Megadeth
- GENRE: heavy metal, thrash metal
- COUNTRY: USA
They changed metal into something else entirely. They laid the groundwork of thrash metal, being (still!) one of the genre’s absolutely key representatives. Megadeth are unequivocal legends of the history of heavy music. The controversial though devilishly talented Dave Mustaine has always followed his own path, stealing the hearts of thousands of fans and inspiring the ire of thousands of people. He never did pay much attention to it, though, just continued to do his own thing. Which is why he sits securely at the top to the very end.
History:
Any self-respecting metalhead knows the tumultuous, hateful beginnings of Megadeth. Everything began in 1983, when the acrimonious Dave Mustaine was travelling from San Francisco to Los Angeles after having been kicked out of Metallica. The redheaded guitarist swore that he’d show everyone that he was the best in the world. In 1985, the band released their debut album, Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good!. Despite issues with its production, the record was warmly received by the then-nascent thrash metal scene. A year later came the band’s breakthrough album, Peace Sells… but Who’s Buying?, which is considered to be one of the finest records in the history of thrash as well as Megadeth’s own discography. The follow-up, So Far, So Good… So What!, wasn’t received as well, but their fourth album, Rust in Peace, is the bible of the genre and one of the best metal albums of all time. The band was selling millions of records and becoming more formidable. Their mainstream victory was seled with the lighter, more heavy metal or hard rock album Countdown to Extinction, which was the band’s biggest commercial hit. The subsequent records, from Youthanasia to the divisive Risk, were less and less metal, though, with the exception of the aforementioned Risk, they have been embraced by the fans. With The World Needs a Hero, Mustaine and co. returned to their roots and with the follow-up The System Has Failed fully found their former footing. With records such as the 2009 Endgame or the 2016 Dystopia, Megadeth proved that even in old age, they’re one of a kind. In the summer of 2025, the band announced that in 2026 they will release their final album and disband. It’s good to know we’ll be able to bid our farewell at Mystic Festival.
Discography:
LP:
Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good!, 1985
Peace Sells… but Who’s Buying?, 1986
So Far, So Good… So What!, 1988
Rust in Peace, 1990
Countdown to Extinction, 1992
Youthanasia, 1994
Cryptic Writings, 1997
Risk, 1999
The World Needs a Hero, 2001
The System Has Failed, 2004
United Abominations, 2007
Endgame, 2009
Th1rt3en, 2011
Super Collider, 2013
Dystopia, 2016
The Sick, the Dying… and the Dead!, 2022
EP:
Limited Edition! Megadeth Live, 1992
Cyberarmy Exclusive Tracks, 1996
Live Trax, 1997
Cryptic Sounds (No Voices in Your Head), 1998
Breadline, 2000
Deep Cuts, 2009
Demo:
Last Rites, 1984
Singles:
Wake Up Dead, 1986
Anarchy in the U.K., 1988
Mary Jane, 1988
Liar, 1988
Holy Wars… The Punishment Due, 1990
Hangar 18, 1991
Symphony of Destruction, 1992
Skin o’ My Teeth, 1992
Foreclosure of a Dream, 1992
99 Ways to Die, 1993
Sweating Bullets, 1993
The Story of Megadeth, 1994
Train of Consequences, 1994
À Tout le Monde, 1995
Trust, 1997
Use the Man, 1998
Insomnia, 1999
Blackmail the Universe, 2004
Die Dead Enough, 2004
Of Mice and Men, 2004
Gears of War, 2006
Washington Is Next!, 2007
À tout le monde (Set Me Free), 2007
Head Crusher, 2009
Sudden Death, 2010
Never Dead, 2011
Public Enemy No. 1, 2011
Super Collider, 2013
Fatal Illusion, 2015
The Threat Is Real, 2015
We’ll Be Back, 2022
Delivering the Goods, 2022
Tipping Point, 2025
Splits:
No More Mr. Nice Guy, 1989 (z Dead On)
The Mondo Metal Box: Empire / Rust In Peace, 1991 (z Queensrÿche)
Metalbound, 1992 (z Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, W.A.S.P, Slaughter i Degenerates)
Last Action Hero Sampler, 1993 (z Anthrax, Alice In Chains, Tesla i Cypress Hill)
Selections from Nativity in Black: A Tribute to Black Sabbath, 1994 (z Sepulturą, White Zombie i Biohazard)
Tales from the Crypt Presents: Demon Knight, 1994 (z Machine Head, Biohazard, Ministry i Gravediggaz)
Radio Force 1, 1997 (z Sepulturą, Machine Head i Angrą)
A Secret Place (Edit) / Peanut Butter & Jelly, 1998 (z Beastie Boys)
Less than Jake / Megadeth, 1999 (z Less than Jake)
Fono Rocks!, 2000 (z Pain, Apocalypticą, Farmer Boys, The Hellacopters i The Wallflowers)
Maximum Rock Tour, 2000 (z Anthrax i Mötley Crüe)
Maximum Rock Tour Sampler, 2000 (z Anthrax i Mötley Crüe)
More Deth, 2001 (z Halford, Corrosion of Conformity, W.A.S.P i Dust to Dust)
Live albumy:
Rude Awakening, 2002
Unplugged in Philly, 2004
Unplugged in Boston, 2006
That One Night: Live in Buenos Aires, 2007
The Big 4: Live from Sofia, Bulgaria, 2010
Countdown to Extinction: Live, 2013
No More Mistakes (Live 1994), 2020
Compilations:
Hidden Treasures, 1995
Capitol Punishment: The Megadeth Years, 2000
Still, Alive… and Well?, 2002
Greatest Hits: Back to the Start, 2005
Extended Versions, 2007
Anthology: Set the World Afire, 2008
Rust in Peace / Coundtown to Extinction, 2012
Icon, 2014
Coundtown to Extinction / Rust in Peace, 2014
Warheads on Foreheads, 2019