The Spotlight
Founding one of the most notable metal acts of all time, Metallica, Dave Mustaine seemed to be a guitarist destined for greatness and a place amongst metal’s elite. But all that came to a halt when he was thrown out of the group prior to its first release.
Not content to sit on the sidelines and watch his former bandmates rise to stardom, Mustaine formed the thrash metal quartet Megadeth.
Since the release of “Killing is My Business” in 1985, Mustaine, along with a revolving door of bandmates, has trampled a path through the metal scene to become one of the elite. Any fan of heavy metal has at least heard of Megadeth with it at times extremely high-tempoed metal anthems and intricate musicianship.
With 10 full-length albums, a couple of greatest hits collections, and slew of strong singles under its belt, Megadeth is still going strong almost 20 years after it’s inception and Dave Mustaine has gone from being a footnote in Metallica?s history book to fronting a band that, in some ways, exceeds Metallica’s influence.
The History
Growing up in suburban California, Mustaine was one of the founding members of Metallica along with James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich. He spent two years with the group which was developing a strong following in the underground metal scene at the time, before getting kicked out of the band (over alleged drug abuse) in 1983 prior to the release of Metallica’s seminal “Kill ‘Em All.”
Without missing a beat, Mustaine regrouped and, along with Dave Ellefson, formed Megadeth which also featured Kerry King (of Slayer) and drummer Lee Rauch. The initially lineup, however, was short-lived and the founding duo rounded out the band with drummer Gar Samuelson and guitarist Chris Poland. The new line-up toured, gained a following, signed an independent record deal and Megadeth released its first album “Killing is My Business “¦ And Business is Good!” in 1985.
The release received rave reviews and sold well for an independent album, garnering the attention of major labels. Within a year the group signed with Capitol Records and released “Peace Sells “¦ But Who’s Buying” which received equally strong reviews and sales (eventually going platinum).
Mustaine was now battling drug addiction which many, at the time, claimed was affecting his business decisions. Before recording started for what would become “So Far, So Good “¦ So What!” he fired Poland and Samuelson (the duo was replaced by Chuck Behler and Jeff Young). The album was met with less positive reviews and the band soldiered on while Mustaine’s addictions grew worse. However, after a run-in with the law in 1990, Mustaine entered rehab and, by the end of the year, had gotten the band back together. Behler and Young were replaced by drummer Nick Menza and guitarist Marty Friedman, and “Rust In Peace” (featuring one of the band’s most popular songs, “Hanger 18″) was unleashed by yea’s end. The album was followed up a year and a half later with “Countdown to Extinction,” which entered the charts at No. 2.
“Countdown” showed that the band really had a foothold in the music business, and the band began to move towards a more radio-friendly sound. 1994’s “Youthanasia” was equally successful, but die-hard fans could sense a slight shift in the band’s sound. Megadeth followed that up with a collection of rarities (“Hidden Treasures”) and “Cryptic Writings” in 1997, the last album recorded by the band’s most successful line-up. Jimmy DeGrasso took over drumming duties for 2000’s “Risk,” and Marty Friedman followed left the fold soon after.
Megadeth released its last studio album, “The World Needs a Hero,” in 2001. The disc was a solid return-to-form, full of lengthy, intricate tracks and a sequel of sorts to 1990’s “Hanger 18″ (“Return to Hanger”).
Things were looking good for the band but, while on a break from touring in 2002, Mustaine seriously injured his arm and was told he would never play guitar again. Mustaine disbanded Megadeth later that year, leaving behind a solid legacy”¦
Except”¦
It was not quite over. Mustaine pushed through extensive rehab (going so far as to re-learn his craft “¦ playing guitar), and word leaked in 2004 that a new Megadeth album was on the horizon.
Mustaine also spent his time away from Megadeth re-mixing and re-mastering most of the band?s back catalogue. “Some of the songs just didn’t turn out the way that I wanted them to when they were first made, due to money restrictions, technology limitations and so on,” Mustaine was recently quoted as saying at the Blabbermouth Web-site. “I believe now that there is nothing standing in the way of what I felt when I wrote these songs and how you will be able to hear them.” The re-releases will be available on July 27.
Megadeth new album, “The System Has Failed,” is slated to be released in September.
The Legacy
Killing Is My Business… [1985]
The album that started it all”¦ This album laid the foundation to what would become Megadeth signature sound: amazing guitar licks, Mustaine’s gritty vocals but solid lyrics, and speed! The creepy piano opening of the disc gets plowed into the ground once the band unleashes its fury. The vocals and music are raw and under-produced, but that’s what really gives this album its edge, which is still sharp after all these years.
Peace Sells… But Who?s Buying? [1986]
This album features one of the most noteworthy bass lines of all time (even MTV stole it for use during its news briefs). Hailed by some as one of the band’s darkest albums, “Peace Sells” was a superior follow-up to “Killing is my Business.” For everything the first album was, “Peace Sells” took and personified exponentially. The band was tighter, the production was better, and the overall effort really showed the Mustaine had something to offer the music industry. “Wake Up Dead” and “My Last Words” (along with “Peace Sells”) are necessary staples on any thrash metal collection.
So Far, So Good… So What ! [1988]
A straight, balls-out thrash metal release: a crazy, intricate instrumental opener (“Into the Lungs of Hell”), hard-hitting tracks like “Set the World a Fire” and “Hook in Mouth,” and Sex Pistols cover (“Anarchy in the U.K.”).
