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Last Active 05-16-10 10:04 am
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| 30 Best Megadeth Songs
The best songs ever produced by Megadeth, 1985-2009. | | 1 | Megadeth
Holy Wars... The Punishment Due
Here it is, Megadeth's peak achievement. From the get-go,
you know this song is going to be an amazing piece of work.
The intro riff is an all-time classic in metal,
then the bass and drums come in and one of the best riffs ever played goes down.
Then comes the first verse:
"Brother will kill brother, spilling blood across the land
Killing for religion, something I don't understand"
The lyrics in "Holy Wars," was influenced by the reaction of the crowd
to Mustaine's comment about unity of Ireland during a concert which took place there,
despite the obvious reference to Israel on the lyrics.
20 years later, this song is still very relevant in it's lyrical concerns.
At the breakdown where the song switches from the
"Holy Wars" section to the "The Punishment Due" section,
there's a really cool dropout where Marty plays a middle-eastern sounded riff
and the guitar switches to another classic Megadeth riff.
"The Punishment Due" was written about the Marvel Comics character The Punisher,
of which Mustaine was a huge fan at the time.
But no discussion of "Holy Wars" would be complete without discussing the guitar solos. Both Marty and Dave's solos are among the best the band ever recorded, and sound fresh after hearing them
probably hundreds of times now. The song is the crowning and defining moment of
one of the greatest metal bands of all time. (Rust in Peace) | | 2 | Tornado of Souls
Marty's greatest guitar solos of all time is in here. Tornado of Souls is one of those songs that could only be created once ever. The riff is one of the catchiest I've heard ever.
Mustaine has stated in an interview in 1990 that the song was about a fiancee of six years, who he broke up with a few months back. (Rust in Peace) | | 3 | Hangar 18
Hangar 18 was one of the first Megadeth songs I heard, and fell in love with it upon first contact. It's an absolutely defining song in the history of metal, the amazing solos from Marty are all over here and showing the skill he had, the fast, obliterating rhythm, the breakdowns from being a basic verse-chorus-verse-chorus into a riff and solo fest no other band could recreate (or even Megadeth could). The lyrics are also great, "Military intelligence, two words combined that can't make sense" is possibly Mustaine's greatest line ever.
The song is about UFO conspiracy theories, or possibly Hangar 18, the 1980 film based on those theories. Hangar 18 is located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, and it is speculated that an alien aircraft was brought there from Roswell in 1947. (Rust in Peace) | | 4 | Peace Sells
This song is Mustaine's way of dispelling many of the stereotypes about the band and heavy metal fans in general. More specifically, that they are lazy, anti-government, and anti-religion, which Mustaine says are all untrue.
This is probably Megadeth's most famous song. Everyone knows the bassline from the moment it starts. Everyone knows those "whatda ya mean?!" choruses and the anthemic "Peace sells but who's buying?" at the end. I'm not even going to bother giving a deion why this is a classic, it's just one of those songs that define Megadeth and has been appearing almost everywhere since. Know it, respect it, love it. (Peace Sells... But Who's Buying) | | 5 | Take No Prisoners
Now here is a true Megadeth classic. A heavy ass riff, great drum breakdowns, and the coolest bass solo Megadeth ever did (even if it's about 2 seconds long). The shout-shout backs of the verses works very well with the anthemic, mantra-like "take no prisoners, take no shit" that drives the meaning into your head. The lyrics of the truth of war, where soldiers are used like worthless killing machines and told to do nothing but die for freedom. A great moment in Megadeth history indeed. (Rust in Peace) | | 6 | A Tout Le Monde
This quiet, depressing number on death and departure remains one of the greatest works of the band. The lyrics read like a suicide note, and EmptyV (MTV) banned the video because it was "encouraging of suicide" or some dumbass bullshit. Anyway, this is another one of Megadeth's most famous songs and most of you have probably heard it. However, I still have a bone to pick...
13 years after the original, Dave did a really nice "fast and heavy" remake of it with that hot chick from Lacuna Coil on backing vocals. Not as good as the original, but this version rocks too. (Youthanasia) | | 7 | Trust
Trust was a massive hit and was a really good song, nice build up, cool riff, and even a spanish guitar midsection.
The song had significant airplay and MTV rotation and reached #5 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.
The lyrics, decent but cliched are about breaking up because of lust, but the music carries it to a victory again. (Cryptic Writings) | | 8 | Wake Up Dead
Great song in all means.
It starts with a tight drumming intro and then sustained chords, followed by Dave Mustaine's singing. The song is mostly instrumental, and is about Mustaine fearing revenge from his girlfriend after he cheats on her. It describes him sneaking into his bedroom, so he does not wake her up. Musically, it features huge riffs and solos by Dave Mustaine, and cool shredding by Chris Poland. (Peace Sells... But Who's Buying)
This was also the song that Megadeth played when guitarist Marty Friedman was auditioning for the band. (Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?) | | 9 | Rust in Peace... Polaris
The title track from Megadeth's opus masterwork is an example of just how great Megadeth once was. The soloing is great, and leaves a hunger for more. The riffs are violent and fast, the song is played around 200bpm.
