As anyone that has kept up with the comments section of the HBB Blog surely knows, Deicide obliterated As I Lay Dying in last week’s good vs. evil edition of Who Rocks Harder? Later, we’ll feature a block by Glen Benton and Co. to celebrate the slaughter. But for now, we’ve got a more traditional match up for you — Metallica Vs. Megadeth — a heavy metal rivalry to equal Tupac Vs. Biggie (only without the drive-by shootings).
In their prime (1983 - 1991), Metallica were untouchable. The band pioneered thrash in an era of hair metal, then rose to the top of the heavy metal hierarchy through a combination of stellar songwriting, uncompromising perseverance and incredible live shows. 1983’s Kill ‘Em All was a landmark recording, combining the metallic edge of Judas Priest and other groups from the new wave of British heavy metal with the speed and aggression of hardcore. It didn’t just raise the bar for metal, it forged the furnace for thrash, and without it, Slayer, Exodus and Anthrax might have had entirely different sounds.
In fact, Metallica first four albums feature some of the best and most influential metal ever recorded, and their fifth record, 1991’s far more commercial “Black Album,” sold over 14 million copies, making it one of the most popular rock albums of all time.
It would be pretty near impossible to top that, so Metallica didn’t even try. Instead, they headed off in new sonic directions. And while the metal world hasn’t universally praised 1996’s more experimental and groove-saturated Load or 1997’s similarly structured Reload — not to mention the largely reviled 2003 album St. Anger, Metallica still destroy live, and many fans are hopeful that the band’s next record will be a return to their former glory.
Few metal bands can compete with Metallica in terms of global popularity, however when it comes to metallic cred Megadeth certainly have a shot. In part, that’s because Metallica and Megadeth started in the same place — literally. As everyone knows, Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine was a co-founder of Metallica, but was booted from the band for being a belligerent drunk before Metallica recorded their 1983 debut Kill ‘Em All.
In less than two years, Mustaine bounced back and released the first album by his new band Megadeth, Killing is my Business… And Business is Good. The album was jazzy and technical, and established Mustaine as more than “the guy who was booted from Metallica.” Megadeth’s 1986 follow-up, Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying? was even more impressive — simultaneously catchier and heavier without being less complex. It’s this musical proficiency and commercial appeal that propelled Megadeth through their next three albums, culminating with 1992’s Countdown to Extinction.
But around the same time as Metallica were struggling to find a new creative path, Megadeth made some similarly questionable career moves. Striving for a broader audience, the band started writing poppier, less challenging tunes that paled in power to their earlier output. The band’s St. Anger. was 1999’s Risk, which, in an effort to keep up with the times, featured an abundance of misguided electronic and alternative rock arrangements. But while Metallica haven’t yet bounced back in the eyes of many metalheads, Megadeth have clearly made amends for their past, cranking out a succession of increasingly thrashy post-Risk albums that culminated with 2007’s United Abominations.
Place your vote in the comments box bellow. This could be a close one.
i will always support metallica, even after the black album, when they went to @?*~ i supported them in hopes of a killer come back!
Does anybody remeber, when Mettallica became the biggest band in the world, after the Black Album, then 3 years later we see them with short hair in cuban pimp suits, playing crap music, they sold out badly it’s like they were trying to forget where they came from, Can Kirk do a solo without using the wah-wah pedal everytime, Mettalica was a great metal band before 91,but since then it’s been all Megadeth , and on top of all this Dave’s over come addiction issues, and relearned to play guitar.
u m m well i think metallica was better like 80s 90s time but now there all old and cant handle metal anymore thats why there album was so shitty but i think megadeth is better right now THERE STILL TOURING METTALICA CERTAINLY ISNT
MEGADETH IS BETTER
Hail Megadeth!!! megadeth totally rocks
[…] Who Rocks Harder?: Metallica or Megadeth? In fact, Metallica first four albums feature some of the best and most influential metal ever recorded, and their fifth record, 1991’s far… […]
[…] Who Rocks Harder?: Metallica or Megadeth? Few metal bands can compete with Metallica in terms of global popularity, however when it comes to metallic cred Megadeth certainly have a shot. In part, that’s because Metallica and Megadeth started in the same place — literally. … […]
I personally think if metallica would of not sold out I would like them more. Metallica spends more time on instrumenatls rather than vocals and it becomes kind of boring (it almost takes the essence of the song away). What I like about megadeth is that they still sound the way they did 20 years ago and i luv that! but metallica has changed their sound a lot so i’m gonna have to go with Megadeth on this one. (I know it wasn’t the other memeber’s fault about the whole napster incident. I know it’s all lars fault because he #@?@~~ up big time you don’t do that to fans!and it shows lasr only cares about the money and not the music. Hettfield is cool!)
