[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGqhI_hznx8[/youtube]
Metal Insider contributor Anthony Maisano is listening to a different metal album that was released on that day every day this year. 29 years ago today, Dave Mustaine made one of the biggest contributions to metal with the release of Killing Is My Business… and Business is Good!
This is, of course, Megadeth’s debut album. This was not too long after Dave Mustaine was fired from Metallica, and so some songs have some similar parts to early Metallica. “Mechanix” on this album was the original version of Metallica’s “The Four Horsemen.” It’s really interesting to listen to those tracks one after the other. “Last Rites/Loved to Deth” is an absolutely kickass opening track. It has a great intro, a great riff, and Dave has some cool vocals too! This is for sure one of Megadeth’s best when it comes to flat out riffs. I really like David Ellefson’s bass work too, especially on the title track.
While the Nancy Sinatra cover is both fun and tongue in cheek, I just find that it doesn’t really fit well as the fourth track on the album. It breaks an otherwise intense flow. If it was pushed to the end of the album (as it was on some later reissues), it would fit much better. In general, while still very strong, I don’t feel like the second half of the album is quite as strong as the first half.
Favorite Tracks: “Last Rites/Loved to Deth,” “Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good!,” “Mechanix.”
This was one of the first thrash records of all time, and it still holds up as one of the best. If you haven’t listened to this album yet, you should get around to it simply for what it established for metal. It’s one of my favorite Megadeth records for sure. This is truly an enjoyable record even for someone who might not be all that into thrash. Check it out!
