Category: news

If you only listen to one song off the new U2 EP, the “Easter Lily” EP, this is the one. It’s a masterpiece.

The post U2’s ‘Easter Lily’ EP — The One Song That Stands Out the Most appeared first on Audio Ink Radio.

Brunswick’s premier bubblegum-garage-rock’n’rollers Hanky Panky Social Club are back with a groovy, tongue-in-cheek anthem for the alter-ego in all of us. Their new single Mum’s Drunk serves as the first taste of their upcoming second EP and a loud-and-clear invitation to blow off some steam. The track was sparked by a peculiar habit of a […]

Set amongst the lush bushland confines of Dashville, in the Hunter Valley, Thrashville returns, ready for a one day explosion of punk, rock, metal and all in between, on the darkest, firiest day of the year, Saturday, June 27, 2026. This years line-up is a cracker, with FEAR (USA), Disentomb, The Bennies, Dregg, Hybrid Nightmares, Turtle Skull, […]

If there ever was a Queen album to gush over (and surely there have been lots of them), Queen II pretty much brings me to a sheer heart attack every time I hear it…in a good way. The first four songs on  “Side White” of this 1974 release might be one of the best openings in rock album history, although every song across the album, both “Side White” and “Side Black,” is a winner.

It’s from this 11-song collection where Queen enjoyed their first hit with “Seven Seas Of Rhye,” and where drummer Roger Taylor, lead vocalist, pianist Freddie Mercury, guitarist Brian May and bassist John Deacon deliver some of their heaviest, and up to that point, most complex and layered productions, birthing a sound that would serve this band well as they went on to make rock history.

This five CD + two-LP super deluxe box set gives us the original 11-song album remixed, plus an additional chunk of material that includes studio outtakes, demos, live performances, BBC sessions and backing tracks to the original 1974 album. The extra non-musical goodies here include a 112-page book, with track-by-track comments from May and Taylor, handwritten lyrics, archival interviews with Freddie Mercury and John Deacon, pictures of posters, advertisements and studio tape boxes. There are also photos taken by Mick Rock, and a host of other well-known rock photographers.

Although I have gone on record (pardon the pun) thinking there are better ways to celebrate a classic album than changing it, even with the most expert remix, there is no denying that this version of Queen II has the instruments and voices separated sharper than they are on the original release. It’s up to the listener to decide if this is a good or bad thing, but songs like “Father to Son,” “and Ogre Battle,” really showcase the sound here, as do the rest benefit in this specific way.

The big blues stomper “See What a Fool I’ve Been,” the B-side to the “Seven Seas of Rhye” single starts off the At The BBC set. An “Ogre Battle,” from a later BBC Session, follows as “Nevermore,” and “White Queen (As It Began)” from an even later BBC Session, then we get more from Queen II in a live performance of the band at Golders Green Hippodrome, from September 1973. This is a high-fire set from “one of the brightest bands around,” as the emcee tells the crowd in the opening, Queen rolling through the bombast of “Procession,” “Father to Son,” then six more, from Queen I and Queen II. The sets ends with a rousing “Jailhouse Rock,” cover. Brian May’s guitar is louder than mostly anything else in the mix here, and there is practically no real bass from  John Deacon to be heard, but this is a great historical document of Queen. There are more concert catches, eight in fact, taken mostly from the band’s infamous UK Rainbow Theatre show in 1974, and them playing live at the Hammersmith Odeon in December 1975.

The 16 tracks of the Sessions set includes a mix of studio banter, such as May talking in the studio before beginning the “Processions” famous guitar layered beginning. Two demos of “The Loser In The End,” May’s initial demo of “As It Began” from 1969, a couple demos of “The Loser In The End” (both funkier than what ended up on the album), plus the first physical release of “Not For Sale (Polar Bear),” Queen’s abandoned Christmas song that was just recently heard via streaming on Christmas Eve 2025. There’s lots more studio chatter here between the band mates, which is actually almost as priceless as these demos.

I can surely genuflect over many a Queen album, lots of them classics, with the band gaining worldwide popularity with 1975’s mega hit A Night at the Opera, containing as it did that little Queen ditty, “Bohemian Rhapsody.” But for me Queen II sees the band at their best…as the Collector’s Edition surely makes clear.

