Megadeth - Rust In Peace

Megadeth - Rust In Peace

Published in 1990

Wikipedia

First up, thanks to Zach for suggesting this album.  

MEEEEEEEEEEETTTTTTTTTTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!

Sorry, I had to get that out.  Fucking Megadeth is one of those bands that you just purely enjoy if you enjoy any part of metal.  The guitar solos are awesome, the drums are pounding, the vocals are a mix of insane fantasy and UFO lore, and you know you're in for an insane ride the whole time.

Another reason that I am glad that Zach picked this album is because it has Hangar 18 on it.  Hangar 18 is one of the most fucking awesome songs of all time, and should guarantee that all members of Megadeth have VIP seats in metal heaven, surrounded by groupie angels and free "water".

Seriously, go find Hangar 18.  Put it on.  I'm telling you, when I think of a metal song, this is the song I think of more than any other.  Given my tilting toward lists, let me describe how to make a great metal song.

1. Get a kick ass band together.  Make sure your guitarist hasn't gotten laid throughout high school, but practiced arpeggios until his fingers bled, bones broke, and his parents were sued by the people next door to take his amp stack away. The vocalist must be the least talented member of the group, but must be able to wail guitar like back at the guitar, write some crazy D&D vocals and shit, and be humble enough to get the fuck out of the way when solo time comes.  Give the drummer an insane kit, double bass is essential, and tell him that if he gets off time, he's fucking fired.  The bassist must be as technically proficient as the guitarist, but he must be the guy that no one recognizes and most likely make the best financial decisions of the whole band. Also, he will most likely be the one who owns all the equipment you're using, so be nice to him. Whoever's garage you practice in will be your first manager, but will quickly be fired when record companies come calling.

2.  Riffs.  Riffs must be repeated at least a dozen times, and must include as many notes as possible, without breaking strings.  Also, the more powerful the sound the better, and allowing the notes to fade into feedback is a plus.  Make sure the bassist is driving the thing forward the whole time, and the drummer is about to get fired the entire time.  Take whatever you did, and do it faster.  Then faster. Then louder. Then Faster.

3.  Vocals.  Vocals are the part of the song known as "between the solos".  Vocals must reference Tolkien, mythology, paranormal subjects or magic in general, and provide a backdrop against which the guitarist can shred.

4.  Drums.  Fire the drummer, get a new one who is faster.

5.  Solos. arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios.

6. End the song on a resolved power chord.

7. Get a bunch of money, blow it on insane stage props, then make the money back.

8. Don't die of an OD.

And you'll have a successful metal song.  It's just that easy.

This album is insanely good.  I've never listened to a full Megadeth album before today, and I have to say, if this is representative of the whole, the catalog will soon be on my iTunes.  Seriously, it's 10 songs long, and every one of them is well done metal.  It's fun to listen to, and you can seriously bang your head to it.  If you have a metal loving bone in your body, you should pick this album up, and give it a couple of good listens.  If you hear anything you like in Hangar 18, get the album, you'll love it.

"Grandspa's Guitars?"

Matt

PS. Phil. Five. Give.