Top 51 Megadeth Songs

As a celebration of their new album, Endgame, I am all things Megadeth this past couple of months. Fortunately, the album is a blistering aural attack and it is their best effort this decade. I have lavished praise on the album elsewhere. After countless listens over the few weeks, it gets better with every spin. And deservedly so.

What follows is a list of 51 songs that I absolutely LOVE from Megadeth. Why 51 and not 50? I couldn't cut another song after slimming the list down from 74. When picking the songs I applied only one rule: they had to be songs that I can listen to any time, anywhere, under any circumstance without my finger going to the skip button. So, without further ado, I present you my Top 51 Megadeth Songs in alphabetical order:

- "A Tout le Monde" (Youthanasia, 1994): A pseudo-ballad with a fantastic solo at the end. This is Mustaine at his most honest and poignant. A classic hard rock song.
- "Addicted to Chaos" (Youthanasia, 1994): The starting drum riff reminds me what an awesome player Nick Menza was. Another heart-to-heart from Mustaine.
- "Angry Again" (Hidden Treasures, 1996): Possibly the best known of all non-album Megadeth songs, it captures the '90s era 'Deth better than any of their "album" songs.
- "Ashes in Your Mouth" (Countdown to Extinction, 1992): How do you finish an album like Countdown? With a riff so unrelentingly heavy and a coda that never lets up. One of my all-time favourite tracks.
- "Back in the Day" (The System Has Failed, 2004): A lament to the bygone era of metal when Megadeth  and metal were kings. If you don't have goosebumps in the last minute or so, check your pulse.
- "Bite the Hand" (Endgame, 2009): One of the high points of the latest album, its hook is unbelievably catchy and heavy at the same time. In other words, pure Megadeth.
- "Blood of Heroes" (Youthanasia, 1994): It is a glorified pop rock anthem, but the chorus is the perfect fit for an arena sing-along.
- "Burnt Ice" (United Abominations, 2007): It has quite probably Mustaine's best solo to date. And that alone merits its inclusion on this list.
- "Captive Honour" (Countdown to Extinction, 1992): A classic Megadeth track that has the best use of non-exegetic sounds that 'Deth are so fond of. It's hard not to scream out the chorus as Mustaine snarls his way through some of his smartest lyrics.
- "Countdown to Extinction" (Countdown to Extinction, 1992): Megadeth sing about the endangered species. It might sound cheesy, but they pull it off admirably. Mustaine and Marty Friedman's harmony solo at the end is magnificent.
- "Dawn Patrol" (Rust in Peace, 1990): This little gem is driven by a claustrophobic Dave Ellefson bass line and Mustaine's inimitable snarl. 110 seconds of genius.
- "Diadems" (Hidden Treasures, 1996): What a song and what a riff. Sadly it's another non-album track that is criminally overlooked in their live set.
- "Die Dead Enough" (The System Has Failed, 2004): This is as hook-laden as a metal song can be without losing intensity. One of the better singles from this decade.
- "Dread and the Fugitive Mind" (The World Needs a Hero, 2001): A simple song, driven by a brilliant rhythm and ends with a guitar duel that is second only to "Hangar 18".
- "Endgame" (Endgame, 2009): The highlight of the latest album, the song exudes anger that has been absent of late from Mustaine. Chris Broderick and Mustaine's solo fills are magnificent.
- "Family Tree" (Youthanasia, 1994): Another pop-metal masterclass, a difficult subject matter is projected with utmost ease by a simple and effective arrangement.
- "FFF" (Cryptic Writings, 1997): This is my favourite punk song of all time. Fast, sharp, angry, and violent. Very underrated.
- "Gears of War" (United Abominations, 2007): This pounding track was the high point in 'Deth's then heaviest album since Rust in Peace (1990).
- "Good Mourning / Black Friday" (Peace Sells ... But Who's Buying?, 1986): A two-parter, this is as epic as it gets. The first part is soft, yet menacing, while the second part is Megadeth at their most ferocious. An absolute classic.
- "Hangar 18" (Rust in Peace, 1990): By far the finest song Mustaine ever wrote. The guitar tone at the beginning is brilliant and I have yet to hear chaos more eloquently represented aurally than the guitar duel in the finale. In my opinion this is the second greatest song in heavy metal (in case you're wondering, the greatest is Iron Maiden's "Hallowed Be Thy Name").
- "Head Crusher" (Endgame, 2009): This is the first song released off of the latest album and it is guaranteed to cause temporary hearing loss as it kicks in in a most unexpected fashion and never lets off.
- "Holy Wars ... Punishment Due" (Rust in Peace, 1990): 'Deth's best two-parter, this gets even better with every listen. When played live, it's pure Valhalla.
