Aqualung

At ChrisP's suggestion, here's the Megadeth Featured Artist Review.

Years active:
1983-2002
2004-present

Genre:
Thrash metal
Speed metal
Progressive metal

Line up:
Current members:
Dave Mustaine - Guitar, vocals (1983-present)
Glen Drover - Guitar (2004-present)
James Lomenzo - Bass guitar (2006-present)
Shawn Drover - Drums (2004-present)

Past members:
Greg Handevidt - Guitar (1983-1984)
Kerry King - Guitar (1984)
Chris Poland - Guitar (1984-1987)
Mike Albert - Guitar (1985 fill in)
Jay Reynolds - Guitar (1987)
Jeff Young - Guitar (1987-1989)
Marty Friedman - Guitar (1990-1999)
Al Pitrelli - Guitar (2000-2002)

David Ellefson - Bass guitar (1983-2002)
James MacDonough - Bass guitar (2004-2006)

Dijon Carruthers - Drums (1983-1984)
Lee Rausch - Drums (1984)
Gar Samuelson - Drums (1984-1987)
Dave Lombardo - Drums (1987) Gigged but did not record with the band
Chuck Behler - Drums (1987-1988)
Nick Menza - Drums (1989-1998)
Jimmy DeGrasso - Drums (1998-2002)

Discography:
Killing Is My Business . . . And Business is Good! - June 1985
Peace Sells . . . But Who's Buying? - November 1986
So Far So Good . . . So What! - January 1988
Rust In Peace - September 1990
Countdown to Extinction - July 1992
Youthanasia - October 1994
Hidden Treasures (EP) - July 1995
Cryptic Writings - June 1997
Live Trax - June 1998 (Live in Japan)
Cryptic Sounds - No Voices In Your Head (EP) - November 1998
Risk - August 1999
Capitol Punishment: The Megadeth Years - October 2004
The World Needs A Hero - May 2001
Killing Is My Business . . . And Business is Good (remastered and expanded) - February 2002
Rude Awakaning (live) - March 2002
Still Alive . . . And Well? - September 2002
The System Has Failed - September 2004
Greatest Hits: Back To The Start - June 2005

History:
This story starts when David Mustaine left Metallica due to alcohol and interpersonal problems with the band members. After being kicked out of Metallica, Mustaine wanted payback, so all he wanted to do was start his own band. He and guitarist Greg Handevidt and bassist David Ellefson therefore formed Megadeth. Mustaine originally searched for a singer but, not finding one who fit his preferences, decided to do all the singing himself, as well as rhythm guitarist. Later in 1983, Handevidt left Megadeth for form Kublai Khan, so Megadeth hired temporary guitarist Kerry King for live shows, as well as added drummer Gar Samuelson. Kerry King was shortly replaced by a more permanent member, Chris Poland.

In 1985, Megadeth released their first album, Killing is Business . . . And Business is Good! Combat Records, the label that had signed Megadeth in 1984, had given the band $8000 to produce the album, but they spent about half the money on drugs, so the production quality, as they had to fire their producer and do it themselves, is less than perfect. Notwithstanding the quality, however, the album was well received by the thrash metal community. The album combined elements of Thrash metal and punk rock.

1986 saw the release of Megadeth's second album, Peace Sells . . . But Who's Buying? This album prompted Capitol Records to sign Megadeth, as well as buy the rights to Peace Sells. On the promotional tour for this album, Megadeth fired Gar Samuelson and Chris Poland because, as Mustain claimed, Samuelson was not a very nice drunk and Poland was selling band equipment for drug money. Chuck Behler took over on drums, and Jeff Young replaced Poland on guitars.

Megadeth released their third album, So Far So Good . . . So What? in 1988. Although this album went platinum, it was criticised for being stale and inconsitent. The album included a cover of Anarchy in the UK, by the Sex Pistols, which some felt was a great cover but others saw as a failure. Megadeth even appeared in the rockumentary "The Decline of Western Civilization II: The Metal Years". The video In My Darkest Hour, filmed for the rockumentary, was a tribute to Metallica's bassist Cliff Burton, who had recently died.

