In a world full of binary choices, music fans have long loved to put two pillars of the industry head-to-head. Whether it’s Blur vs. Oasis or The Beatles vs. The Rolling Stones, there have always been varied opinions at the heart of it all.

Now, Slayer guitarist Kerry King has weighed in on one of the most intense musical feuds of all time: Metallica vs. Megadeth.

The origins of the feud are well-known, with future Megadeth founder Dave Mustaine being Metallica’s founding guitarist back in 1981. Shortly before the recording of their 1983 debut album, Kill ‘Em All, Mustaine was booted from the group due to his drug and alcohol abuse, with Kirk Hammett coming onboard to replace him.

Vowing to found a band bigger and better than his prior group, Mustaine formed Megadeth that same year. Though never quite reaching the same commercial heights as Metallica, Megadeth have undoubtedly served as formidable rivals since, with the two bands – along with Slayer and Anthrax – comprising half of thrash metal’s ‘big four’ acts.

Now, speaking to Reigning TV, Kerry King – who briefly served as a guitarist for Megadeth in 1984 during a rough patch for Slayer – shared his thoughts on the two iconic outfits, along with his opinions on the better frontmen.

Speaking alongside Death Angel’s Mark Osegueda, the pair were asked whether they preferred Metallica’s James Hetfield or Megadeth’s Mustaine – with both offering the former as their answer. “James Hetfield,” King said. “Sorry Dave, I know played in your band, but, I’m going with James.”

Further head-to-head questions were also asked, including whether they preferred AC/DC’s Bon Scott or Motörhead’s Lemmy Kilmister (“How cool is to to be AC/DC, to have two singers that just make your band huge?” King asked), before finally culminating in whether Metallica or Megadeth were the preferred thrash outfit.

“I’m gonna be brutally honest, Metallica has a singer,” King stated. “Sorry Dave.’

Though tensions have ebbed and flowed over the years, the Metallica and Megadeth camp seem to be on relatively good terms.

While Mustaine would face his former bandmates in the infamous Some Kind Of Monster documentary, the Big Four bands would also play a series of shows together in 2010 and 2011. More recently, Megadeth announced their upcoming album would be their last, with Mustaine announcing a cover of Metallica’s Ride The Lightning would feature on the record.

“As I come full circle on the career of a lifetime, the decision to include Ride The Lightning, a song I co-wrote with James, Lars, and Cliff, was to pay my respects to where my career first started,” he said in a statement.

“I also know that time takes time to heal wounds, and I don’t know if we still have that kind of relationship anymore,” Mustaine added of his friendship with Hetfield in an interview with Rolling Stone.

“I know I would like to hang out and listen to new music and goof off and do shit like that, but maybe we’re all too old. I don’t know.”

Metallica recently launched their latest Australian tour with a show in Perth over the weekend, though there’s currently no word as to when a final Megadeth tour may take place on local shores.