- "I Thought I Knew It All" (Youthanasia, 1994): From the opening riff, the song hooks you in and takes you through some of Mustaine's best lines and a sing-along chorus. By the time this is over, you've already started singing it again inside your head.
- "In My Darkest Hour" (So Far, So Good ... So What!, 1988): Written as a tribute to Cliff Burton, this pseudo-ballad is complex and masterly in every way. Without trying, Mustaine wrote one of the best prog metal songs of all time.
- "Into the Lungs of Hell" (So Far, So Good ... So What!, 1988): Bend you knees, raise your fists in the hair and start banging your head like there's no tomorrow. Trust me, it's worth it.
- "Kill the King" (Capitol Punishment, 2001): Only released as part of a "greatest hits" package, this song was featured in their live set for a few years. It is a pounding, hook-laden track with a terrace-chant chorus.
- "Lucretia" (Rust in Peace, 1990): A very good song all around, but kudos goes to the band who bury one of their best riffs underneath the verse. Sometimes I wish we could just hear the guitars at some point without the words.
- "Mechanix" (Killing Is My Business ... and Business Is Good!, 1985): I'm not going to go into which version is better. However, I do prefer 'Deth's version over Metallica's for its immediacy and energy and for the fact that "Four Horsemen", sadly, aged a little more.
- "My Last Words" (Peace Sells ... But Who's Buying?, 1986): A severely underrated gem from the early days, Mustaine's spitfire delivery of his lyrics and the coda are simply amazing.
- "Never Walk Alone ... a Call to Arms" (United Abominations, 2007): This is one of those pop-metal songs that Megadeth can write in their sleep. Unsophisticated and to-the-point.
- "Peace Sells" (Peace Sells ... But Who's Buying?, 1986): One of the most iconic of 80s thrash metal songs, this hook-laden gem's lyrics are still relevant today. If you're not chanting "Peace sells, but who's buying?" by the end ... yeah, check your pulse again.
- "Rattlehead" (Killing Is My Business ... And Business Is Good!, 1985): This is THE headbanging song. It actually instructs you how to do it, but good luck with keeping up with the rhythm.
- "Return to Hangar" (The World Needs a Hero, 2001): The sequel to the sublime "Hangar 18", this is shorter and less majestic than its prequel, but equally ass-kicking in every way.
- "The Right to Go Insane" (Engdame, 2009): Another highlight from the latest album, it proves, once again, that Mustaine picks the best musicians around to play his awesome songs.
- "Rust in Peace ... Polaris" (Rust in Peace, 1990): The perfect finish to what I consider to be the best metal album of all time. The song pounds its way into our cerebrum with possible hearing loss in its wake.
- "The Scorpion" (The System Has Failed, 2004): A deceptively simple and catchy tune with an eerie atmosphere.
- "A Secret Place" (Cryptic Writing, 1997): Of all 'Deth's pop-metal gems, this is their best. An intriguing riff, a memorable chorus, and one of the best blues-thrash solos you will ever hear.
- "She-Wolf" (Cryptic Writing, 1997): That it still features on their live set as a prelude to some insane shredding is credit enough for this blistering tune.
- "Skull Beneath the Skin" (Killing Is My Business ... And Business Is Good!, 1985): The song that introduces us to Vic, the Rattlehead. Pure thrash heaven ... or hell.
- "Sleepwalker" (United Abomination, 2007): This opening track from United Abominations has a pounding rhythm that mill make your ears bleed.
- "Sweating Bullets" (Countdown to Extinction, 1992): This is a very unorthodox track that is deceptively heavy and is firing on all cylinders.
- "Symphony of Destruction" (Countdown to Extinction, 1992): The most recognizable of all Megadeth tracks, I still think this is severely underrated.
- "Take No Prisoners" (Rust in Peace, 1990): What a riff. Chaos in all its beauty.
- "This Was My Life" (Countdown to Extinction, 1992): Sixth-form philosophy its lyrics may be, but the sheer audacity of its arrangement makes it all worth it.
- "Tornado of Souls" (Rust in Peace, 1990): Second only to "Hangar 18" in the genius department, this was the first song I'd heard from 'Deth. I'm still reeling from it.
- "Trust" (Cryptic Writing, 1997): The lead-off single of the album, "Trust" works its way through a pounding riff, an eerie acoustic section, and a brilliant jazz-rock solo.
- "Victory" (Youthanasia, 1994): Its lyrics are made up from previous song titles. As cheesy as it may sound, the result is mesmerising.
- "Wake up Dead" (Peace Sells ... But Who's Buying?, 1986): A classic thrash song that bears no resemblance to anything from the genre.
- "Wanderlust" (Risk, 2001): Pure hard rock nirvana, this is indubitably the highlight of the dreary Risk.
- "Washington Is Next!" (United Abominations, 2007): As the chorus kicks in you know something big is coming next. And it certainly does.
- "Youthanasia" (Youthanasia, 1994): A slow-burning track with a genius of a chorus line. Oh, and a great play on words for the title.

