Why Testament Are Not Part Of The Big Four (W/ Alex Skolnick)

In this excerpt from the podcast, Alex Skolnick, the legendary guitarist from the metal band Testament, talks about the 'Big Four' of Thrash and why he thinks Testament are not there

You can find the full conversation by searching 'Basel Meets' on all podcasting apps.

[zachi]

For someone who is immensely talented as he is, I find it refreshing that he is so humble and down-to-earth. Such a great guy!

[TheLassenman]

Testament has never got the "respect" or recognition they have deserved!! I love that band!

[mitchsmix]

To me, Testament is as unique if not more than any of the big four. Melodically they are incredible

[IJFlores]

They are the “big four” for a reason: they were the first “underground” thrash bands to sign with a Major record label.
Metallica with Elektra
Slayer with DefJam
Megadeth with Capitol
Anthrax with Island

No other band did this before them. So it’s not a matter of someone’s personal choice.

[overkill]

Exodus, Testament, Overkill, Death Angel --the little four

[seamusnalaoch]

Alex Skolnick, Michael Schenker and Scott Gorham -- three guitarists who should receive far more credit than they do.

[Metalbass]

I've met Alex twice and he was really a decent guy.

I met Chuck Schuldiner at a show in Milwaukee, after the first band of the night ended their set, and he was waiting to go on. He sat down next to me at the bar downstairs and we talked for probably 35 to 40 minutes, missing the first couple songs of the next band, just talking about music, about musical instruments, about bringing different musical influences into metal, and then about politics and society and religion, and he was just a great guy to talk with about all these things. He was down to Earth, well informed on all these topics and I could tell that he had thought a lot about these things in arriving at his opinions and his point of view. We had a really great conversation, and I didn't even realize who I was having a conversation with until I saw him walk out on stage when Death came on to perform.

I always thought that Chuck and Alex Skolnick would have made an incredible combination for a metal band, that brought Thrash and death and Progressive and Technical and melodic and Jazz and whatever the f*** else they wanted to bring in, but I always thought that those two combined would be a great combination. Just add a Rhythm Section worthy of those two guitars...

... They're both familiar with Hoglan and DiGiorgio....

[Moshbearpig]

Chuck Billy is like a fine wine, he gets better with age.

[warrencantero]

it's a Crime... Testament is one of the greatest Thrash or Metal bands of ALL TIME!!

[kotakidd]

Mustaine, Skolnick, & Waters are the reason's why I play guitar!

[geirholte]

He`s right, and I`m a huge Testament fan. If the Big 4 was just about quality, Testament would deserve a spot.

[heinhobein]

For me, Alex Skolnick is without a doubt one of the greatest influences of metal guitarists in rock history, not only for how he plays but also for how he composes. I love this guy!

[kristopherthomas]

I started playing guitar in 1988 and Alex was my favorite. I loved Testsment way more than anything the Big 4 were doing. Obviously every musician in the big 4 were undeniably ground breaking but Testament did what the big 4 did as good or better than they did. Practice What You Preach is one of the most important records to me in my own personal evolution as a musician. That’s not to take anything away from the big 4. It just goes to prove Testament was in a league of their own. I’d also say something similar about Sepultura and Ministry in similar but distinct ways.

Anyway, I love you Alex Skolnick. You’ve given me so much to learn from and play with as a musician.

[RabidRavenTV]

The Big 4 are called that because they are by far the biggest and most well known, back in the 80's and still today. Almost everyone who has any interest in music has heard of those bands, while not many people outside of the metal scene have heard of Testament and the others. In 1988 I was 8 years old and I knew all the big 4 bands but didn't know any other thrash bands. That's why it's those 4 bands.

[markw]

There should be a second big 4 - Testament, Exodus, Overkill and Kreator

[brandongardner]

What about Exodus? I think that Exodus started at the same time as Metallica did.

[psihopedia]

This guy is a model of integrity, modesty, and talent, and he's telling us that it's not just about rivalry, frustration, overcompensation, and narcissism, it's also about love for music and self-improvement, he doesn't even need that kind of narcissistic validation of being in "the big 4". I think Testament and Skolnick are examples of how you can explore your musical interest for the sake of it. Yes, they deserve much more recognition but sometimes you have to learn to live with adverse reality, and maybe that makes you a more valuable human being.

[gabolujan]

Kreator and Testament have been the best from the old school thrash bands for the last 15 to 20 years. Especially Kreator puts out masterpiece after masterpiece, and it doesn't seem like they will stop.

[RowdyGrunt]

Awesome human being. I’ve listened to him from the start of his career, and he’s probably my top guitarist. HeHe’s such a nice guy that he took some time out on Twitter to have a brief political back-and-forth with a little nobody like me. We disagreed but he was awesome in how he chose to disagree. I wish we had more people like him with the civility that is part of his soul in this world.

[jvogele]

There are some things to remember about how the "Big 4" got to where they are and were back then: Anthrax and Megadeth put out early career music videos; Ozzy took Metallica out on tour as an opener; Slayer had the Rick Rubin connection.