[1][2][3] The label of "Big Four" has often been rejected, emerging from the belief that the influence and popularity of Tankard was far less than that of the other 3, leading to the alternate title, "the Teutonic Trio".
Their style featured raspy vocals, palm muted guitar riffs, and frantic double bass drumming.
Only with the release of their second LP Persecution Mania and with guitarist Frank Blackfire's input to move away from their original sounds and themes they became a thrash metal band for good.
Destruction would instead face a period of instability which saw them split with frontman Schmier, releasing a thrash album without him (Cracked Brain) then attempting to go radio-friendly and less "thrashy" with the poorly received The Least Successful Human Cannonball.
Meanwhile, Schmier would start Headhunter, achieving some success with a slew of three power-thrash albums similar in sound to some of the offerings of Rage.