A Very Premature Top 20 Albums of 2009

We're under about two and a half months from the end of the year, but I'm itching to create a list. so, in order to quench my thirst for such an redundant and narcissistic endeavor, I present my Top 20 Albums from 2009. Clicking on the album will take you to a song from the said (clicked) album:

1- Faith Divides Us, Death Unites Us / Paradise Lost
2- Crack the Skye / Mastodon
3- Endgame / Megadeth
4- Octahedron / The Mars Volta
5- The Weirding / Astra
6- Journal for Plague Lovers / Manic Street Preachers
7- Wavering Radiant / Isis
8- Strange Cousins from the West / Clutch
9- Black Gives Way to Blue / Alice In Chains
10- Street Sweeper Social Club / Street Sweeper Social Club
11- Crooked Timber / Therapy?
12- Let the Dominoes Fall / Rancid
13- The Resistance / Muse
14- Backspacer / Pearl Jam
15- 21st Century Breakdown / Green Day
16- 200 Tons of Bad Luck / Crippled Black Phoenix
17- Amor Vincit Omnia / Pure Reason Revolution
18- Black Clouds & Silver Linings / Dream Theater
19- Polaris / Stratovarius
20- Scream / Chris Cornell

Enjoy.

The Belated Testament

There is the Big Four of thrash. And then there are Testament and Exodus. Even though the commercial and financial greatness eluded the latter two bands, they have always been musically on a par with Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax. Well, almost. Exodus had a chronological advantage over Testament, in that they have been around longer than most, only to be blindsided by their record company's dire financial situation. Testament, on the other hand, could have been much bigger for entirely different reasons: they had the best vocalist and guitarist combo of all the thrash bands. Chuck Billy and Alex Skolnick deserve all the praise that are bestowed upon them. However, it was never meant to be. Fast forward to 2007 and Testament releases The Formation of Damnation. It is an album that screamed its way in to the mainstream heavy metal by people who don't reminisce about good old days, but remind us how good those days were.

I don't want to sound like somebody who has just discovered, or re-discovered, Testament in the last few years. I have been an ardent fan for ages and I'm absolutely chaffed that they are getting the recognition they fully deserve. So, with an air of self-imposed authority I went to see them at Shepherd's Bush Empire last week. Here's the low-down of what transpired.

I had bought the tickets online to pick them up at the venue. Now, I did a silly thing and went in line to think that our tickets were to be disposed to us at the venue (my memories of the Empire is a bit hazy, so I forgot that the box office is outside to the left of the main entrance). There were probably 50 metalheads ahead of me and I thought my chances are good to get a good spot and maybe get a brand-spanking-new t-shirt too. Sadly, the girl that checks our tickets told me that I needed to get mine from the box office. And that meant that I lost my place in line and went to the back of the line. No biggie, really. It wasn't a sold-out show.

The first disappointment of the show were the merchandise - boring as can be. I am wondering if Testament's merchandising department are up to date with international politics, but there hasn't been a Czechoslovakia for nearly two decades. And somehow Testament will be playing in that country next week. Hmmm. Money well saved for not buying that t-shirt.

The first band to appear were Warbringer. My first impression was very positive: the bassist was wearing a Zappa t-shirt and wouldn't have been out of place as a Mothers of Invention member; the lead guitarist had a Siouxsie and the Banshees shirt; and the vocalist had a Demolition Hammer shirt. This band has an interesting taste in music. And it somehow shows in their songs too. Albeit mildly. Theirs wasn't anything new or exciting.  That is the main problem with the current batch of thrash bands - they are rehashing the same stuff from the 80s. They should have done what Testament did and embrace the new and the old.

Next up were Anaal Nakrath. Quite what the management of Testament were thinking when they picked this bunch. I have nothing against black metal, but it's just not something I can get in to. They were massively out of place and that showed in their stage presence. They were loud, non-sensical, and pretty fucking anonymous. But that's just me.

Testament, on the other hand, were a different breed altogether. Chuck Billy is now more menacing than ever, his stage presence mirrors his belt size. Alex Skolnick and the rest of the band couldn't have been tighter. Without the wrinkles in their faces, this could easily have been 1989. It was that good. It was a greatest hits show: "Burnt Offerings", "Alone in the Dark", "Practice What You Preach", "Souls of Black", "Low" ... the list goes on. The highlights, though, strangely were the songs off the new album. The versions of "More than Meets the Eye" and "The Formation of Damnation" are up there with some of the most amazing live performances I have experienced.

Testament should have been the fourth in the Big Four (just kick Anthrax out). Or at least they should have been the fifth. Surely they demonstrated tonight that they truly deserve commercial greatness.