This song is a protest of nuclear war, mocking and provoking a nuclear attack throughout with lines like, "Launch the Polaris, the end doesn't scare us," and suggesting they would be wasted resources if the war is not to be started, "The warheads will all rust in peace." Polaris is a submarine-launched nuclear missile. (Rust in Peace) | | 10 | In My Darkest Hour
Dave Mustaine reportedly wrote the song in one sitting after learning of the death of former bandmate, Metallica bassist Cliff Burton in September, 1986. According to the CD's booklet, he wrote the lyrics with the band's bassist time, David Ellefson. The lyrics are actually about how his girlfriend, the famous Diana mentioned in Wake Up Dead, doesn't help him when he really needs her. (So Far, So Good... So What!) | | 11 | Mechanix
Dave Mustaine originally wrote the song for Metallica, and later brought it with him to Megadeth. He was kicked out of Metallica right before they recorded their debut album, Kill 'Em All. The remaining members of Metallica then changed the lyrics and added a new bridge section as well as a new, melodic guitar solo, and released it on the album, retitling it "The Four Horsemen". Mustaine was still given credit for the song.
Mustaine formed Megadeth and released the song with its original lyrics a year later on Megadeth's debut albumm Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good! The lyrics, which are about a gas station attendent who is sexually attracted to one of his customers, use several different automotive phrases and terms as sexual innuendo.
One of their fastest and hardest to play songs, performed on 276bpm, a lot more than Metallica's version. (Killing is My Business) | | 12 | Ashes in Your Mouth
One of the most underrated Megadeth songs ever released. For me it comes on the 12th place, as the best 'Countdown' song. "Ashes in Your Mouth" concentrates on the negative aftermaths of war ("sweet taste of vindication, it turns to ashes in your mouth - god have mercy !").
Musically, this song got some amazing riffs, which resembles Rust in Peace, (however they are a bit slower, but as complex). Some amazing solo in the middle song, first is Dave's solo. then comes Marty's. Then they share an awesome solo. In the end, Nick plays very complex drum solo.
Oh, "the answer to your question is: Welcome to Tomorrow!" (Countdown to Extinction) | | 13 | The Killing Road
Another underrated song. About losing your mind, money and life in the highway. Very nice tough. Another good Marty solo and nice riffs. (Youthanasia) | | 14 | Devils Island
Devil's Island is one of Megadeth's finest pre-RIP works, and has probably the best guitar work from Megadeth from Chris Poland. The intro riff is simple but awesome and then the dropout into just the bassline before the first verse is pretty cool. The lyrics about being on death row aren't really a fresh new idea (*cough* ride the lightning / hallowed be thy name *cough* but Dave does a better job than most people on the subject. The traded Dave-Chris solo is easily the best pre-Marty Friedman guitar solo the band did. This is an underrated classic. (Peace Sells... But Who's Buying) | | 15 | Head Crusher
"Head Crusher" is the first single from Megadeth's twelfth studio album, titled Endgame, which was released on September 15, 2009.
This song is about a medieval torture device of the same name. Its lyrics portray a person who is taken underground where he is interrogated using the "Head Crusher" device to torture the answers out of him. It explains the effects it would have on one's body.
The solos here are amazing, the band's best since Marty's departure. The new lead guitarist, Chris Broderick, is some kind of (solos) monster. Amazing.
(Endgame) | | 16 | Reckoning Day
Another great tune from Youthanasia, pretty much deals with the end of the world as we know it.
eckoning Day is a brutal start to the album. You get all this heaviness and low, low bass drum thrashing. Dave kinda lyrically tortures through this one and then Marty tears it up some more. The end where the drums just keep beating like a hammer on your skull as the other stuff fades is a classic moment in Megadeth. (Youthanasia) | | 17 | Washington is Next!
Amazing combination between the thrash days of 'Peace Sells' and the straightforward days of 'Cryptic Writings.' This song is about 'a false king' or something like that. And about a future invasion to Washington D.C. instead of Iraq... I don't get it. But the riffs are great. And both solos. The intro reminds me a bit of 'Wasted Years' by Iron Maiden. (United Abominations) | | 18 | Skin o' My Teeth
The opener of 'Countdown to Extinction' is a great track, speedy, cool, and happy sounded all in the same one.
The song, written by Dave Mustaine, deals with the theme of suicide and the failure of reaching that goal. It's one of the fastest songs of the album, with a pace of 196 bpm. (Countdown to Extinction) | | 19 | Sin
With the late 90s came Megadeth's phase of experimentation into more commercially viable hard rock music, but they had some good songs with it at times. This is one of them, it's immediately poppy and straight ahead rock, but retains heaviness. The chorus has some bad lyrics but they flow alright. The verses have some shouted upbeat vocals that make the song get #19 on this list. (Cryptic Writings) | | 20 | Kick the Chair
For me, this song is Megadeth's resurrection. The return from the dead.
