Iconic Thrash Metal giants Megadeth are gearing up for another brand new album within the coming year. An exciting piece of news for fans, in the meantime they are celebrating their 35th anniversary with a 35-track remastered greatest hits album Warheads On Foreheads, out on Friday, March 22nd via UMe Recordings.
Available as 3-CD and 4-LP editions, Dave Mustaine hand-picked the collection of songs that span the bands’ entire career, ending with the masterpiece title-track from their 2016 album Dystopia. A fitting way to celebrate 35 years of the band, starting the trip down memory lane, the first track is “Rattlehead,” named after their longtime trusted mascot and coming from the 1985 album Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good! where it all began. From here it goes on a long journey of well-known and fan-favorite Megadeth cuts that paint a vivid picture of the band’s story.
Thirty-five years is a long time, and in that time Megadeth has managed to put out 15 intricately crafted Thrash albums despite member changes, addiction, as well as catastrophes. Dave Mustaine and friends are still going strong. Ironically, with this band, it seems that out of disaster new positives are constantly forming. For example, during the brief break up in the early 2000s, Mustaine suffered an injury to his nerves that caused radial damage to his left arm, and was rendered unable to play guitar for a bit. Through tough therapy he was able to retrain it and the 2000 era of Megadeth continued strong with albums such as 2004’s The System Has Failed, 2013’s Super Collider, and most recently, the aforementioned Dystopia.
Looking back even further, the first tragedy Dave Mustaine suffered was of course getting kicked out of Metallica which brought the soul of Megadeth to the table, resulting in what later became known as a historical influence on the Death Metal genre. That factor in mind, the memorial celebration of Warheads On Foreheads naturally includes “Holy Wars….Punishment Due,” “Tornado Of Souls,” and “Rust In Peace…Polaris.” It also features the song “Public Enemy No. 1” which came off their underrated 2011 album, Thirteen.
Not overlooking the players that has been a part of Megadeth over the last 35 years, the band has gone through a multitude of very well-rounded talented guitarists and drummers who left or got fired for many varied reasons. Most notably on the guitar spectrum, there was Chris Poland, Marty Friedman, and Chris Broderick who have all since gone on to successful projects. Their work can be fully enjoyed on Warheads On Foreheads. Which leads to the band’s most current axeman alongside Mustaine, Kiko Louriero. Let’s just say Loureiro has been a worthy addition who’s own unique styling helped define Dystopia.
With reissued editions of 2001’s The World Needs a Hero and The System Has Failed due out in April, Megadeth fans have plenty to look forward to throughout 2019. Currently at work on what will be their sixteenth studio record, fans would agree Warheads On Foreheads is a very dynamic selection of memorable songs of the past. Right down to the artwork, featuring the band’s longtime mascot, Vic Rattlehead, riding on a bomber plane, this multi-disc release is a good collectors item for all Megadeth fans. The future is wide open for Megadeth even after a 35 year run, so dig in and look back on an amazing ride. Congratulations to Megadeth for the years of success, and that is why Cryptic Rock gives Warheads On Foreheads 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Purchase Warheads On Foreheads:
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Great review. Well written and informative.
Like this review, I think as time goes on and these songs have grown on us we see how great this album was.