With the success of their debut album, Megadeth would gain the attention of major labels. This would lead to Combat Records ultimately selling their contract to Capitol Records. While this came with a larger budget, and a new producer, recording would be difficult for the band, who were all abusing various substances.
The band were no strangers to the world of drugs and alcohol. In particular, Mustaines overuse, and subsequent volatile temper, led to him being let go from Metallica as their lead guitarist in 1983, just prior to them recording their debut album, Kill 'Em All. As their guitarist since 1981, he not only helped hone their tight knit live presence but penned some of the songs which they would use for future albums.
Wanting revenge on his prior bandmates, Mustaine would set to task on forming the greatest metal band of all time. One which not only had better songs, but harder and faster ones. The name for his new band would ultimately come from a pamphlet by California senator Alan Cranston that read: "The arsenal of megadeath can't be rid no matter what the peace treaties come to." However, at first, Megadeth was used as a song title which Mustaine penned.
In 1983, he formed the band, Fallen Angels, which included Lor Kane on vocals, Robby McKinney on guitar, Matt Kisselstein on bass, and Dijon Carruthers on drums. At the suggestion of Kane, the band soon changed their name to Megadeth. Shortly thereafter, McKinney, Carruthers, and Kisselstein would depart, replaced by David Ellefson, Richard Girod, and Greg Handevidt. Mustaine would also take over vocal duties himself after a series of singers fronted the band but ultimately didn't produce the sound he was looking for.
With the lineup in place, they set to task on recording a three-track demo, entitled Last Rites, something I touched on yesterday. However, with the release of Metallica's 1983 debut, the band realized they would have to retool some of their current songs which they were performing live. Combat Records would take notice, and sign them to the label, releasing their 1985 debut, Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!
Prior to the release of their debut, the lineup would change again, with core members, Dave Mustaine, Chris Poland, David Ellefson, and Gar Samuelson. Killing Is My Business would crack the Billboard 200, peaking at one hundred sixty-nine, and receive relatively positive reviews, which drew the attention of larger labels. This brings us full circle to the opening paragraph.
Of course, it wouldn't be Megadeth if history wasn't muddy. Depending on who you asked, Combat sold the contract to Capitol of their own accord. From the band's perspective, they left because of their dissatisfaction with budgetary limitations imposed by Combat. Regardless, the end result was 1986's Peace Sells... But Who's Buying? It boasted clearer production, and a more sophisticated lyrical style from Mustaine. The album would be noteworthy for its socially conscious lyrics, and the single Peace Sells, would receive a video, which was played regularly on MTV. It would become the band's first platinum selling record, and peak at number seventy-six on the Billboard 200.
Because of the history between the two, it's challenging to listen to Megadeth without drawing comparisons between them and Metallica. I know it's not fair to do so. They should be given the chance to stand on their own merits. But, like I said, it's difficult to do so.
For me, that comparison is that whereas Metallica played fast, they still managed to craft songs that had clear song structure, intros, versus, choruses, bridges, and of course, solos. On the other hand, Megadeth nails the intro portion well, but then just launches into speed. This makes it difficult to distinguish where the versus stop, and where the choruses begin.
Depending on your tastes, or desire for the day, that could be a good thing, or bad. Regardless, there's no doubt that the band members aren't talented. Playing fast is one thing. Playing fast and coherently is something else entirely. Megadeth certainly nails the later. Vocals aside, the music is a banger.
While everything essentially feels like it runs together, it's difficult to distinguish between the various tracks. However, I was able to discern and note two particularly better tunes in the bunch. Those were Peace Sells, and My Last Words.
Overall, I'm enjoying my listening session through the band. I think one of the standout things for me is that they write relatively confined songs, with each typically ranging between three and four minutes. This is definitely counter to Metallica, who think a song needs to be eight to ten. Does this shortened style contribute to the above noted lack of song structure? Possibly.
Ongoing substance abuse would lead to Samuelson and Poland being asked to leave the band. Samuelson would be replaced by Chuck Behler, who was already traveling with them on tour as a standby. Poland would be replaced by Jay Reynolds.
Side note: That tour began as the opening act for Alice Cooper's Constrictor Tour but eventually led to the band heading off to the UK to headline their own shows.
Six weeks into recording their next album, and final for the decade, 1988's So Far, So Good... So What!, the band dropped Reynolds and brought in Jeff Young. While Reynolds was a decent guitarist, the band found he was unable to perform the necessary solos for tracks, prompting them to instead hire his teacher, Young.
I'll pick up there tomorrow.
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