1990 - November: Megadeth “Rust In Peace”

What the Riff?!?

Who's up for some thrash metal?

Megadeth is one of the founding bands of the thrash metal genre, and considered one of the "big four" of U.S. thrash metal (along with Anthrax, Metallica, and Slayer). The heart of the band, primary songwriter, and sole constant member of the band throughout the years is Dave Mustaine. The formation of the band is well known as a revenge effort on Mustaine's part. He was fired from his role as lead guitarist of Metallica just prior to the recording of their debut album due to personal issues with James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich, and due to drug abuse problems. The name of the group was inspired by a political pamphlet from Alan Cranston that read "The arsenal of megadeath can't be rid no matter what the peace treaties come to." Mustaine took the word out of that pamphlet and adjusted the spelling.

Rust In Peace is the group's fourth studio album, released in late September but featured in November as it was gaining traction with fans at the time. The album name came from a bumper sticker Mustaine saw that read, "May all your nuclear weapons rust in peace." It was the first album to feature Marty Friedman on guitar and Nick Menza on drums. Dave Mustaine is on guitars and lead vocals, and long time collaborator David Ellefson completes the quartet on bass and backing vocals.

The album takes on a number of topics including religion, plitics, warfare, and personal issues Dave Mustaine was dealing with such as drug and alcohol addiction. Mustaine explored a number of religious expressions over his life, and became a born again Christian after attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and focusing on his Christian faith.

Lynch brings us this hallmark album of thrash metal in this week's podcast

Holy Wars...the Punishment Due
The opening track starts fast, shifts to a slower acoustic bridge, and finishes at a higher speed. The lyrics discuss religious conflict with particular attention being paid to the situations in Israel and Northern Ireland. The subtitle "the Punishment Due" is a reference to the Marvel comic book character called the Punisher. It was the first single released from the album

Hangar 18
The second single is the second track from the album, and was inspired by the Roswell alien conspiracy theory. Hangar 18 is supposedly located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and was believed to be the location where an alien spacecraft and/or bodies were stored.

Tornado of Souls
This is a somewhat deeper cut since it was never released as a single, but it is considered a staple of the band's discography. Marty Friedman's guitar solo in this piece is considered one of the best metal solos of all time, and one of the hardest to play. Bassist David Ellefson co-wrote the lyrics, making it one of the few songs on the album not written by Mustane alone.

Rust in Peace...Polaris
The concluding song reflects the album title. It is written from the perspective of a Polaris nuclear weapon, and reflects the catastrophic consequences of nuclear warfare.

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

Shotgun by Junior Walker & The All Stars (from the motion picture “Misery”)
This movie based on the Stephen King novel starring James Caan and Kathy Bates would win Bates an Oscar for Best Actress.

STAFF PICKS:

Full Circle by the Jeff Healey Band
Rob starts the staff pick with this blues-infused pick which is the lead track to the Jeff Healey Band's second album, "Hell to Pay." Bobby Whitlock, a member of the supergroup Derek and the Dominos is playing the Hammond organ on this piece. Jeff Healey, blind since an early age, was known for holding his guitar in his lap while playing.

Vigilante Man by Hindu Love Gods
Wayne's staff pick is a bit of a super group. Warren Zevon got together with the members of REM minus Michael Stipe to create this single album on a lark. The group recorded old standards for the album, and this one was originally done by Woody Guthrie in 1940. The song itslef is about hired thugs who would chase away migrants trying to escape the Dust Bowl by moving to California.

Traveling Riverside Blues by Led Zeppelin
Bruce features another cover song, this one written by Robert Johnson in 1937. Led Zeppelin recorded it in 1969, but it was not released until 1990, over ten years after "Fool in the Rain," their last single. It hit number 7 on the Billboard Top Rock Tracks chart in November 1990.

Blaze of Glory by Jon Bon Jovi
Lynch finishes the staff picks with a rock ballad containing elements of country and western, written for the motion picture "Young Guns II." It won the Golden Globe award for Best Original Song, and topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making it one of Bon Jovi's most successful solo hits.

INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

Theme from the motion picture "Dances with Wolves" by the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
This cinematic piece accompanied the Kevin Costner Western which was out in 1990.

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