Number 15: Rust in Peace by Megadeth
We have Metallica at home
Release: September 24th, 1990
Genre: Thrash Metal
Favorite Tracks: Holy Wars...The Punishment Due, Tornado of Souls, Rust In Peace...Polaris
Where I heard it:
As early as nine years old, I was afforded the luxury of seeing my favorite bands live in concert, thanks to the dedication and prior experience my mom had from her decades of attendance at previous gigs. There were plenty of times I willingly went along with no prior knowledge of the band that was playing. My mom must have had a sixth sense with her music taste, as I enjoyed nearly every show we went to together. That said, there were plenty of times that I was invited knowing full-well that I would be rocking out right with my mom. Most of those bands have selections coming up in this countdown! In 2010, I had the opportunity to see Slayer, Megadeth, and Testament play in Denver for the American Carnage tour, only a week after I saw Rush play at Red Rocks for their Time Machine tour. That seven day stretch was one of the greatest coming-of-age moments in my teens, full of potent memories that still bring me joy to this day. While Slayer was the headliner for that evening, I thought the best band on stage that night was the strong quartet of Megadeth, who appeared and sounded like they hadn't lost a step since their initial run began in the early 80's. My memories of Slayer's set are mostly that of a fight for survival in the pit, with the band providing the background noise to the ensuing chaos. However, I paid very close attention to the performance that Megadeth put on, as did the rest of the audience. We didn't want to miss a second of the unrelenting onslaught escaping from the amplifiers. The crowd was still understandably rowdy for a metal show, but the aura was much more transfixed toward the product before our eyes compared to Slayer's debilitating doom metal. Unbeknownst to me, I was fortunate enough to be present for a Megadeth event that many fans would kill for: an uninterrupted playthrough of their album Rust In Peace. Believe me when I say uninterrupted; Megadeth would blast through a song, a mob of cheers and applause erupted, and then the next song would play in chronological order. I'll never forget the chills down my spine when the last note of Rust In Peace...Polaris played, the stage lights were cut, and Dave Mustaine gruffly uttered, "Thank you, that was Rust in Peace." I was utterly blown away at what I witnessed, and I still get goosebumps thinking about that experience in post. Rust in Peace is a thrash rock staple that continues to amaze me with its precision accuracy and thoughtful composition.
Survival, such a silly whim
World leaders sell missiles cheap
Your stomach turns, your flesh creeps
I rule on land, air, and sea
Pass judgement on humanity
Winds blow from the bowels of hell
Will we give warning?
Only time will tell
~ Rust In Peace...Polaris
What to expect:
Although their popularity has seldom reached the mainstream, Megadeth has the pleasure of being chiseled upon metal's Mount Rushmore with the company of Slayer, Anthrax, and Metallica. Megadeth's formation is one of the more scandalous tales in the realm of metal, and it begins with the origins of fellow thrash kings Metallica. Dave Mustaine was lead guitar in Metallica's original lineup all the way up through early production stages of their debut album Kill 'Em All, before tensions with James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich along with prolonged excessive substance abuse caused Mustaine to be replaced with Kirk Hammett. Dejected but not detoured, Mustaine would return to his native Los Angeles in search of bandmates for his own group. He would find bassist Dave Ellefson, who would remain loyal to Megadeth's lineup while secondary guitar and drums would be a revolving door for the majority of the 80's. The release of Megadeth's inaugural record Killing Is My Business...And Business Is Good! would highlight the parallels between Mustaine's roots with Metallica and his transition into his own band that featured a notable boost in tempo, perhaps to gain a competitive edge to the lesser riffs on Kill 'Em All. Megadeth knew a thing or two about speed, but began to utilize it as a tool instead of a gimmick by the time Peace Sells...But Who's Buying? released in 1986. Peace Sells featured a refined and theatrical approach in comparison to the blistering pace of its predecessor, unlocking the potential for Megadeth to break through to the metalhead masses. The remainder of the 80's for Megadeth would be marked by the path to sobriety for Mustaine, as well as the addition of Marty Friedman on lead guitar and Nick Menza on drums to solidify the defacto lineup for the band for the upcoming decade. The composition of Rust In Peace is very much a reflection of that journey, allowing for deeper exposition in lyrical content and tighter synergy amongst the band's internal chemistry. Mustaine is the mother brain behind the religious and political themes of the album's concept, while Friedman takes charge of creating superb solos that are masterpieces in their own right. There's nothing more metal than divulging detailed fantasies of nuclear dismantlement in Rust In Peace...Polaris and territorial battles in Holy Wars...The Punishment Due, followed by a ripping guitar solo that conveys as much emotion as Mustaine's raspy vocals. The relationship between Mustaine's steady rhythm guitar and Friedman's lead guitar is palpable, practically conversational while trading off epic dueling solos to conclude Hangar 18. Not to be overshadowed, Ellefson is perhaps one of metal's most notable bass players, letting his talents shine in brief solos during Take No Prisoners and Poison Was The Cure. Menza has his work cut out for him as well, hauling ass on the kit to keep up with the band's galloping rhythm while still finding time for a dynamic drum fill during tracks like Tornado of Souls. Rust In Peace keeps the pedal to the metal from beginning to end, making things interesting with theatrical tonal shifts and time signature changes like in Five Magics. If you're looking for a weak point in the album, there aren't any. This group is so locked in with each other, they make melting faces look effortless.
Spilling blood across the land
Why it's my favorite:
It's a common topic of debate within the metal community whether Megadeth or Metallica are considered the kings of the big four. Here's my unsolicited take on the matter: I personally believe Metallica's success lies in the longevity and consistency of their library, while Peace Sells and Rust In Peace hit it out of the park before Megadeth regressed closer to the mean. That's probably the only way I can justify picking Rust In Peace over any Metallica album, including the one I chose for this list. In a vacuum of these nine diligently crafted songs, Megadeth boasts greater accolades than anything Metallica has ever released. The production quality is squeaky clean compared to the rustic, distorted qualities that defined a Metallica record. The solos and breakdowns have a bit more elegance than the furious shredding of Kirk Hammett, yet still preserve the pound-for-pound punch each impact creates. Even though I claim to like Metallica better for their saga of releases through the 80's, Rust In Peace is the Apollo 11 that reaches galactic heights to chart territory untouched by humanity. Megadeth hasn't made anything since that captures the lightning in a bottle of Rust In Peace, and it's quite unlikely they ever will. However, Megadeth still maintains a rigorous tour schedule, and Dave Mustaine persists tirelessly hammering away at his frets. It appears that Megadeth still has some steam in their engine, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't interested in seeing if the old man's still got it years after I last saw him. That concert ranks top three among the countless that I've seen, and I'd give anything to relive the feeling that surrounded me as a kid. Rust In Peace will keep me at bay until then.
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