Where to start with...Welcome to Kerrang!'s essential guide to the greatest bands rocking our world. Discover new acts or re-acquaint yourselves with the legends... it all starts here.MegadethALTHOUGH front man Dave Mustaine’s tendency to force its assorted members into a game of musical chairs has seen the band dubbed Megadave for much of the past decade, there are few bands more essential to the heavy metal world than Megadeth. Formed by Mustaine in 1983 following his well documented dismissal from Metallica, the band would go on to release no less than eleven studio albums over the next 25 years. Following the release of their breakthrough second album Peace Sells…But Who’s Buying in 1986, the next ten years would see the group go from strength to strength, releasing a steady flow of albums that were often critical and commercials successes. However, after more than a decade of business Mustaine’s controlling, egomaniacal side began to show, resulting in him firing every original member bar himself and releasing material that few deemed worthy of attention. In 2002, Mustaine would disband the group following treatment for kidney stones – a time that also saw him lose the use of his left arm following a freak sleep-related injury. After undertaking intense and long-winded physical therapy, a now-Christian and addiction-free Mustaine would return with a new line-up and album in 2004, re-igniting a flame that has since burned solidly. 
Name: Rust In Peace
Label: CAPITOL
Year: 1990
Review: In 1991, Metallica’s self-titled album set a new standard for heavy metal in the 90’s. However, it’s worth remembering that in the decade’s earliest stages, Megadeth released an album that was just as seminal. An album that has since gone on to act as a makeshift bible to almost any aspiring guitar players, Rust In Peace features several of the band’s most triumphant moments, sealing its reputation as one of thrash metal’s most genuinely classic offerings. 
Name: Peace Sells...But...
Label: CAPITOL
Year: 1986
Review: Their second album proper, 'Peace Sells… But Who's Buying?' saw the true emergence of Megadeth’s always-distinctive sound. Having just signed to major label giants Capitol, the band now had their biggest platform yet; an opportunity which was certainly not wasted. Although Rust… would go on to steal its glory four years on, this remains one of the standout metal albums of a fierce mid-nineties period. 
Name: Countdown to Extinction
Label: CAPITOL
Year: 1992
Review: The most commercially successful album of their career, Megadeth followed the brilliance served up on Rust with this hard-hitting heavyweight. Creeping slightly towards the hard rock spectrum rather than following the familiar heavy metal formula, it’s a fine example of the band in their prime nonetheless, with the record spawning several of their finest songs to date. 
Name: So Far, So Good..So What!
Label: CAPITOL
Year: 1988
Review: With their widely acclaimed major label debut behind them, Megadeth took the unusual step of going harder, faster and distinctly filthier on their third album proper. A no-holds-barred thrash metal assault, the album would receive criticism for its occasionally questionable recording quality. For those able to look past such things, however, there’s a genuine diamond in the rough just waiting to be uncovered. 
Name: Risk
Label: CAPITOL
Year: 1998
Review: The last album to feature Friedman on guitar, Risk signalled the end of more than just the one era for the band. After the success of the distinctly poppy Cryptic Writings, Megadeth once again shat on their own legacy with this country-tinged slice of pure commercial prostitution, ultimately hammering the final nail into the band’s coffin. Temporarily, at least…
Key Megadeth Tracks |
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