The Big Four: Live from Sofia, Bulgaria
Video by
Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax
ReleasedOctober 29, 2010 (2010-10-29)
RecordedJune 22, 2010
VenueVasil Levski National Stadium (Sofia, Bulgaria)
GenreHeavy metal, thrash metal
Length317:22
LabelWarner Bros. (U.S.)
Vertigo/Mercury (Europe)
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The Big Four: Live from Sofia, Bulgaria is a live video with performances by Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax, the "big four" of American thrash metal.[1] The concert took place on June 22, 2010, at the Sonisphere Festival at Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria. It was shown at 450 movie theaters in the United States and over 350 movie theaters across Europe, Canada, and Latin America on June 22, 2010.

Reviews of the DVD were mostly favorable. Websites such as AllMusic and About.com were positive, though Blogcritics gave the DVD a mixed review. The DVD peaked at number one on the United States, United Kingdom, Austrian, and Canadian charts, and also charted on five other charts. It was certified gold in Germany, and provided Slayer with its first platinum certification.

Background and release

On June 16, 2010, at the Sonisphere Festival at Bemowo Airport in Warsaw, Poland, the "big four" of American thrash metal—Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax—performed together for the first time. The bandmembers (except for Slayer's Jeff Hanneman) were first photographed together on the previous day.[2] Their live concert in Bulgaria's capital, on June 22, was for one night only. Directed by Nick Wickham,[3] the event was filmed and transmitted via satellite to over 450 movie theaters in the United States and over 350 movie theaters across Europe, Canada, and Latin America, including London's famed Leicester Square.[4] Tickets were made available for around $20 at TheBigFourLive.com, which also listed the theaters where the concert was being screened.[5] Delayed screenings took place in Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.[2]

The film's contents and artwork were revealed on August 25, 2010.[6] A limited-edition guitar pick was unveiled a day after the artwork was revealed.[7] The European release was initially scheduled for October 11,[8] but Metallica later announced on their official site that the European release would be pushed back to October 15, with an International release on October 18, and a North American release on October 19, 2010.[9] On September 15, it was announced that a "super deluxe" limited edition box set would be released on the same date as the regular edition,[10] and a 36-second video preview of the box set was released on September 17.[11] In mid September, publication was postponed further to a European release on October 29, an International release on November 1, and a North American release on November 2, 2010.[12] Four teaser clips from the video were released on October 12,[13] and nine days later, Metallica's performance of "Sad but True", taken from the film, was released.[14] A three-and-a-half-minute trailer was released on September 21, 2010.[15]

The Slayer title card before the band's performance is the only one of the four bands that did not feature their official logo. In addition, all Slayer members (except drummer Dave Lombardo) did not participate in the "Am I Evil?" performance due to lack of interest.[16][17]

In 2016, Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine expressed interest in doing more Big 4 shows, although this is unlikely due to the breakup of Slayer.[18]

Event dates

Date[19][20] City Country Venue Boxscore Attendance
June 16, 2010 Warsaw Poland Sonisphere Festival - Lotnisko Bemowo
June 18, 2010 Jonschwil Switzerland Sonisphere Festival - Jonschwil Degenaupark
June 19, 2010 Milovice Czech Republic Sonisphere Festival - Milovice Airport
June 22, 2010 Sofia Bulgaria Sonisphere Festival - Natsionalen stadion Vasil Levski
June 24, 2010 Athens Greece Sonisphere Festival - Terra Vibe Park
June 26, 2010 Bucharest Romania Sonisphere Festival - Complexul expozițional Romexpo
June 27, 2010 Istanbul Turkey Sonisphere Festival - BJK İnönü Stadyumu
April 23, 2011 Indio, California United States Empire Polo Club $4,793,768[21] 44,205
July 2, 2011 Gelsenkirchen Germany Veltins-Arena
July 3, 2011 Gothenburg Sweden Ullevi 56,000
July 6, 2011 Milan Italy Fiera Open Air Arena
July 8, 2011 Knebworth United Kingdom Sonisphere Festival - Knebworth House
July 9, 2011 Amnéville France Sonisphere Festival - Snowhall Parc
September 14, 2011 New York City United States Yankee Stadium $5,371,167[22] 41,762

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[23]
About.comPositive[24]
Blogcritics[25]
Jukebox:Metal[26]

The album was received positively by music critics. Thom Jurek gave it four out of five stars in his review for AllMusic, and stated that "each [song] is incredibly energetic, clearly riding the crowd excitement of the event, and the performances are stellar without a lapse." He pointed to Anthrax's "Madhouse" and "Antisocial"; Megadeth's "Head Crusher" and the "Peace Sells/Holy Wars Reprise"; Slayer's "Angel of Death", "Seasons in the Abyss", and "Raining Blood"; and Metallica's "Fade to Black", "Creeping Death", "Master of Puppets", and "For Whom the Bell Tolls" as musical highlights, and described the encore performance of "Am I Evil?", in which members of all four bands perform, as "an historic high point."[23]