Later in 1988, Chuck Behler and Jeff Young were fired, and Megadeth set out once again to find another guitarist and another drummer. They filled the drummer spot quickly with Nick Menza, who was previously Chuch Behler's tech. The trio recorded a cover of Alice Cooper's No More Mr. Nice Guy, the only song they recorded as a trio. They later held auditions for guitars, almost hiring "Dimebag Darrell" Abbott, except Abbott refused to take the position unless his brother could play drums. Megadeth finally settled on Marty Friedman, of the band Cacophony, to fill the guitar position. This line up would become Megadeth's most successful and longest lasting.

In 1990, Megadeth released their fourth album, Rust in Peace. Many regard this album to be one of the most technically interesting albums in thrash metal history, which distinction is probably due to recently hired Marty Friedman, a self taught guitar virtuoso. In 1991, Megadeth released the VHS Rusted Peices, which contained all six of their music videos to date, as well as interviews with band members about the progression of the band and the recent additions of Friedman and Menza.

Rust in Peace



Countdown to Extinction, Megadeth's fifth album, was released in 1992, and was quite successful. It reached #2 on the Billboard top album charts, and was a multi-platinum seller. It became Mustaine's par album, against which he measured the success of future albums. This album was not as technically complex as Rust in Peace, but contained simpler melodies and a greater emphasis on vox. The music also sought to get Megadeth's foot in the door of mainstream music, and the #2 Billboard spot showed they did a very good job at it. The lyrics, however, covered similar themes as their previous albums; that is, they spoke ironically and cynically of politics and relationships. For example, Forclosure of a Dream was written in response to George H W Bush's promise to not raise taxes ("Read my lips: No new taxes") which was later broken. The song Countdown to Extinction earned Megadeth the distinction of being the first and so far only metal band to win the Humane Society's Genesis award.

In 1993, Megadeth released a second video, Exposure of a Dream, which contained all the music videos from Countdown to Extinction except Sweating Bullets.

Megadeth released Youthanasia, their sixth album, in 1994. This album continued the commericialized turn that Countdown to Extinction started, as the songs tended to be slower and simpler than on their first albums. The making of this album was filmed and released under the moniker Evolver: The Making of Youthanasia. Mustaine played the roll of a school teacher explaining the recording process to students. Megadeth, always being sure to use technology to its fullest, and Youthanasia advertised Megadeth's band website, which was then a new concept.

Youthanasia



Hidden Treasures, released in 1995, was a compilation of B-Sides, which, although not a surprising move, was VERY well received by fans.

Cryptic writing was released in 1997, and was Megadeth's seventh original material album. Two songs, The Disentegrators, and FFF, were very reminiscient of Megadeth's early albums. Trust, a slower rock ballad from this album, received considerable MTV air time, and was nominated for a grammy. In 1998, however, Megadeth fired Nick Menza a few days after he had a surgery. Menza claims he does not know the reason he was fired. Mustaine hired Jimmy DeGrasso, a drummer with whom he had worked on a side project.

In 1999, 3D Realms, a company that makes computer games, hired Megadeth to record songs for its promotional album, Duke Nukem: Music To Score By.

Later in 1999, Megadeth released their most poppy album yet, Risk. This album was not received well by fans or by the general populace, and sold relatively few copies. It was produced by country music producer Dan Huff. Shortly after this album's release, Marty Friedman left Megadeth, stating that Mustaine had removed a guitar solo from a song without informing Friedman. Megadeth hired Al Pitrelli to fill his stead.

In 2000, looking to be freed from contractual obligations with Capitol Records, Megadeth released the greatest hits complilation Capitol Punishment: The Megadeth Years. This album also contained two new songs which completed Megadeth's obligations to Capitol. In 2001, Megadeth signed with Sanctuary Records and released The World Needs A Hero. It was generally well received, although some fans felt it was not up to par with what Megadeth should have been putting out. The Arizona leg of the promotional tour was recorded and released on the live album Rude Awakening.

