Sonisphere Sofia 2010: The Big Four Play Everywhere.

Sitting in a Middlesbrough Cinema isn’t usually the best way to see four of the biggest names in metal but for one night only Cineworld cinemas everywhere and perhaps a few other picture houses, broadcast the explosive display of rock that was the ‘Big Four’ at Sonisphere Sofia.

Performing back to back in a Bulgarian stadium and broadcast live to screens across the world this performance gave fans a chance to witness a performance of epic proportions. Starting with the band billing itself; Anthrax, Megadeth, Slayer and finally, Metalica anticipation was at fever-pitch, though calmly at odds with the whole cinema experience.
Coke, ‘corn and nachos don’t normally spell metal brutality and things remained fairly still and subdued aside for the odd splash of applause throughout Anthrax’s opening set. Joey Belladonna appeared as one of the most spectacularly preserved spokesmen of old school metal and proceeded to wail and rock profusely. Highlights include an extended version of Indians and a performance of Anthrax’s debut single “”.
Less than a minute after this performance Megadeth took to the stage and cracked open the heavens with a truly brutal performance. Attendees initially had some misgivings about Megadeth ‘not being a festival band’ but were proven wrong when Mr Mustaine played a rousing trinity of tracks with Sweating bullets, Symphony Of Destruction, Peace Sells(But Who’s Buying) all back to back.

Slayer again, performed a brutal set with all the essential classics present including, Angel of Death and Reign in Blood. With Slayers performance Things began to escalate in the cinema, people began to dance, thrash and generally rock out in their seats.

By the time Metallica took to the stage this had turned to a full blown mosh pit at the front of the screen. An experience shared in venues across the country it would seem. which stayed safe and amusing through out everything that followed despite some confusing and entertaining attempts by venue staff to re-seat all that tried to dance.

Storming through a powerful set featuring, For Whom The Bell Tolls, Enter Sandman and One, Metallica could not be accused of holding back a single iota in this performance.
The Big Four individually were the perfect cocktail of iconic rock gods seizing the opportunity to play in succession at a single venue, but for a single moment in Metallica’s headline set they made rock history by literally playing together.

Metallica front-man James Hetfield invited members of Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax to play alongside the band to play Diamondhead’s song Am I Evil together.

The Big Four All Together

After spreading the love greeting friends and fellow musicians alike, including an unexpected hug between Dave Mustaine and Lars Ulrich. A video of this rousing performance can be seen below. Having seen first hand the rule breaking, history making multimedia madness myself I can only say that I am still ever so slightly jealous of those who got to experience the whole thing first hand in the sweat and the crushing crowds of Sofia instead of the Dolby 5.1 air conditioned experience in cinemas world wide.

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