Anthrax is a New York City-based heavy metal band that released its first full-length album in 1984. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene and is notable for being the first to combine heavy metal with rap music. The band has sold over 10 million albums worldwide,[citation needed] and is classified as one of the "big four" of thrash metal alongside Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer.