With Megadeth’s latest record Dystopia being described as something of a redress after the experimental and, as a result perhaps, poorly received predecessor, Super Collider in 2013, Dave Mustaine is pretty happy with the current state of play. "It’s undeniably significant to have your record endorsed by Bill O’Reilly in front of such a huge mainstream audience," Mustaine tells me, referring to the political commentator plugging the album on his talk show in February. "It’s great that the kind of music we play can still get that kind of attention. It was a little unexpected. But of course we’ll take the publicity and Dystopia has been one of our highest-charting records for a long time."
What’s often missed is that, as much as Mustaine was once a member of Metallica – who have since become the biggest heavy metal band that ever existed – Megadeth’s 33-year-long career has really been every bit as impressive. With album sales in excess of 50 million and 11 Grammy nominations along the way, you could even argue that Megadeth’s output, particularly during those awkward-for-metal ’90s years, wiped the floor with anything produced by the other members of the so-called Big Four.
Mustaine’s work ethic has never been in doubt either. While Metallica have had years of relative inactivity as far as new studio output is concerned (no more so than now with nothing new since 2008’s Death Magnetic), Mustaine and Megadeth have continued to release new material, despite regular personnel reshuffles, with no sign of slowing down whatsoever. The one constant in the band is Mustaine himself and his accompanying studious approach to the bands that have influenced him. While (like most musicians asked to come up with 13 favourites on a whim) the list is subject to daily change, Mustaine’s selection gives clear insight as to why he and his band have evolved as they have.
Dystopia is out now on Tradecraft/T-Boy Records/UMe. Megadeth play Terminal 5 in New York tonight, before touring; for full details and tickets, head here. Click on the image below to begin scrolling through Dave’s choices, which run in no particular order