Rust In Peace [1990]
Turgid with gut-wrenching guitar solos, “Rust in Peace” is, to many fans, Megadet’s finest hour. The aggressive nature of tracks like “Dawn Patrol” and “Five Magics” are as solid as any thrash metal song out there, but still pale in comparison to “Hanger 18″ or “Rust in Peace.”
Countdown To Extinction [1992]
This was the first of Megadet’s string of successful albums, with at least four tracks (“Skin O’ My Teeth,” “Foreclosure of a Dream,” “Sweating Bullets” and the immensely popular “Symphony of Destruction”) receiving moderate to high radio exposure. Though this effort was more polished than the raw offerings previously offered by Megadeth, this is, hands down, my favorite of the band’s catalogue.
Youthanasia [1994]
For this album, Megadeth slowed down the band’s pace (which at the time was seen as selling out when taking into account the band’s thrash metal roots), but kept the intensity. Songs like “Reckoning Day” and “Train of Consequences” are strong Megadeth offerings, and the album’s closer, “Victory,” will make fans smile as the lyrics are song titles from the band’s past strung together.
Hidden Treasures [1995]
A collection of tracks from soundtracks and tributes throughout the years, this album is a must have for the band’s fans (and is good enough to be an introduction to new listeners). From the intense, thundering “99 Ways to Die” (off the “Beavis and Butthead Experience” disc) to the murky, sludgy sound of “Go To Hell” (off “Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey” soundtrack), this album spotlights a nice range of the “Megadeth sound,” and also features a killer cover of Alice Coope’s “No More Mr. Nice Guy.”
Cryptic Writings [1997]
Exploding open with “Trust,” this disc really showcased the great guitar play between Mustaine and Friedman. Balancing between metal and hard-rock, the album was full of enough hooks to always leave you wanting more. Tracks like “Almost Honest,” “Mastermind” and “I’ll Get Even” offered up classic Megadeth musical sensibility and, at a time when the music scene was shifting from grunge to the likes of Korn and Limp Bizkit, still felt like a breath of fresh air.
Risk [1999]
“Risk” showcases a band wallowing in stagnation. For all the success garnered by “Cryptic Writings,” Megadeth seemed unwilling to take “¦ well “¦ a risk. While nothing overly stands out a terrible, nothing really seems to stand out, period. Artistically, “Risk” is a solid album, but it’s far from noteworthy. “Crush ‘Em” is a hard-hitting anthem and “Breadline” is one of the band’s most interesting tracks of all time simply for heavy melody it incorporates.
The World Needs A Hero [2001]
Riding high of the first single, “Moto Psycho,” this album is chock full of Megadeth staples. The lengthy “Disconnect” is filled with great guitar riffs and solos, as is “Return to Hanger,” a sequel to the band’s earlier “Hanger 18.” From end to end, this album really felt like Mustaine was trying to reconnect with the groups die-hard fans and offer up all that which they had come to love about the band, while still incorporating the sheen of the later material.
The Top 10
It’s impossible to fully encapsulate Megadet’s contribution to the metal scene with any one song or album, but here’s my attempt. (The band already has a couple of “greatest hits” packages available for those interested: “Still Alive “¦ and Well?” and “Capitol Punishment” along with the live album “Rude Awakening.”)
But, for those looking for a good taste of the band, here’s my top 10 Megadeth songs to fulfill your “mix-tape” desires.
In order:
“Trust”
– A hard-hitting opener with Mustaine’s tyrannical vocals in the fore front.
“Symphony Of Destruction”
– The song the really put Megadeth on the map with mainstream listeners, symphony is intense enough to be a solid thrash song yet just understated and subtle enough to make it on rock radio.
“Hangar 18″
– A fan favorite, and chock full of blistering guitar solos and riffs.
“Disconnect”
– The newest track on this collection, the first half is a straight-forward Megadeth anthem, the second half a full-fledged instrumental showing Mustaine hasn’t missed a step after all these years.
“Go To Hell”
– One of the band’s more slow, plodding tracks. Mustaine included the “As I lay me down to sleep” prayer at the end, just as Metallica had done with “Enter Sandman.” Mustaine’s version is far more creepy, and I was never quite sure if this was coincidence, or a knock at his former bandmates.
“Breadline”
– A great melodic rock/metal track, and a different dimension to the band so known for its thrash style.
“Peace Sells”
– From end to end, great bass, guitar and drum work, solid and intense vocals and great tempo-changes throughout.
“Train Of Consequences”
– A solid track off the one Megadeth release I’m least familiar with. Most fans seemed disappointed with this release, but it’s still a strong album.
“Skin O’ My Teeth”
– Fast, fast, fast. When Megadeth was still moving towards a more polished sound, it was able to spill this track forth. Extremely high-energy and Mustaine really seethes with disdain throughout the vocal delivery.
“99 Ways To Die”
– My favorite Megadeth song, it’s not quiet fast enough to be considered thrash, but it’s a high-energy metal anthem. The drums and bass rumble through the track as Mustaine buzzsaws his way through the vocals and guitar.
The Inside Pulse .::. Well, there you have it. Dave Mustaine founded two of the most influential metal bands of the past 20 years, Metallica and Megadeth. While his time in Metallica was short-lived, his time in Megadeth was more than memorable. From 1985’s “Killing is My Business” to 2001’s “The World Needs a Hero,” Mustaine has proved time and time again he has the skills and ability to warrant a place amongst the metal elite. Megadet’s influence will never “rust” away.