Peace.

The Best Testament

Having recently read at the newest edition of the Classic Rock magazine a brief interview with Testament's lead guitarist, Alex Skolnick, I was pleasanlty surprised and elated to learn that the band will be playing  a best-of set that will also include some tracks from their latest release, the amazing The Formation of Damnation. Watch this space as there will be a review of this gig at Shepherd's Bush Empire.

Peace.

Recent Downloads and Purchases

I have been away from my beloved Mac for some time and will be in the foreseeable future. There is a very good reason and the remedy is, unfortunately, beyond my reach. Suffice to say that I am stuck with what I have on my iPod - which is not too shabby at all - and the age-old tradition of listening to CDs. I am a product of the 90s, what can you say?

Anyhoo, I decided to break the silence in this blog by another lazy list - you have to start somewhere. Here's a list of my recent purchases and/or downloads. And a few words about them:

Ashes Against the Grain by Agalloch: This 2006 album by Portland's finest makes all other American metal resleases - at least in the extreme end of the spectrum - look pale  by comparison. I think the only legitimate rival band to Opeth to come out of the US is Agalloch. The sublime "Not Unlike the Waves" is a testament to that. Check out the video - a shortened version - here.

Elegy by Amorphis: This is not strictly a new purchase, but a replacement. I used to own a pirated cassette tape of this a while back, but it got lost along the five hundred moves I have made over the years. This transition album by the Finnish metal stars is, in my opinion, their best. Even though not on the album, "My Kantele"'s acoustic version - which was released as EP the following year - is a great introduction to the band. And perhaps their best song. 

Everyday Demons by The Answer: The second album from Northern Ireland's brightest new band is a worthy follow-up to their amazing debut. More polished and sounding more "American", this album should see them receive more attention. And deservedly so. Here's "Keep Believin'" from their debut EP of the same name.

Scream by Chris Cornell: I have shed my thoughts on this album elsewhere. I have to say my thougts haven't changed much.

Diagonal by Diagonal: Prog-rock-is-back is now old news. The good news, though, is that it's not just some nostalgic trip like the current new breed of thrash bands coming out every day. There are bands, like Diagonal here, who push the boundaries and yet hark back to olden times. This is an outstanding album that is eerily similar to early King Crimson without being straight copies. Watch this band.

Heart on by Eagles of Death Metal: Back with a vengeance, the band is on blistering form on this album. How they manage to stay away from being mere parodies of themselves is due to their brilliant musical ability and the chops to write a decent tune or two. Double entendres galore, this is the ultimate party album. The lead-off single "WannaBe L.A." is a sample of what you could expect.

Harcdore Superstar by Hardcore Superstar: This Swedish quartet claim to be a thrash-glam band. And that is just as awesome as the name suggests. This is the album that Axl should have made instead of the shit he just put out. One blistering riff after another, the album just plainly rocks your socks off. Heed.

Crack the Skye by Mastodon: Arguably the most anticipated metal release of 2009 did not disappoint. Although Mastodon are getting "slower" by every album, musically they are growing more mature. It's not as immediately appealing as the brilliant Blood Mountain, but Crack the Skye will remain a pivotal release in this band's career. Check out the first single, "Divinations"

Believe in Nothing by Paradise Lost: I'm kickng myself for not appreciating this band earlier. On the other hand, it's great to have a band with a sizable back catalogue to discover. This is supposed to be one of their most commercial releases. It's not as heavy or dark as some of their other stuff and overall it's a disappointing album. But there are some real gems here, like "Fader". 

Amor Vincit Omnia by Pure Reason Revolution: I have to admit I was pretty scared for this band - their debut, The Dark Third, was mind-blowingly good and there was no way they could have topped it. My fears were confirmed, but I was pleasantly surprised how good this album turned out to be. They take a more electronic route - and you know how I feel about that. I'm already dreading the new Muse album. But, the results are actually very good. This album ended up having more cojones than its predecessor. Now I wonder what new direction they will take.

Crooked Timber by Therapy?: As always, no hook or melody is wasted. Therapy?'s latest is another collection of great punk-rock with a unique touch. This time they add a little Joy Division and Cure in the mix and the result is fantastic. They just keep on releasing good stuff. How? I've no clue. Here's a blast from the past.

So these are the latest stuff that I've beem mulling over. I'm sure there'll be new stuff soon.

Peace.

SOTD: "White Room" by Cream

It's been a while since the last Song of the Day. I have a little spare time in my hands, so let's get cracking. Today's song is a classic by the godfather of all power trios, Cream - the majestic and trippy "White Room".

This song has some of the best guitar playing by the Slow Hand and Ginger Baker's drumming is top notch too. It is a  perfect mixture of psychedelia and a little dose of punk flavor too. Quite possibly my favorite Cream song.