Quit complaining about who sold out the most we already know who did between metallica n’ megadeth. megadeth rocks harder obviously! sure there are other bands that deserve it the most like slayer that has been going on for many years on and till this date who have produced excellent albums. But the fact of the matter MEGADETH ROCKS HARDER! Sure there was a piece of $@?? that was pop-rock, but Mustaine explained that he was in a deadline and he had to come up with something really quick or he would of been in debt with his label unlike metallica (idk wat lars was thinking!). But unlike metallica’s trans from thrash to hard rock, megadeth hasn’t lost its thrash roots as we all heard in united abominations (excellent album in my opinion) so in short (for the last time) MEGADETH RULES!! P.S. I FORGIVE HETTFIELD FOR WAT LARS DID
Megadeth all the way.
Until the Justice For… Album They were better than MEGADETH.In 1990 MEGADETH established their new Album known as Rust IN Peace(Espesially Holy Wars)which made a real difference between them N metallica.They translated the word THRASH METAL to it’s real meaning.As you see metallica after that couldn’t keep up with the band MEGADETH.Now with their new album United of Abomination They showed us The real Thrash.Thank you MEGADETH.
I think that Metallica’d won this if they hadn’t sold out since the black album…currently megadeth make real metal rather than metallica today, so they’re better but if you listen kill’em all, ride the lighting, master of puppets and …and justice for all… it’s the BEST THRASH METAL EVER!!!!
MEGADETH
To me I think Metallica Rocks harder than megadeth. simple reason they experiment with diffrent paths. they started out with fast and trashy metal, then changed completly and experimented with main stream for a couple albums. and is looking for new and diffrent paths, But I also dont think they should even compare Megadeth with Metallica because Dave was part of metallica during some of their best albums. But Megadeth still hasnt made anything like what Metallica USED TO play.
the answer to the question is MegaDeth. Metallica punted a longtime ago. Consider that Mustaine was involved with Kill Em All, wrote some of the songs on Ride The Lightning — and who knows if any of the riffs from Master of Puppets were his.
the last great Metallica album was And Justice for All — not the highly commercial so called “black album”. Bob Rock has been bad news for Metallica — with MegaDeth — United Abominations is better than anything that Metallica has done in 17-20 YEARS.
The only folks pumping up Metallica are “little kids” whose first album was the Black album.
MegaDeth is better than area — Mustaine’s riffs and lyrics are money — and if you need a disc to listen to just pick up Rude Awakening — great live set —
Metallica is done — they have been done for many many years.
The leader of the Free Metal World is Dave Mustaine.
Considering the fact that Metallica has not released a sincere metal albulm in over seventeen years, I have to give the vote to Megadeath. In my personal opinion, I dont think either band deserves any mention anymore. There are so many bands that blow these two away…(Slayer, Exodus, Testament, Children of Bodom, Sepultura). It is a sad country when a band like Metallica can ride success on a few decent albulms from the 80’s for as long as they have. One also has to remember that Dave Mustaine was in Metallica when Metallica produced some of their best material. I have not played a Metallica albulm in over ten years, but the one thing I remember from listening to them is that their solos never quite fit in with the whole song the way other band’s solos did. Metallica was lucky enough to catch a good gust of wind in the sea of metal, but their sail has had holes for almost two decades now and they will not be catching up to the other ships any time soon. OUT!
Right , first of all , both bands are great for different reasons, also i disagree wiv darek St.Anger is a good album , admittedly its different but i still like it, metallica are ace and they’ve earnt the respect they have , and a true fan aint gunna *??#? about em cos they made an album not everyone likes , as far as i know they are touring through 2008 (new album? not sure) and i will go see em if they come to the UK , Megadeth are also good , Countdown to extinction was my fav album of the stuff ive heard by em, but in my opinion they fail to perform as well as metallica when LIVE. As far as guitars go , i preffer the Hammet Hetfield line up, although given that Dave is an ex metallica squady there are many similarities.
all in all its an arguement that isn’t going to be settled, just listen to the bands you like and dnt attempt to put people off other bands cos it generally doesnt work.
Megadeth rules. Metallica has only a handful of songs I like, although those handful are amazingly awesome. And while both of the bands sold out, I think Mustaine’s commercial work is still very good music, it just isn’t metal.
