Home Featured ANTHRAX’s SCOTT IAN Wants The ‘Big Four’ To Broaden To Include EXODUS

ANTHRAX’s SCOTT IAN Wants The ‘Big Four’ To Broaden To Include EXODUS

exodus big 4, ANTHRAX’s SCOTT IAN Wants The ‘Big Four’ To Broaden To Include EXODUS

Guitarist Scott Ian has once again claimed that EXODUS’s “Bonded By Blood” is the best debut album from a thrash band which should solidify their place among the “Big Five” alongside METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX.

Ian discussed EXODUS’s lack of inclusion in the “Big Four” of thrash metal during an an appearance on MACHINE HEAD frontman Robb Flynn’s “No Fuckin’ Regrets With Robb Flynn” podcast. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “The powers that be, like the mayor of heavy metal — maybe Lars [Ulrich, METALLICA drummer] needs to get a phone call — and he can decree that the ‘Big Four’ needs to officially be changed to the ‘Big Five’ because it always bugged me that EXODUS doesn’t get the representation and the credit where credit is due. And I understand the ‘Big Four’ — I get it. Because maybe the four bands had more success certainly coming out of the ’80s whereas EXODUS certainly had their peaks and valleys and maybe didn’t have the same success going forward as some of the other bands. But the way I look at it is if you wanna look at the bands that really were there at the inception, ‘Bonded By Blood’ was out way before [MEGADETH’s] ‘Killing Is My Business…’ Dave [Mustaine, MEGADETH leader] was in METALLICA [before forming MEGADETH], but Kirk [Hammett] was in EXODUS [before joining METALLICA]. It’s, like, come on.

“I’m actually not kidding,” he continued. “I know this is a silly thing, but I truly believe that it needs to be [changed to ‘Big Five’] because ‘Bonded By Blood’ was such… I mean, come on. I’ve gone on record — I think it’s the best debut record of the five of us. It’s my favorite of the five — hands down — and such an influential record. And I just think it officially needs to be changed. I just think it’s something that’s been overlooked. And they just deserve the credit, man — they absolutely deserve it. And every time it comes up, I say, ‘You know, it should be the ‘Big Five’.’ And whatever — that probably opens a hundred other doors.”

You can check out the full episode below.