In a mixed review for Blogcritics, Chris Beaumont summed up that "Watching these promo DVDs makes me want the Blu-ray that much more. The performances are great, the sets are great, and it is hard not to get excited about these guys taking the stage together. This is metal."[25]

Chad Bowar, writing for About.com, said that the concert was "one of the defining moments and biggest events in recent metal history" and commented that the bands "can still put on a great show" despite their age. He distinguished the styles of each band, writing: "Anthrax has a more lighthearted, fun approach, while Megadeth is 100 percent business with very little banter and focus on the music. Slayer has a more ominous vibe, although their evil mystique has lessened over the years. Metallica were very inclusive, with James Hetfield acting as everybody's favorite uncle interacting with the crowd and taking time to soak it all in."[24]

Charts and certificates

Certifications

Country Certification
Australia 2× Platinum[44]
Brazil Platinum[45]
Germany Gold[46]
New Zealand Gold[47]
Poland 3× Platinum[48]
United States 2× Platinum[49][50]

Contents

Track listing

Disc 1 ~ Anthrax
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Caught in a Mosh"Joey Belladonna, Frank Bello, Charlie Benante, Scott Ian, Dan Spitz6:04
2."Got the Time"Joe Jackson3:42
3."Madhouse"Belladonna, Bello, Benante, Ian, Spitz4:24
4."Be All, End All"Belladonna, Bello, Benante, Ian, Spitz8:00
5."Antisocial"Bernie Bonvoisin, Norbert Krief6:37
6."Indians"/"Heaven and Hell" (Ronnie James Dio tribute[52])Belladonna, Bello, Benante, Ian, Spitz/
Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, Bill Ward, Geezer Butler		10:10
7."Medusa"Belladonna, Bello, Benante, Ian, Spitz, Jon Zazula5:53
8."Only"Bello, Benante, John Bush, Ian6:46
9."Metal Thrashing Mad"Benante, Ian, Dan Lilker, Spitz, Neil Turbin3:27
10."I Am the Law"Belladonna, Bello, Benante, Ian, Lilker, Spitz8:14
Total length:1:03:17
Disc 2 ~ Megadeth
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Holy Wars... The Punishment Due"Dave Mustaine6:33
2."Hangar 18"Mustaine5:04
3."Wake Up Dead"Mustaine3:44
4."Head Crusher"Mustaine, Shawn Drover3:18
5."In My Darkest Hour"Mustaine, David Ellefson5:26
6."Skin o' My Teeth"Mustaine3:14
7."A Tout le Monde"Mustaine4:28
8."Hook in Mouth"Mustaine, Ellefson4:39
9."Trust"Mustaine, Marty Friedman5:04
10."Sweating Bullets"Mustaine4:50
11."Symphony of Destruction"Mustaine4:15
12."Peace Sells"/"Holy Wars... the Punishment Due" (Reprise)Mustaine10:22
Total length:1:00:57
Disc 3 ~ Slayer
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."World Painted Blood"Jeff Hanneman, Tom Araya6:26
2."Jihad"Hanneman, Araya4:31
3."War Ensemble"Hanneman, Araya5:09
4."Hate Worldwide"Kerry King3:11
5."Seasons in the Abyss"Hanneman, Araya6:24
6."Angel of Death"Hanneman5:34
7."Beauty Through Order"Hanneman, Araya5:11
8."Disciple"Hanneman, King5:07
9."Mandatory Suicide"Hanneman, Araya4:14
10."Chemical Warfare"Hanneman, King5:50
11."South of Heaven"Hanneman, Araya4:30
12."Raining Blood"Hanneman, King5:30
Total length:1:01:37
Disc 4 ~ Metallica - Part. 1
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Creeping Death"James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Cliff Burton, Kirk Hammett8:11
2."For Whom the Bell Tolls"Hetfield, Ulrich, Burton4:29
3."Fuel"Hetfield, Ulrich, Hammett4:15
4."Harvester of Sorrow"Hetfield, Ulrich6:18
5."Fade to Black"Hetfield, Ulrich, Burton, Hammett7:31
6."That Was Just Your Life"Hetfield, Ulrich, Hammett, Robert Trujillo6:53
7."Cyanide"Hetfield, Ulrich, Hammett, Trujillo7:16
8."Sad but True"Hetfield, Ulrich6:33
9."Welcome Home (Sanitarium)"Hetfield, Ulrich, Hammett6:14
10."All Nightmare Long"Hetfield, Ulrich, Hammett, Trujillo7:50
Total length:1:05:30
Disc 5 ~ Metallica - Part. 2
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."One"Hetfield, Ulrich8:34
2."Master of Puppets"Hetfield, Ulrich, Burton, Hammett8:06
3."Blackened"Hetfield, Ulrich, Jason Newsted7:58
4."Nothing Else Matters"Hetfield, Ulrich5:56
5."Enter Sandman"Hetfield, Ulrich, Hammett11:08
6."Am I Evil?" (Feat. members of Megadeth, Anthrax, & Dave Lombardo)Sean Harris, Brian Tatler6:05
7."Hit the Lights"Hetfield, Ulrich5:25
8."Seek & Destroy"Hetfield, Ulrich12:40
Total length:1:05:52

