The Big Four: Live From Sofia, Bulgaria

The Big Four: Live from Sofia, Bulgaria is a DVD/Blu-ray featuring live concert performances by Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax, collectively known as "the big four" of thrash metal. The event took place on June 22, 2010 at the Sonisphere Festival at Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria. Before its DVD release, 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. Critical 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 three other charts. It was certified gold in Germany, and provided Slayer with its first platinum certification. (wiki) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ by Thom Jurek The Big 4: Live from Sofia, Bulgaria, recorded and filmed at the Sonisphere Festival, featured the "Big 4": American metal legends Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax. The June 22, 2010 show was seen live in hundreds of movie theaters by thousands of fans all over the globe via satellite, broadcast in HD. This box set is the Deluxe Edition of the package and contains a pair of DVDs featuring not only complete performances from all four bands, but also behind-the-scenes and documentary footage. Onscreen an historic high point happens during Metallica's encore (on the second DVD) when members of the other three bands join them for a version of Diamond Head's "Am I Evil?" Metallica's James Hetfield, Megadeth's Dave Mustaine, and Anthrax's Joey Belladonna take turns singing the verses. This marks the first occasion that Mustaine had performed on-stage with his former band since April 9, 1983. In addition to the DVDs, the big box includes five CDs. They contain the entire concert in excellent sound. Metallica has a double disc, while the rest have a disc each. Needless to say, each group turns in a performance of their "hits." That said, each one is incredibly energetic, clearly riding the crowd excitement of the event, and the performances are stellar without a lapse. Each disc makes fine addition to the bands' individual catalogs. Musical highlights include 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"; finally, Metallica's "Fade to Black," "Creeping Death," "Master of Puppets," and "For Whom the Bell Tolls" are clear standouts. The set also includes a double silk-screened guitar pick, a four-color booklet, and a double-sided poster. Did we need this? Who cares? As a set, it makes a great gift. For fans of any -- or all -- of these metal warriors it proves they've stood the test of time musically, and that there is plenty of fire left in their bellies.