Megadeth. Now that’s a hell of name.
However, in the 1980s, in the burgeoning world of trash metal, it was a bit of an asset. The genre seemed to require a name that pushed parents’ buttons and riled up (mostly) young-adult males. ‘Megadeth’ was good for that – as was Slayer, Anthrax, Overkill, Metallica, etc.
It’s a shame though that these names made a lot of music unreachable to many. For people who have never been ‘metal heads’ or ‘headbangers’ (or are they the same?), many moments of brilliance were missed.
To me, Megadeth’s 1990 album Rust In Peace is one of those moments of brilliance. Maybe the greatest moment in the whole genre. But most of my friends or coworkers don’t know it. And they most likely won't even give it an honest spin. Still, after all these years, the name, along with the album cover, are too great a barrier to entry.
Rust In Peace is particularly dense music. Jazz or classical level density - in thought, notes, imagery and musical ideas. There’s a thin thematic concept (as you can see on the cover) of governmental conspiracy, particularly around the around the Area 51 legend. But, in the music, that’s only reflected in one track (“Hanger 18”) and used for what, in 1990, must have seemed like killer album art. In the other eight tracks, Dave Mustaine, the singer/guitarist/primary songwriter, touches on war, breakups, environmental disaster, his battle with substance abuse and nuclear proliferation.
But mostly it’s the combination of rage and musicality that comes through. At its best, that’s what defined trash metal. That’s what was different and exciting about it.
Because, by 1990, ‘rage’ alone was neither unique nor interesting enough. The punks did that. But unlike the punks, the best thrash bands didn’t revel in the deconstruction of music, they pushed angry music to atmospheric technical heights. Megadeth were very good at avoiding clichés and finding great melodies, but the backbone of the music is musicianship, not pretence or image - despite what the name may suggest to some. Their authority comes from their form of mastery. From that, they took their genre of music to its summit on Rust In Peace. At least that’s how I see it.
Almost nobody I pass on a daily basis sees it that way, however. But they should. If only they'd get past the name.