On April 3, 2003, Mustaine officially announced the disbandment of Megadeth, reportedly due to a nerve injury in his left arm. Radial nerve injury in the left hand of a musician is usually quite devastating, so disbandment for this type of injury was expected. After a couple of years of physical therapy, however, and some guitar practice to "relearn" his skills, Mustaine resurrected Megadeth with Vinnie Colaiuta on drums and Chris Poland back on guitars. Mustaine also inlisted the services of Jimmy Sloas as a session guitarist for the recording of the 2004 album The System Has Failed. This album was originally meant to be a solo album, but Sanctuary Records insisted that it be released as a Megadeth album to fulfill contractual obligations. The System Has Failed was well received by both critics and fans. For the promotional tour, Mustaine invited the Rust in Peace lineup, but only Nick Menza agreed to return. Menza, however, was replaced five days before the first show by Shawn Dover because Menza apparanly couldn't play Megadeth songs anymore. Also hired as official Megadeth members were Glen Drover on guitars and James MacDonough on bass.

Megadeth are currently working on a new album.

 

ChrisP

YEAH! Go the Tullish reviewing Machine... I've started doing one on Kyuss, but it's turning into a biography

Aqualung

Biographic elements are good. Don't worry so much.

That review was really scary, because I was like at the second to last paragraph of the review, and I hadn't saved anything, and my media player started messing up (I know, MusicMan: get WinAmp ) and then my comp froze. I thought I would have to end all my tasks or restart, and then lose my entire review!

ChrisP

Can I second and third the "GET WINAMP!"... I use iTunes though... but that's cos I'm an iPod sucker.

Aqualung

I just don't really like Winamp's interface.

ChrisP

Oldschool or newschool? I agree, the new ones a resource hogging piece of software shit.

Aqualung

Ummm... newschool I guess. I use winamp if I need the music to not freeze things up (for example, if I'm playing Aqualung and then Cross Eyed Mary and I don't want it to take ten minutes to change to Cross Eyed Mary), and I play videos through it, but I just wouldn't use it as my regular media player.

Dave Lombardo

It´s problably my favorite metal band, i like "Rust In Peace" so much.

collard

I fully agree with Dave Lombardo, although I'm a bit surprised that Slayer isn't your favourite in that genre..

"Rust in Peace" is a fantasic album. Among my absolute favourites, regardless of time and genre. Dave Mustaine is a fantastic musician, great voice, great lyrics and great guitar skills. The best frontman in the history of trash metal, way way better than the overrated Hetfield.

Marty Friedman's main solo in Tornado of Souls = Orgasmic.

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Dave Lombardo

Jeje, my nickname it´s because i like how Dave playing drumbs, but the megadeth music it´s a little bit better than slayer music (in my opinion),bye.

MorningGlory

Yeah i agree Megadeath are good I haven't listened to them in a while I might start listening to them again.

Subsource

wicked review

He s sounds like suck a tit to work for old Mr Mustaine

BlackDeth54

MegaDeth > Metallica

Nuff said

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http://www./joechamberlain54

Baphomet

You know i like this band a little and I think this band was ok for what it was but, the lineup changes and unreal amount of past members really says something about it.

__________________
We walk without eyes, chained to these.
We stand pseudo life, slaves to machines.

http://www.myspace.com/prosedescry <--My new band!!

TheNoiseWithin

Rust in Peace is one of my favorite metal albums. I wasn't thrilled with their latest release. Hopefully the new one they're working on is better.

High Standards

HAHAHAHA. and you cant put it better than that!

Thanks for the review, didnt know much of that, was in love and still deeply awed by Youthanasia. Theyre popular in "2nd world" countries it seems, if there is such a thing. I would rate the lead guitarist on that album as the best shredder Ive ever heard in rock/metal music. The solo in The Killing Road is beyond the beyond. Metallica are a long, long, long, long way behind Megadeth..."imo". And if that was, as you say, their sixth album, then its probably the best sixth album on major record label...

Dave Lombardo

The last record is very interesting, i think they´ve returned to old compositions,with a current sound.

MHuffman89

Megadeth is such an awesome speed metal band!

jwebbinspired

cool

Adrynee

Symphony Of Destruction sounds good to me, i must agree that i don't use to listen to their music

Baphomet

Sorry, but what????

__________________
We walk without eyes, chained to these.
We stand pseudo life, slaves to machines.

http://www.myspace.com/prosedescry <--My new band!!