Thrash metal is about to turn 40. The term was coined in 1983 or ’84 after the emergence of a brutally fast new form of heavy metal in the US. Dave Mustaine was one of its architects, initially as lead guitarist with Metallica, and then, following his ejection from the band in 1983, as frontman of Megadeth.
The idea for Megadeth came to Mustaine as he travelled home by bus to California after his Metallica firing. During the four-day road trip from New York, the hungover guitarist spotted a pamphlet about nuclear proliferation on the floor. “The arsenals of megadeath can’t be rid no matter what the peace treaties come to,” it read. “I let that swim around in my aching head for a few minutes,” he later recalled. Then he borrowed a pencil from another passenger and began scribbling lyrics on a cupcake wrapper.
Megadeth went on to join Metallica as one of thrash’s “big four” (the others were Anthrax and Slayer). Fuelled by rancour, intoxicants and technique, Mustaine and his bandmates deployed their musical ordnance with the precision of a guided weapon system (an early drummer had a background in jazz fusion). Their ferocity and antagonism were sharpened by Mustaine’s desire to be louder and faster than the rest. There could be no peace treaty between him and Metallica.
The Sick, the Dying . . . and the Dead! is Megadeth’s 16th album. With the removal of bassist David Ellefson from the project after allegations of sexual misconduct, Mustaine, 60, is the only original member left. Keeping the band going is his primary motive these days: Megadeth exist in order to continue existing.
The album’s title track is heritage thrash with a hoky Great Plague of London theme, like costume drama with strobing riffs. Mustaine growls in a voice roughened by throat cancer; gory details of radiation sickness in “Dogs of Chernobyl” were contributed by his radiologist. “I know I’ve got to soldier on,” the singer gruffly asserts in “Soldier On!”. The plodding sentiment is accompanied by some of the crispest, most attacking music on the album. Intensity and stasis coexist in late-period Megadeth.
★★★☆☆
‘The Sick, the Dying . . . and the Dead!’ is released by UMC
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