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User
Reviews 31
Approval 74%
Soundoffs 453
Album Ratings 476
Objectivity 75%
Last Active 09-11-19 5:37 pm
Joined 01-13-12
Review Comments 13,798
| Megadeth Vs. Anthrax
Since I'm not qualified to do a Big 4 showdown (as I'm not the biggest
'Tallica fan and even less of a Slayer fan), I'll simply do a showdown
between my two favourites of the group. On the red corner, we have
Megadeth, led by the temperamental Dave Mustaine. On the blue
corner, we have Anthrax, led by down-to-earth cool guy Scott Ian.
Even though I prefer Megadeth, I like Anthrax almost as much so I'll do
my best to give a balanced analysis. | | 1 | Megadeth
Album consistency: Megadeth has 13 studio albums (not counting the upcoming
Super Collider, which might prove quite true to it's title and collide to the bottom,
LOL :P): 5 great ones, 4 quite good ones, 2 passable ones, and 2 crappy ones.
Anthrax has 10 studio albums: 4 great ones, 1 good one, and the rest varies from
mediocre to crappy. Therefore, Megadeth wins it here.
Score: M: 3; A: 1
Total tally: M: 3; A: 1 | | 2 | Anthrax
Live performance: For this category, I relied on Youtube streams of concerts from
the 1992 CTE tour (Megadeth) and the POT tour (Anthrax); back when each band
was at it's peak performance (admittedly, I only saw a bit over halfway for each
video). But there was a clear difference: Belladonna had great interaction with the
audience, and the members made it all look like a party. Megadeth on the other
hand, did an impressive display, but was rather lacking when it came to engaging
the audience. So basically: interaction > just showing off how much the band
rules.
Score: A: 3; M: 1
Total tally: M: 4; A: 4 | | 3 | Megadeth
Lyrics: Dave Mustaine writes some of the best lyrics in metal and that is a proven
fact: it runs the gamut from political criticism to failed relationships to the occult.
Anthrax, on the other hand, has good lyrics on some songs, but they've always
been more of a "just listen and rock out" kind of band.
Score: M: 3; A: 1
Total tally: M: 7; A: 5 | | 4 | Anthrax
Vocals: This one's really a no-brainer. Belladonna's vocals are heavenly; he's easily
one of the best in the history of the subgenre. Mustaine's riffs are amazing, but his
vocals have never been his forte. End of story.
Score: A: 3; M: 1
Total tally: M: 8; A: 8 | | 5 | Megadeth
Guitar riffs: I love Scott Ian's riffs, but Mustaine's riffs are pretty much the epitome
of greatness. There really isn't more to say, just compare any Anthrax riff to "Holy
Wars... The Punishment Due", "Peace Sells" or "In My Darkest Hour".
Score: M: 3; A: 1
Total tally: M: 11; A: 9 | | 6 | Megadeth
Guitar solos: I agree with Anthrax fans that Dan Spitz is underrated and is far
better than Kirk "Wahmett". But Megadeth has had the talents of Chris Poland,
Marty Friedman, Chris Broderick, Jeff Young and Glen Drover. And yes, Marty and
Poland alone get the nod over Spitz because their solos rule too hard.
Score: M: 3; A: 1
Total tally: M: 14; A: 10 | | 7 | Anthrax
Drums: Megadeth has had impressive drummers, but, sadly, their work tend to gets
lost in the mix. Charlie Benante, on the other hand, can be heard loud n' clear, and
he's also extremely catchy. No disrespect to Nick Menza, Gar Samuelson or Shawn
Drover, but Benante gets the vote here.
Score: A: 3; M: 1
Total tally: M: 15; A: 13 | | 8 | Anthrax
Bass: Dave Ellefson is good and all, but his style is rather limited. Frank Bello had
bass grooves a-plenty. With apologies to 'Deth fans, this isn't even remotely close.
Score: A: 3; M: 1
Total tally: M: 16; A: 16 | | 9 | Megadeth
Iconic songs: Anthrax has "Madhouse", "A.I.R.", "Caught in a Mosh", "Indians", "I Am
the Law", "Antisocial (Trust cover)", "Got the Time" and "Keep it in the Family".
Megadeth has "Mechanix", "Peace Sells", "Wake Up Dead", "In My Darkest Hour",
"Holy Wars... The Punishment Due", "Hangar 18", "Sweating Bullets" and "Symphony
of Destruction". I'll give it to Megadeth here simply because Holy Wars and Hangar
18 are just pure ownage.
Score: M: 3; A: 1
Total tally: M: 19; A: 17 | | 10 | Anthrax
Influence: Like it or not, Anthrax is a highly influential band: their "Bring the Noise"
cover with Public Enemy had a profound impact on music and set the stage for rap-
metal. Many metal bands have used Anthrax as a basis because their riffs are easy
(for the most part) and their rhythm sections are very solid. There are few bands
which I consider might have been influenced by Megadeth (perhaps some metalcore
bands and a few death metal and prog-metal acts). So Anthrax gets the nod here.
Score: A: 3; M: 1
Total tally: A: 20; M: 20 | | 11 | Anthrax
Experimentation: Both bands have experimented their fair share, but since it was
Anthrax who made the bold step to experiment with hip-hop, they get the edge.
Score: A: 3; M: 1
Total tally: A: 23; M: 21 | | 12 | Anthrax
The Winner: Anthrax
(As much as I love Megadeth, Anthrax has finally proven how underrated they are
as musicians. I salute both of them for their amazing music.) | |
mandan
05.20.13 | I might get flamed for this but it doesn't matter. | ViperAces
05.20.13 | megadeth | manosg
05.20.13 | Megadave. | CrownOfMagnets
05.20.13 | this list was fun to read :D | Sapient.
