Who will be the next big 4 of thrash metal? Dave Mustaine (Megadeth) shares his picks

Dave Mustaine, the leader of Megadeth, was asked which bands he would choose if he had to “put together a new young generation of the ‘Big Four'” of thrash metal in a recent interview with Óčko of the Czech Republic, as per Blabbermouth.

Well, it wouldn’t be a young generation, but I do believe that there are ways to do a new ‘Big Four’. I think that Testament, I think Overkill, I think Exodus, and maybe Trivium; I don’t know. Trivium’s not really a thrash metal band, so I’d have to think about that. But I think those other three guys would be really great.

Overkill is really important on the East Coast metal scene. Exodus, of course, I love Exodus. And I’ve been friends with Gary longest of all people that I’ve been friends with in the music industry. And Testament. Eric, Alex, those guys are really great guitar players. And I love when we get a chance to play with the band.

Upcoming shows:

• Tuesday, September 15, 2026 – Hersheypark Stadium, Hershey, PA, US
• Thursday, September 17, 2026 – Louder Than Life, Louisville, KY, US
• Saturday, September 19, 2026 – Mystic Lake Amphitheater, Shakopee, MN, US
• Tuesday, September 22, 2026 – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, Tinley Park, IL, US
• Friday, September 25, 2026 – BMO Stadium, Los Angeles, CA, US
• Sunday, September 27, 2026 – BMO Stadium, Los Angeles, CA, US
• Tuesday, September 29, 2026 – Alamodome, San Antonio, TX, US
• Saturday, November 07, 2026 – Spark Arena, Auckland, New Zealand
• Sunday, November 08, 2026 – Spark Arena, Auckland, New Zealand
• Wednesday, November 11, 2026 – Entertainment Centre, Adelaide, Australia
• Friday, November 13, 2026 – AAMI Park, Melbourne, Australia
• Sunday, November 15, 2026 – Allianz Stadium, Sydney, Australia
• Wednesday, November 18, 2026 – Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, Australia
• Thursday, November 19, 2026 – Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, Australia
• Tuesday, March 09, 2027 – The O2 Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
• Thursday, March 11, 2027 – OVO Arena Wembley, London, United Kingdom
• Friday, March 12, 2027 – Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham, United Kingdom
• Saturday, March 13, 2027 – Co-Op Live, Manchester, United Kingdom
• Monday, March 15, 2027 – Utilita Arena, Cardiff, United Kingdom
• Tuesday, March 16, 2027 – OVO Hydro, Glasgow, United Kingdom
• Thursday, March 18, 2027 – Bp Pulse LIVE, Birmingham, United Kingdom
• Friday, March 19, 2027 – First Direct Arena, Leeds, United Kingdom
• Sunday, March 21, 2027 – Zénith Paris – La Villette, Paris, France
• Tuesday, March 23, 2027 – Forest National, Brussels, Belgium
• Wednesday, March 24, 2027 – AFAS Live, Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Thursday, March 25, 2027 – Mitsubishi Electric Halle, Dusseldorf, Germany
• Saturday, March 27, 2027 – K.B. Hallen, Copenhagen, Denmark
• Sunday, March 28, 2027 – Oslo Spektrum, Oslo, Norway
• Tuesday, March 30, 2027 – Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany
• Thursday, April 01, 2027 – Velodrom, Berlin, Germany
• Friday, April 02, 2027 – Tauron Arena, Krakow, Poland
• Sunday, April 04, 2027 – Zenith, Munich, Germany
• Monday, April 05, 2027 – Festhalle Bern, Bern, Switzerland
• Tuesday, April 06, 2027 – Unipol Forum, Milan, Italy
• Thursday, April 08, 2027 – Halle Tony Garnier, Lyon, France
• Saturday, April 10, 2027 – Olimpic Arena, Barcelona, Spain
• Monday, April 12, 2027 – Movistar Arena, Madrid, Spain
• Tuesday, April 13, 2027 – Sagres Campo Pequeno, Lisbon, Portugal