature amongst these lesser albums

Here's my top 10:
1. Metallica | Master Of Puppets | 10/10
2. Metallica | Ride The Lightning | 9.9/10
3. Metallica | Metallica | 9.8/10
4. Metallica | ...And Justice For All | 9.8/10
5. Slayer | Reign In Blood | 9.7/10
6. Megadeth | Rust In Peace | 9.2/10
7. Slayer | Seasons In The Abyss | 9.2/10
8. Anthrax | Among The Living | 9.1/10
9. Slayer | South Of Heaven | 9.0/10
10. Megadeth | Peace Sells... But Who's Buying? | 8.9/10 (excluding track 7)
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18.03.2024 - 15:04
Guib
Thrash Talker
For me Kill 'Em All and Countdown To Extinction are too low but otherwise, good ranking.

Then again I'm a Kill 'Em All fanboy. For me it would be in the top 5. It is my favourite Metallica album by a large margin.
----
- Headbanging with mostly clogged arteries to that stuff -
Guib's List Of Essential Albums
- Also Thrash Paradise
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Today - 14:51
sgtrobo

Written by nonZero on 13.03.2024 at 12:16

Good idea for a list! Clearly Lulu is too much of a masterpiece to feature amongst these lesser albums

Here's my top 10:
1. Metallica | Master Of Puppets | 10/10
2. Metallica | Ride The Lightning | 9.9/10
3. Metallica | Metallica | 9.8/10
4. Metallica | ...And Justice For All | 9.8/10
5. Slayer | Reign In Blood | 9.7/10
6. Megadeth | Rust In Peace | 9.2/10
7. Slayer | Seasons In The Abyss | 9.2/10
8. Anthrax | Among The Living | 9.1/10
9. Slayer | South Of Heaven | 9.0/10
10. Megadeth | Peace Sells... But Who's Buying? | 8.9/10 (excluding track 7)


oh wow, Metallica's first 4 at the very top? You're quite a fan
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Today - 14:52
sgtrobo

Written by Guib on 18.03.2024 at 15:04

Then again I'm a Kill 'Em All fanboy. For me it would be in the top 5. It is my favourite Metallica album by a large margin.


it definitely is the most raw of their albums and is a ton of fun.
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Today - 15:19
nonZero

Written by sgtrobo on Today at 14:51

oh wow, Metallica's first 4 at the very top? You're quite a fan

Those four albums are my overall favourites for sure, I'll take Slayer or Megadeth post-black album though.
----
Top 500 Albums (ordered & rated)
Top 200 Overlooked Albums (with genres)
So I Heard You Like Wintersun... (Time II find new bands)
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