Best of the "Big 4" in thrash metal

I was just wanting to know which of the "Big 4" thrash metal bands you consider to be the best? To me it would have to be Dave Mustaine's Megadeth due to all the ups and downs this band has faced since it's formation. It also helps that a majority of their albums are damn good if you exclude the horrific mistake that was the "Risk" album. I have also added Other if you enjoyed some of the thrash bands that formed in the mid-to-late '80's following the success of thrash (e.g. Exodus, Testament, Death Angel, Overkill, etc.). So what is your favorite "Big 4" band?

Pantera, because Pantera

Hate to do this to ya' Scro, but this thread has been done before.
Anyways to contribute to your thread my vote Goes to Megadeth. I will say that "Risk" is not a bad album it was just a bad fit for Megadeth. It's one of those albums that had another band made it no one would have a problem with it. Besides I still enjoy it more than Metallica's "Load", "Re-Load", and especially "St. Anger". Slayer is a close second.

Huh, I couldn't find this topic browsing the forum. Guess I'll have to try a bit harder finding stuff. Anyway, I was thought the feel of the Risk album in its entirety seemed awkward with a few hidden gems here and there. Insomnia, Crush 'Em, Seven, and the Duke Nukem Theme were pretty good. I couldn't stand Breadline even when I tried listening to it again recently.

I lost all respect for Metallica after the St. Emo expereiance with featured film included. Bob Rock just seems to ruin any band that he touches. The Black album was a breath of fresh air but after that there was a downward spiral starting with Load and continuing until Death Magnetic. I can't say that I am all that fond with it either. It just seemed like Metallica decided to just give us insane solos to compensate for a average album. Endgame was defintely thhe winner of that contest whhen it was released

Ha! are you serious? I love Breadline, in fact I believe there are only 2 "Meh..." songs in that album, "Insomnia" and "Crush 'Em" everything else I like.
and about "Death Magnetic" and "Endgame", "Endgame" was the clear winner. I don't even think "Death Magnetic" held a candle to "Endgame", Though I must say out of the "Big 4's" most recent albums, Anthrax's "Worship Music" gets my vote.

Man, guess we both have major parallels when it comes to the Risk album, but I will try giving it a listen again once I find it. i ave to say that I was suprised that Worship Music was as good as it was. I think it was a major help for the band with Joey coming back as the lead singer but it could have been the intensity of the album as a whole. Megadeth's 13 kinda seemed like collection b-side from the past couple of years but it was still good to hear it. Slayer and the whole World Painted Blood album seemed kinda dull to me. I think it was mostly after they mixed the album and the guitars seemed to be fuzzy and faded into one another. On some of the tracks it sounded like their was only one guitar!

Me ga deth

I vote Slayer because of their influence on thrash and death metal, and I tend to enjoy more aggressive metal bands like Vader:

I choose Other....