This was a year of metal dreams come true. Things headbangers thought would never happened ... actually happened in 2010. Metalheads dreamt big and were rewarded for it this year. Several of these metal dreams come true revolve around the Big Four (Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax), because they are the most essential bands in our beloved genre. And we felt like Dimebag Darrell riffed for us from the grave. What a year it was!

10. The Big Four Tour Europe Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax did something none of them had ever done before: share a stage. The foursome played before audiences at Sonisphere for seven shows across Europe. While faraway lands like Bulgaria indulged in thrash's Big Four laying waste to the stage, Slayer's Kerry King hinted to Noisecreep that everyone would like to repeat the Big Four tour in America. Getty Images (4)