‘Heavy Metal’s Big Four: How Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer, And Megadeth Reshaped Metal’ Book Due In November
A new book about thrash metal’s “Big Four” — Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer and Megadeth — is due on 10 November. Written by Daniel Bukszpan, it traces how the four bands helped turn a fast, aggressive underground style into a defining force in heavy music.
The book follows the groups from their 1981 origins through lineup changes, landmark albums, tours and rivalries, and examines their distinct contributions to thrash. It also covers the scene’s wider development, including tape-trading, underground zines, MTV and major-label deals, as well as metal’s resurgence in the 2000s. The volume includes history and photography; Bukszpan has written several previous books on rock and metal.
- Daniel Bukszpan’s book on thrash metal’s Big Four arrives on 10 November.
- It charts the bands’ histories, music and influence.
- The account also explores how the wider thrash scene developed.