Megadeth | Th1rt3en

by Alissa Ordabai
Staff Writer –

Instant classics on Megadeth’s aptly titled 13th studio release show that Dave Mustaine remains firmly grounded in his identity while refusing to abate after a three-decade career full of ups, downs and everything else in between.

Memorable, hurtling, tough barn-burners such as “Never Dead” and “Public Enemy No.1” are instantly recognizable as Megadeth songs, with their propulsive, biting riffs, Mustaine’s unmistakable vocals, Chris Broderick’s virtuoso solos, and – of course – the signature style of bassist David Ellefson who is now back in the band after an 8-year absence.

Instead of weighing on the band, the past is integrated with the present in a perfect equilibrium on this release. Ellefson’s presence adds to the band’s vintage sound, but the fact that Broderick has grown up on the Shrapnel Records virtuosos (and, actually, began following Megadeth in 1990 because Marty Friedman has joined the band) certainly helps to see the band’s history as a continuum.

One such example – the riff to “Never Dead” with its conscious nod to Rust In Peace-era Friedman – subtly shows how a sense of connection between guitar players of different generations can work wonders to sustain continuity within a particular band.

But despite Broderick’s fretboard exuberance, the album remains perfectly balanced with its spare, laconic production and avoidance of bombast or overkill. It is largely due to Mustaine’s rough-hewn, simplistic vocal melodies and his almost punky approach to singing that the record remains grounded in the classic Megadeth method.

Contrasted by vehemently propulsive grooves, space-rocking riffs and high-voltage guitar solos, Mustaine’s vocal parts are something that keeps those songs firmly planted on the ground. More than anything else, this shows that for Mustaine the honesty of what he needs to convey as an artist has always had priority over pseudo-intellectual or flashy diversions metal has always been tempted to take.

Instead of losing his message in overbearing technique, pretentious production or pompous lyrical affectations, this time – as ever – Mustaine has presided over a hugely entertaining, balls-to-the-wall album which confirms him as one of the most recognizable and honest voices in heavy metal.

Genre: Heavy Metal

Band:
Dave Mustaine – vocals, guitar
Chris Broderick – guitar
David Ellefson – bass
Shawn Dover – drums

Track Listing:
1. Sudden Death
2. Public Enemy No. 1
3. Whose Life (Is It Anyways?)
4. We The People
5. Guns, Drugs & Money
6. Never Dead
7. New World Order
8. Fast Lane
9. Black Swan
10. Wrecker
11. Millennium of the Blind
12. Deadly Nightshade
13. 13

Online: www.megadeth.com

Label: Roadrunner Records

Hardrock Haven rating: 8/10

Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer & Anthrax : The Big 4 or The Big Fail?

by Cynthia Gomez
Staff Writer

Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer & Anthrax : The Big 4 or The Big Fail?

Metalhead’s would do anything to see the biggest of thrash/metal bands play the same stage– pay $116 for the ticket, drive a total of 6 hours when gas prices average $4.15 a gallon, walk roughly 2 miles to the venues entrance, and even after all that spend half an hour searching for a parked car in a lot with other 500 cars with no lighting hoping it wasn’t stolen.

Yes, in order to see Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax make history– that’s what about 50,000 people had to go through Saturday in Indio, CA. For those highly devoted to the metal masses, going through all that seems pretty feasible, but for those who had to work that day or simply have a life, one question came to mind after the show, was it worth it?

Because of the 3-hour drive one had to take to get to the venue that a week prior hosted a copious amount of indie hipsters for the Coachella Festival missing Anthrax who went on roughly at 4 in the afternoon was at first the biggest discontent of the evening. Why was Anthrax first missed? Read more

Megadeth Live!

July 13, 2010 at B1 Club, Moscow, Russia

by Rodion Goloshchapov
Guest Staff Writer

At first it seemed like the infamous B1 club with its capacity of 3000 would not be able to hold Megadeth with their rowdy crowd of die-hard fans. But in the end both dates played by the band at B1 in Moscow this month couldn’t have passed better.

The local thrash-themed support act Arbitrator left no impression apart from their extremely young age and glaring unprofessionalism, but the imposing “supported Megadeth” line on their CVs is perhaps a fair enough compensation for having to bear the constant “Go home to your ma!” shouts from the crowd which accompanied their set.