Extremely thrashing sound, with nice solos from Dave and Chris Poland, which Dave hired to play with him on this comeback album. The riffs are awesome too. This is the best track on the record. (The System has Failed) | | 21 | Symphony of Destruction | | 22 | Sweating Bullets
No Megadeth list would be complete without this number. Sweating Bullets is classic Megadeth, a bizzare conversation-like song. It's pretty unique in Megadeth's discography, but goes down as a classic, with an awesome stop start riff sequence before kicking into a great chorus. It's like having your own personal simulation of schitzophrenia for 5 minutes. (Countdown to Extinction) | | 23 | The Skull Beneath the Skin
"The Skull Beneath the Skin" was the starting point of Vic Rattlehead. In the lyrics it talks of satanic rituals and the prison where the patient, Vic Rattlehead is being held. It also described his hardware on his head, iron staples over the mouth, metal caps on his ears, and a solid steel visor clearly making the iconic look of Vic Rattlehead. In the end of the song it is revealed that after Vic Rattlehead's ritual, the people's religion is destroyed as they cross Vic's arms to 'make the holy cross'. The guitar riffing is very progessive to reflect the song's darkness and evilness, loaded with solos and speed riffs galore. (Killing is my Business) | | 24 | Vortex
"Vortex" is reminiscent of the dark fantasy and occult themes featured in older songs like "Five Magics", "Elysian Fields", and "Bad Omen". It is also the thrasher track in this album, together with "FFF"- most of the album consists of soft metal songs and hard rock songs. (Cryptic Writings) | | 25 | Set the World Afire
Fast tragic song which is the second track on that album. It was written by Dave on the bus back home the day Metallica fired him. The result is the best thrash track on this mediocre 1988 release. (So Far, So Good... So What!) | | 26 | Time: The End
Time: The End is the only metal song on that CD. It is the second part of the song 'Time'- the first part is a soft rock ballad, and the second time is a short thrash tune which is the best track on this shitty industrial rock album. Contains nice solo from Marty. (Risk) | | 27 | Addicted to Chaos
Addicted to Chaos, another song about heroin, but a great one at that. The riff is vintage Megadeth and the drum intro speaks volumes for how great Nick Menza was (and why he should have been around longer). It has a big epic chorus, great guitar work, and awesome rythym work, everything a great Megadeth song should have. Plus it's the only song on Youthanasia not in that dumb monotone beat-per-minute thing they did. | | 28 | Five Magics
The speaker in the song lives under an evil, oppressive ruler and wants to overthrow him and become king. To do this, he masters five magics but in doing so, he becomes power-hungry and evil, just like the Abyss Lord that he opposes. Furthermore, the Abyss Lord already knows the five magics so he has the advantage and wins the fight. Musically, this is a great tone from this 1990 masterpiece. Marty's solo here is damn great. I also love the bassline in the beginning- very cool. (Rust in Peace) | | 29 | A Secret Place
The music carries this song, as the lyrics are pretty bad at times, but sonically it kicks your ass. I like the heavy bit at the end too. It's kinda like an attempt at progressive rock where the lyrics suck but the music is on the money. Instrumentally, it's great. (Cryptic Writings) | | 30 | Foreclosure of a Dream
The song is sort of slow for Megadeth, but this one is lyrically strong and technically. Musically, this song is somewhat quiet compared to other songs on this album, but anyway- a great tune.
The lyrics were co-written by David Ellefson and they are based on a personal case - how then the Reagan administration put his family's farm out of business or something like that. (Countdown to Extinction) | |
Bfhurricane
05.16.10 | Damn, A+ for effort, but really, no one's going to read all that. I agree with all the obvious ones, glad to see Kick The Chair on here, list is desperately missing Tears in a Vial. I think it's the best song they've written on their "newer" albums. | ConsiderPhlebas
05.16.10 | I never really liked A Tout Le Monde that much until I saw them live a few years back - it turned out to be one of the best songs of the night.
I'd have added I Thought I Knew It All - love that song. | ShadowRemains
05.16.10 | nice list, 1-4 are all spot on | clairvoyant
05.16.10 | good list but SIN??? REALLY??
anyways, respect for ashes in your mouth, addicted to chaos, and well the rest of the list anyways | Disconnected
05.17.10 | A Secret Place is underrated. I'm glad to see it on the list. This list lacks one of my favorites, Countdown to Extinction, though. | shindip
05.17.10 | as long is number 1 is holy wars, the list is correct | ShadowRemains
05.17.10 | I'm listening to Holy Wars right now, rules as per usual |
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