MEGADETH -"Rattlehead,""Wake Up Dead,""Hook In Mouth":Big 4 Thrashers' Faster/Louder Precision Cooks

MEGADETH Is An American Thrash Metal Band Formed In Los Angeles In 1983 By Guitarist/Singer DAVE MUSTAINE. Known For Their Insanely Precise, Complex, And Technical Guitar Work And Overall Musicianship, MEGADETH Is Recognized As One Of "The Big 4" Of American Thrash Metal - Along With SLAYER, ANTHRAX, And METALLICA - And Is Credited With Helping To Develop And Popularize The Sub-Genre. Their Music Features Intricate Arrangements, Breakneck Rhythm Sections, Dual Lead Guitars, And Lyrical Themes Such As War, Conflicts, Politics, Religion, Death, And Personal Relationships. MEGADETH Has Undergone Frequent Lineup Changes Throughout Its 43-Year Musical Career, With DAVE MUSTAINE Being The Sole Consistent Member Of The Group. The Band Went On Hiatus In 2002 When MUSTAINE Suffered An Arm Injury, And Re-Established In 2004 Without Longtime Bassist DAVID ELLEFSON, Who Had Taken Legal Action Against MUSTAINE. ELLEFSON Settled Out Of Court And Rejoined The band In 2010, But Was Fired In 2021 Amid Rumors Of Sexual Misconduct. The Final Lineup Of MEGADETH Includes MUSTAINE, Bassist JAMES LO MENZO, Guitarist TEEMU MANTYSAARI, And Drummer DIRK VERBEUREN. MEGADETH Earned Platinum Certifications In The United States For Five Of Its Seventeen Studio Albums, And Has Received Twelve Grammy Nominations. MEGADETH Won Its First Grammy Award In 2017 For The Song "Dystopia" In The Best Metal Performance Category. The Group's Mascot , VIC RATTLEHEAD, Regularly Appears On Album Artwork And At Live Shows. MEGADEATH Hosted Their Own Music Festival, "Gigantour" Several Times From July 2005 To August 2013, And Held Its First MegaCruise In October 2019. What Only Being A Fan Of The Band's First Four Albums, I Have Pulled Three Selections From The First Three Albums, But These Are The 2011 Remasters, Which I Personally Don't Dig As Much As The Original "Flat" Mix. The First Cut Is Taken From Their Very First Album, 1985s "Killing Is My Business...And Business Is Good" - The Opening Salvo, "Rattlehead," Has Pushed The Voice Way Down In The Mix, But Turned The Guitars Up. Why? Next In Line Is "Wake Up Dead" From 1986s "Peace Sells...But Who's Buying?", Which Is The Very First MEGADETH Song That I Ever Heard. Finally, We Wrap Up This Megaset With DAVE MUSTAINE's Anti-Censorship Screed Against The PMRC (Parents Music Resource Center), "Hook In Mouth." Those Who Remember TIPPER GORE And The PMRC Know What I'm Talking About - The Rest Of You Just Google It, Okay? MEGADETH Have Seventeen Studio Albums, Two Extended Plays (EPs), Six Live Albums, Seven Compilation Albums, Six Video Albums, Fifty-Three Music Videos, And Fifty-Nine Singles.(?!!?) Purchase Physical Media, Please! PPMP!! I Know, Pretty Mainstream - But, The Early Cuts And The Remastered Status Gives Value Added And Acquits The Initial Safe Choice. At Least I Tell Myself That. Could It Be That MEGADETH Is Kind Of A 'Guilty Pleasure'? I Will Have To Meditate On The Topic. Be Cool. Be Kind. Rattle Your Goddam Head! Keep It Surreal.