An hour later, with the appearance of the Megadeth roadies on the stage, it became clear that Dave Mustaine was going to use Dean guitars, Dave Ellefson’s brand of choice would be Jackson, and Chris Broderick remains an Ibanez man. During the show Mustaine switched between three Dean Signature VMNT Flying Vs, just like Ellefson would switch between three Jackson basses, all three being Concert Bass SMG series. Chris Broderick remained faithful to his Ibanez RG7 axe throughout the set.

Amidst sweltering heat the atmosphere was becoming more and more agitated, when finally Shawn Dover came on stage walking straight to his drum set, followed by Broderick, and then by Ellefson and Mustaine himself. The first three songs (“Wake Up Dead”, “In My Darkest Hour”, and “She Wolf”) were played without breaks between them, while a fine, if not excellent, sound was gradually being shaped by the sound engineers.

Rust in Peace back-cloth was splattered behind the band, and even one of Mustaine’s guitars was decorated with the album’s artwork. Mustaine, Ellefson and Broderick were constantly switching places, allowing their fans (who have waited for almost 10 years to see the band in Russia again) to have a proper view of their heroes.

Mustaine, for one, looked imposing with his mane of blond hair and a white musketeer’s shirt – a true guitar hero and a heartthrob. His smiles and air-kisses directed at the VIP box looked elegant too, sincere and without a trace of flam.

Following a genius version of “Skin ‘O My Teeth”, Rust in Peace was performed in its entirety – in exactly the same sequence as recorded on the album. Broderick handled his lead guitar duties with lots of dignity, given that it isn’t the easiest of tasks to follow in Marty Friedman’s footsteps, as Rust in Peace to this day remains one of the most technically complex albums not only in the Megadeth catalogue, but of heavy music as a genre.

Broderick’s leads weren’t something that will suddenly change the world, but he is a competent, assiduous player who interacts perfectly with Mustaine, while carrying himself with confidence and poise. Mustaine soloed a lot too, and the interaction between the two was easy and natural. Plus Ellefson sounded like he’s never been away, given that 2010 sees him back in Megadeth for the first time after an 8-year break.

Toward the middle of the show a security guard decided it would be fun to pull down to the floor one of the crowd-surging fans, which made Mustaine act quickly and decisively. After seeing the lad being pulled down and hitting the floor, Mustaine leans over the side of the stage, slaps the guilty guardsman on the head, walks over back to his mic and says: “Don’t fucking do that,” to the ecstatic cheers from the crowd.

The ladies’ favourite “A Tout Le Monde” sounded truly impressive, and Mustaine showed that he is not only a virtuoso on the guitar, but is also an equally formidable singer.

After mind-blasting “Symphony of Destruction” it seemed like nothing else would take the audience onto another level of their natural high, but suddenly the band launched into “Peace Sells” which completely overwhelms the already overexcited crowd.

In the end Ellefson, Mustaine and Broderick throw their guitar picks into the audience, and after a light scuffle a 15 year-old kid emerges in front of me screaming, eyes popping with sheer joy, holding a green guitar pick which says “Megadeth” in his hand. Then Dover throws his drum sticks into the crowd, and they hit my buddy who stands next to me right on the forehead. A cracking good show.

Set list:
1. Intro
2. Wake Up Dead
3. In My Darkest Hour
4. She Wolf
5. Skin ‘O My Teeth
6. Holy Wars
7. Hangar 18
8. Take No Prisoners
9. Five Magics
10. Poison Was The Cure
11. Lucretia
12. Tornado of Souls
13. Dawn Patrol
14. Rust in Peace
15. Trust
16. Angry Again
17. Headcrusher
18. A Tout Le Monde
19. Symphony of Destruction

Encore:
Peace Sells / Holy War reprise

Translation by Alissa Ordabai

Photos courtesy of Mikhail Grigoriev

Megadeth Announce New Tour Dates for ‘Rust in Peace’ 20th Anniversary Tour*~

New York, NY: The mighty Megadeth will join forces with Testament and Exodus for a month-long jaunt that will find these thrash titans crisscrossing the nation on the ‘Rust in Peace’ 20th anniversary tour. These will be incredibly special shows that will delight Megadeth fans, as the band will be playing their landmark, genre-defining album, 1990’s Rust in Peace, in its entirety, in addition to other Megadeth set list favorites. Read more