Personnel

A complete list can be found at AllMusic.[53]

Production and assistance

References

  1. ↑ Lee, Cosmo (2007-05-07). "Get Thrashed: The Story of Thrash Metal" Archived 2008-12-25 at the Wayback Machine. Stylus Magazine.
  2. 1 2 "METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH, ANTHRAX: The First 'Big Four' Photo" Archived 2010-07-26 at the Wayback Machine. Blabbermouth.net. 2010-06-15.
  3. ↑ "Metallica/Slayer/Megadeth/Anthrax: The Big 4 - Live from Sofia, Bulgaria (2010)". IMDb. Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  4. ↑ Lye, Andy (2010). "The Big 4 Live From Sofia Bulgaria London screening Jukebox:Metal report". Archived from the original on 2010-07-07. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
  5. ↑ "METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH, ANTHRAX: 'Big Four' Coming To A Theater Near You" Archived 2010-07-26 at the Wayback Machine. Blabbermouth.net. 2010-05-20.
  6. ↑ "'The Big Four: Live From Sofia, Bulgaria' Artwork, Track Listing Revealed" Archived 2010-07-26 at the Wayback Machine. Blabbermouth.net. 2010-08-25.
  7. ↑ "'The Big Four' Limited-Edition Guitar Pick Unveiled" Archived 2010-08-29 at the Wayback Machine. Blabbermouth.net. 2010-08-26.
  8. ↑ "'The Big Four: Live From Sonisphere 2010' DVD, Blu-ray U.K. Release Date Announced" Archived 2010-08-18 at the Wayback Machine. Blabbermouth.net. 2010-08-14.
  9. ↑ "'The Big Four: Live From Sofia, Bulgaria': More DVD Details Revealed" Archived 2010-09-02 at the Wayback Machine. Roadrunnerrecords.com. 2010-08-24.
  10. ↑ "'The Big Four' Super Deluxe Box Set: First Photo Available" Archived 2010-09-18 at the Wayback Machine. Blabbermouth.net. 2010-09-15.
  11. ↑ "'The Big Four' Super Deluxe Box Set: Video Footage Of Packaging Posted Online" Archived 2010-09-21 at the Wayback Machine. Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 2010-09-17.
  12. ↑ "'The Big Four' DVD: New Release Dates Announced" Archived 2010-09-23 at the Wayback Machine. Blabbermouth.net. 2010-09-20.
  13. ↑ "'The Big Four: Live From Sofia, Bulgaria': Four New Teaser Clips Released" Archived 2010-10-16 at the Wayback Machine. Blabbermouth.net. 2010-10-12.
  14. ↑ "'The Big Four: Live From Sofia, Bulgaria': Four New Teaser Clips Released" Archived 2010-10-25 at the Wayback Machine. Blabbermouth.net. 2010-10-21.
  15. ↑ "'The Big Four: Live From Sofia, Bulgaria': New DVD Trailer Released" Archived 2013-01-11 at the Wayback Machine. Blabbermouth.net. 2010-09-21.
  16. ↑ Blabbermouth.com (2 November 2010). "SLAYER's KERRY KING Regrets Not Taking Part In 'Am I Evil?' Performance In Sofia". Blabbermouth.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  17. ↑ Rosenberg, Axl (27 September 2010). "KERRY KING BLAMES JEFF HANNEMAN AND TOM ARAYA FOR HIS NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE BIG FOUR JAM". MetalSucks. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  18. ↑ Mustaine, Dave. "Megadeth's Dave Mustaine reviews Metallica's Hardwired… To Self-Destruct". Louder Sound. Metal Hammer. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  19. ↑ "Megadeth.com". Megadeth.com. Archived from the original on 2011-01-30. Retrieved 2011-02-25.
  20. ↑ "Megadeth.com". Megadeth.com. Archived from the original on 2013-05-22. Retrieved 2011-02-25.
  21. ↑ "Top-Grossing Concerts Mid-Year". www.coachella.com. Archived from the original on 2013-07-21. Retrieved 2012-07-17.
  22. ↑ "Interesting Billboard Boxscore - Page 3 - FasterLouder.com.au". Archived from the original on 2013-10-08. Retrieved 2012-07-17.
  23. 1 2 3 Jurek, Thom. "The Big Four: Live from Sofia, Bulgaria" Archived 2011-12-27 at the Wayback Machine. AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2010-01-01.
  24. 1 2 Bower, Chad (2010-11-25). "The Big 4: Live From Sofia, Bulgaria DVD Review" Archived 2010-12-15 at the Wayback Machine. About.com.
  25. 1 2 "Music Video Review: The Big Four - Live from Sofia, Bulgaria - Blogcritics Music". Blogcritics.org. Archived from the original on 2010-12-30. Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  26. ↑ Lye, Andy (2010). "The Big 4 Live From Sofia Bulgaria Jukebox:Metal review". Archived from the original on 2020-08-09. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
  27. ↑ "Chartifacts - Week Commencing: 15th November 2010". Australian Recording Industry Association. 2010-11-15. Archived from the original on 2010-11-19. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