Like someone obove said, “If this poll was taken 15 (shit maybe even 10) years ago I would say Metallica” but theyve just sold out way too much, cried to napster way too much and made St. Anger. Common people, how can a band say theyre going back to their roots and make a great heavy album and deliver St. Anger to its fans. Talked so much *@*# about it being the best thing in 10 years and then shut their mouths and dissapeared after 2 weeks of the release because they were so ashamed. If you haven’t guessed it by now… Megadeth. Remeber people this is 2007 Megadeths latest album (United Abominations) to Metallicas piece of sh*t (St. Anger)
Slayer rocks harder, in fact they dont rock, Foo Fighters rock and so does Metallica and Megadeth, SLAYER KICKS BUTT!!!!!
megadeath rocks harder metallic did at one time
metallica, without a doubt
devil wears prada is ten times better then both bands combined
Megadeth all the way.
Metallica has just gotten too stale for me.
Metallica, no doubt.
MEGADETH
Not close at all. Metallica sold more records, so what? Their last GREAT album was Master of Puppets. Only a few minor highlights since then and none since ‘91. Besides- Mustaine invented speed metal. Has anyone who voted for Metallica even heard Megadeth’s last three studio albums? I think not or they would’ve voted different. Not one album Metallica’s done in the last 20 years can compare to Megadeth’s in the same time period.
I’m gonna have to say Metallica on this one. Although I agree with what some of you are saying about them changing their style, I looked at it as more of a way to keep themselves going, they tried something new. They may have $@%#$* up doing St. Anger with Bob Rock, the load, re-load phase they had was totally different for what they had done in the past, compared to Master of Puppets for example. They have tried to go with what they wanted to do not what everyone wanted them to do, they are being metallica, and I for one am not upset (we dont talk about st. anger) about the fact that they did what they wanted to do because it’s passion that drove them to success, they’ve stayed there for some reason, maybe cause people like it is my guess, I know I dont mind (We still dont talk about st. anger). Anyways, that’s my 2 cents. laters ya’ll
Oh and I agree with Pat about the electric guitar and learning to play because of metallica, i half agree. I believe that it’s the band that you knew to shred in your time, I was introduced to metallica when i started playing guitar, some were introduced to megadeth, and some were introduced to iron maiden, or in flames (which we need some videos from on this website). the point is, metal is f***ing awesome and will dominate not matter what…for we shall shred till your ears bleed, eyes pop and shall forever be untouched by anything.
If this poll were to be taken say 15 years ago, i would definetly have to vote for metallica, but seeing that it is being done here in 2007, i’m gonna have to go with megadeth!!!
f–k metall-we-have-short-hair-ica!!!
Megadeth in a close one. Both are pale imitations of their former selves, but Metallica sold out so much that I can’t bring myself to vote for them…
are we really pitting metallica vs. megadeth? hasn’t anyone seen “Some Kind of Monster”???? We don’t want Mustaine to cry again… Leave the poor guy alone. Why don’t you put Megadeth vs. Anthrax or something? Get Mustaine outta Metallica’s shadow for $?%##%~?*.
Metallica! - Absolutely no doubt about it…
Metallica!
They were untouchable over a decade and the reason I (and many others) started to play electric guitar.
Definately Megadeth. Metallica has always been a joke to me. And what’s up with Metallica being a Nu Metal band now?!? United Abominations was an awesomely amazing comback.
MEGADETH ALL THE WAY!
1ST…KILL ‘EM ALL IS ALL DAVE MUSTAINE’S WORK
2ND…METALLICA WAS GOOD UP TO AND JUSTICE FOR ALL
3RD…MEGADETH STAYED TRUE TO METAL…METALLICA DIDN’T(LOAD, RE-LOAD, ST.ANGER[SOUNDS KINDA ALTERNATIVE TO ME])
5TH…DAVE IS AWESOME…KIRK IS AWESOME…CLIFF IS AWESOME…DAVID ELLEFSON IS AWESOME…NEWSTED NOT THAT GREAT…JAMES IS AWESOME
ALL IN ALL I’M FOR MEGADETH!
Megadeth.
Metallica. Don’t get me wrong, Megadeth is cool, but Metallica all the way.
Megadeth. Its a real close one, but Megadeth has some consistency. All of the new Metallica is wretched.
METALLICA!!
A close one? This is a very easy one: Metallica!
Metallica. Easy vote.
Metallica for the win