05.20.13 | Definitely a fun list and well thought out, but I respectfully disagree and believe Megadeth beats them out by a long shot | Atari
05.20.13 | tied | evilford
05.20.13 | deth | Atari
05.20.13 | anthrax needs more love | JamieTwort
05.20.13 | I love both but I'd probably have to go with Megadeth cos Rust In Peace > any Anthrax album. It's good to see some love for Anthrax though. | Ecnalzen
05.20.13 | I would say Anthrax and I only really like two of their albums. Never been a fan of Megadeath or Slayer and I like some Metallica songs. | Necrotica
05.20.13 | They're definitely tied for me | Atari
05.20.13 | i agree JT that rust in peace is better than any anthrax album but as a whole they're still tied for me. ;) | NordicMindset
05.20.13 | megadeth because rust in peace | Inveigh
05.20.13 | Megadeth is probably the better thrash band, but only slightly, and only because Anthrax fell off a cliff after Joey left
love both bands though, and actually agree with basically everything in this list (except Dave being a great lyricist) | peaks40
05.20.13 | Metallica> | mandan
05.20.13 | To the person who said that these comparison lists are Hans's thing, he couldn't possibly come up with every idea for a list, now can he? I'm well aware that his lists own, but since he's been pretty inactive, it's time other users stood up to the plate. And I'll make lists of whatever I want, as long as the mods are ok with it. | sideburndude
05.20.13 | "Dave Mustaine writes some of the best lyrics in metal"
"Dave Mustaine writes some of the best lyrics in metal"
"Dave Mustaine writes some of the best lyrics in metal"
"Dave Mustaine writes some of the best lyrics in metal"
"Dave Mustaine writes some of the best lyrics in metal" | bloc
05.20.13 | Anthrax was always my least favourite of the four | CK
05.20.13 | Well you see, Megadeth has Dave Mustaine...
But on the other hand, Megadeth has Dave Mustaine...
This is a toughie | DrHouseSchuldiner
05.20.13 | Great list,altho i'd go Mega since R.I.P is my fav thrash album of all time | DirtyDan
05.21.13 | Metallica> (2) | sideburndude
05.21.13 | Take my breath away Dave Mustaine | DegausserGuernica24
05.21.13 | idk i think bfmv is better than both | mandan
05.21.13 | I guess I can't take users too seriously lol :P | rockandmetaljunkie
05.21.13 | There is no contest, it's Megadeth for me. | Acrosstheshield13
05.23.13 | Anthrax is better in every way. | beefshoes
05.23.13 | Megadeth but it's close.
Their first 4 albums are better than anything Metallica or Slayer ever did.
Testament on the other hand, very underrated. | Titan
05.23.13 | Megadeth easily | mandan
05.23.13 | ^^indeed they are, although Metal Church is
too. | demigod!
05.23.13 | Megadeth | beefshoes
05.23.13 | What.
Testament are badass man. | ncguitar
05.23.13 | Never payed enough attention to Anthrax | beefshoes
05.23.13 | Yeah, Sodom and Voivod are better than all of these guys.
I've not heard any Testament past Souls of Black but those first few albums are pretty sweet.
| Necrotica
05.23.13 | Metallica> [3] | mandan
05.23.13 | Metallica's first 2 albums are their best, rest is overrated imo. | pbass0
05.28.13 | good list. Nice thought out points. However, I would say that Dave is a better bassist in my opinion | GnarlyShillelagh
05.28.13 | anthrax sucks but ok | Atari
05.28.13 | anthrax doesn't suck don't use your contributor power to spread such lies! | JamieTwort
05.28.13 | Anthrax rules. | NightProwler
05.28.13 | Anthrax is def best live, IMO. Never been a huge fan of either, but I enjoy their music to a certain degree (AtL and RiP are amazing).
As you point out, Dave just stand their and seem to expect everything from the audience without doing a thing. Joey, on the other hand, is really good. Goes down to the audience, put on costumes, interacts and everything. Seen Anthrax once, Megadeth twice. Slayer once, Metallica once. Anthrax would be my fav of these of they had stronger songs (well, more strong songs than they already have).
Good list. They're all in all pretty tied for me. | InbredJed
05.29.13 | great list, a lot of fun to read, AND I agree with your verdict.
AN-fuckin-THRAX! | apert
05.29.13 | anthrax is cool and Among the Living is a classic but, KIMB, PS and RIP are better than anything anthrax has done | InbredJed
05.29.13 | that may be true, but as noted above Anthrax is by far the better live show, and their influence is undeniable (and not just for the rap-rock) | apert
05.29.13 | i haven't seen either bands live so i can't comment. But Scott Ian is very influential and S.O.D. is quality as well. Anthrax is definitely the funner band | mandan
05.29.13 | This got more comments than I expected.
Anybody willing to do a Big 4 throwdown? I already stated why I'm not qualified for one. | InbredJed
05.29.13 | I probably ain't either, I'm too much of a late bloomer on Megadeth. I got in to all the other 3 first cause mega-daves vocals drove me up the wall. | thespaceforthis
05.29.13 | Megadeth. No contest | InbredJed
05.29.13 | in all of the categories listed above?
hardly | MMX
05.29.13 | Megadeth, Anthrax just has too much shit under their belt | InbredJed
05.29.13 | no more than Mega-duds.
| InbredJed
05.29.13 | My ranking would prob go
1. Anthrax
2. Slayer
3. Megadeth
4. Metallica |
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