  28. ↑ "Metallica / Slayer / Megadeth / Anthrax - The Big 4 - Live From Sofia, Bulgaria". ultratop.be. Archived from the original on 2012-10-26. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
  29. ↑ L'Écho de Repentigny (in French): 36. 2010-11-18. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  30. ↑ Steffen Hung (2008-08-17). "Metallica / Slayer / Megadeth / Anthrax - The Big 4 - Live From Sofia, Bulgaria". dutchcharts.nl. Archived from the original on 2012-07-18. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
  31. ↑ Steffen Hung (2008-08-17). "Metallica / Slayer / Megadeth / Anthrax - The Big 4 - Live From Sofia, Bulgaria". finnishcharts.com. Archived from the original on 2012-10-12. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
  32. ↑ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Archived from the original on 2021-10-27. Retrieved 2021-10-26.
  33. ↑ Steffen Hung. "Metallica / Slayer / Megadeth / Anthrax - The Big 4 - Live From Sofia, Bulgaria". Swisscharts.com. Archived from the original on 2012-01-29. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
  34. ↑ Steffen Hung (2010-11-14). "Metallica / Slayer / Megadeth / Anthrax - The Big 4 - Live From Sofia, Bulgaria". hitparade.ch. Archived from the original on 2011-11-25. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
  35. ↑ "The ARIA Report: Issue 1080 (Week Commencing 8 November 2010)" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. p. 23. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-11-20. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  36. ↑ "Metallica / Slayer / Megadeth / Anthrax - The Big 4 - Live from Sofia, Bulgaria" (in German). Hung Medien. Archived from the original on September 25, 2020. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
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  38. ↑ "Suche - Offizielle Deutsch Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Archived from the original on 2021-10-27. Retrieved 2021-10-26.
  39. ↑ "ザ・ビッグ・フォー～史上最強の夜!～ メガデス" [The Big Four Live from Sofia Bulgaria Megadeth] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on 2021-10-04. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
  40. ↑ "Top 10 Music DVDs Chart: Chart #1746 (Monday 8 November 2010)". Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on November 12, 2013. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  41. ↑ "Sofia, Bulgaria [DVD]" (in German). Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 2021-10-27. Retrieved 2021-10-26.
  42. ↑ "Video Archive Chart". The Official Charts Company. 2010-11-13. Archived from the original on 2012-09-11.
  43. ↑ Trust, Gary (2010-11-11). "Weekly Chart Notes: Rihanna, Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson" Archived 2016-02-20 at the Wayback Machine. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media.
  44. ↑ "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2010 DVDs". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on November 24, 2010. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  45. ↑ "certificados". Archived from the original on 2014-10-30. Retrieved 2012-03-16.
  46. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank ('The Big Four: Live from Sofia')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  47. ↑ "Latest Gold / Platinum DVDs – RadioScope New Zealand". Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved September 27, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  48. ↑ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". zvap.pl. Archived from the original on January 4, 2011. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  49. ↑ "Gold & Platinum - January 08, 2011". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  50. ↑ "'The Big Four: Live From Sofia, Bulgaria' DVD Certified Double Platinum In U.S." Archived 2011-01-12 at the Wayback Machine. Blabbermouth.net. 2011-01-08.
  51. ↑ The Big 4 Live from Sofia, Bulgaria (DVD). Megadeth, Metallica, Slayer, and Anthrax. Warner Bros. 2010.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  52. ↑ "Heaven and Hell" was played because Ronnie James Dio had died of stomach cancer a month earlier
  53. ↑ "The Big Four: Live from Sofia, Bulgaria – Slayer". AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
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