So @MolluskGoneBad mentioned to me recently that the Wikipedia page for Anthrax says
The group is considered one of the leaders of the thrash metal scene from the 1980s and is part of the "Big Four" of the genre, along with Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer.
And also that the page for Exodus says
Exodus have sold over five million albums worldwide, and they are also considered to be one of the "big eight" of thrash metal, along with Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax, Testament, Overkill and Death Angel.
Now, I'm sure you will all have leapt instantly to the same thought I did: "this obviously implies a tournament-style single-elimination bracket diagram" followed directly by "OK so who are the other fifty-six most important 1980s thrash metal band and is it feasible to work out any kind of retroactive seeding system given that we already know who's in the Elite Eight and Final Four?"
Input welcome!