For more than four decades, the debate has raged on: Metallica or Megadeth, who’s the true king of thrash metal? Both bands helped define the genre, both have roots in the same chaotic early ’80s scene, and both share one very famous piece of history, Dave Mustaine.
Now, one of the architects of thrash himself, Slayer’s Kerry King, has shared his thoughts on the eternal rivalry. Known for his no-filter honesty and old-school credibility, King didn’t hesitate to pick a side, and explain exactly why.
“If I’ve got to choose, it’s Metallica,” King said in a recent interview. “I’ve got a ton of respect for what Dave [Mustaine] did with Megadeth, especially in the early years, but Metallica just wrote the songs that changed the world. They made heavy music bigger than anyone thought possible.”
“They Had The Songs That Stuck With You”
King went on to praise Metallica’s songwriting and sense of scale, crediting albums like Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets for reshaping metal forever.
“They found that balance,” he explained. “They could be heavy as hell but still have melodies that stuck in your head. Slayer was more extreme, Megadeth was more technical, but Metallica had the songs that everyone could sing, even people who didn’t know what thrash was.”
While King’s admiration for Metallica is clear, he didn’t hold back his appreciation for Dave Mustaine’s drive and musicianship, acknowledging that Megadeth’s technical precision and attitude helped push the entire scene forward.
“Dave’s a machine,” King said. “He’s always been laser-focused. He took getting kicked out of Metallica and turned it into fuel. Albums like Peace Sells and Rust in Peace are flawless, that’s Dave at his most dangerous.”
Remembering the Big Four Days
King also reflected on the Big Four concerts, the historic 2010–2011 shows that brought Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax together on one stage for the first time.
“Those nights were special,” King recalled. “It wasn’t about rivalry anymore, it was about celebrating what we built. We all came up together, and those shows were proof that thrash still mattered.”
Still, when it comes down to influence, King says there’s no question which band took thrash metal to the next level.
“Metallica were the ones who broke the doors down,” he said. “They made it okay for metal to be huge. They took us all with them in a way, whether we liked it or not.”
A Thrash Legend’s Final Word
As one of the few musicians who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with both Metallica and Megadeth in their prime, Kerry King’s opinion carries serious weight. And while fans will forever argue over which band reigns supreme, King summed it up with trademark bluntness:
“At the end of the day, both bands are legends. But if you’re asking who changed the game? That’s Metallica.”
Decades later, the fire of thrash still burns, and with Slayer’s Kerry King tipping his hat toward Metallica, the great debate might never truly end. But maybe that’s the point: rivalries like this are what keep metal alive.
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