Review: The Big 4 - Live from Sofia, Bulgaria

It would’ve been damn near impossible to come of age as a male in the mid ‘80s without The Big 4. But few would have imagined a tour in 2010 during which those four – Anthrax, Megadeth, Slayer, and Metallica – would share the stage, as they did during this summer’s Sonisphere Festivals in Poland, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, and Turkey. It was a landmark tour, capped by the live broadcast, and now the DVD/CD release of The Big 4: Live from Sofia, Bulgaria which captures the four thrash monsters’ sets from June 22 show, in their entirety.

Before a rabid crowd who brave sunshine and rain with little concern for anything but the music, these titans don’t disappoint. From the celebratory set by Anthrax's original line-up to the road-polished headlining set of Metallica, each act delves deep into their expansive catalogs, with plenty of nods to their mid-80s origins.

Surprisingly, the standout sets are from Megadeth, highlighted by the amazing fretwork of Chris Broderick, and Slayer, who spew evil from a massive wall of Marshall amps. Metallica’s set is impressive, due to the polish of these veteran road dogs, but the danger that once epitomized the quartet has been softened, in contrast to Megadeth and Slayer, who still incite fear with maniacal riffing and full-throttle attack.

Twenty years ago, The Big 4 would have been unthinkable. But The Big 4: Live from Sofia, Bulgaria is not only a reality, it is a visual, sonic treat that exceeds the hype that surrounded its inception and initial broadcast.

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