~ Ralph Greco, Jr.

Purchase Queen II (Collector’s Edition)

HELLERUIN (Netherlands) will make their Australian debut in Melbourne on September 11 at Northcote Social Club. Formed in the Netherlands and active across the European circuit in recent years, the band arrives following the release of Reapers Of The Whirl, continuing their raw and direct approach to black metal.Supported by Order Of Orias (VIC) and […]

The Hancock Park address was the late Ozzy Osbourne’s last home in Los Angeles

“People were saying we can’t do it after we’d been doing it for 40 years.”

The post GWAR On Getting Death Threats For Cartoonishly Eviscerating Trump & Musk Onstage: “This Is The Country Where We’re Supposed To Be Able To Do That!” appeared first on Theprp.com.

Interview by Ali Williams H.E.A.T are not exactly sitting around polishing old trophies and talking about the glory days. When HEAVY‘s Ali Williams caught up with bass player Jimmy Jay, the Swedish melodic rock machine was holed up in rehearsal mode, fresh off the Spanish leg of their Welcome To The Future 2026 run and […]

The greatest Megadeth moments are also a retrospective look at one of metal’s greatest pillars. This band has been working its way to the top since band leader Dave Mustaine was kicked out of Metallica in 1983. And what started as an attempt to get back at his former group became one of the genre’s definitive entities. Technical, melodic, and with devilish speed, Megadeth is a band that changed thrash metal forever.

Moreover, the greatest Megadeth moments also serve to see the long journey of the band. There have been low moments, of course, but they only make the good ones even better. Furthermore, some of these achievements also highlight how far the group’s impact has grown. After all, we’re talking about a musical entity that has reached all over the world.

It is also worth pointing out that this list is entirely subjective. It also goes in no particular order. Let’s begin.

1. Winning the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance at the 2017 Grammy Awards for “Dystopia”

Perseverance might be a running theme across the greatest Megadeth moments. The band was nominated for the Grammy Award a total of twelve times but they never won it. That is, until they succeeded in 2017 with the song “Dystopia” from the 2016 album with the same name.

The record itself was considered a return to form several years ago and showed that Mustaine and his boys could still deliver the goods. Moreover, while the validity of the Grammy Award has been questioned, the band getting this mainstream recognition was rewarding. It was a compensation for decades of hard work and dedication to their craft as musicians.

Furthermore, when considering that the band didn’t win it twelve times in a row, it shows a degree of victory for them. It was a triumph for Megadeth, all things considered.

2. Winning the 1993 Genesis Award for “Countdown to Extinction”

It’s no secret that this band always had a sociopolitical touch in their lyrics. Therefore, it is not surprising to see one of the greatest Megadeth moments being the 1993 Genesis Award.

This award is usually given to those artists who have crafted a piece of art that has led to voicing concerns about an important social issue. Some artists that have won this award include Michael Jackson, Prince, Paul McCartney… and Dave Mustaine‘s band. This was due to the title track of the 1992 “Countdown to Extinction” album, with lyrics talking about animal rights.

It is very rare to see a metal band getting this type of recognition. But it is also a testament to where Megadeth were standing at the time of the release of this record. It was a massive hit for them and solidified them as mainstream stars. Moreover, it also showed how Mustaine‘s political content could fit in a way that didn’t feel like preaching to his audience.

In many ways, this might be one of the most underrated accolades in the band’s career. It was also the group’s commercial peak during the early 90s.

3. Making the “Rust in Peace” album

The “Rust in Peace” album is one of the greatest Megadeth moments for a variety of reasons. The first one is that it is arguably the band’s definitive record. It defined the group’s musical style, pushed the technical side of things, and raised the quality of the music even further. The production was also top-notch, improving what came before within the band’s discography, and was also a solid commercial success.

There is also the fact that the lineup of this record brought consistency. Guitarist Marty Friedman and drummer Nick Menza would remain with the band for the vast majority of the 90s. After several years struggling to maintain a lineup, this would give Megadeth the much-needed balance to churn out some of their finest albums during what is considered their golden age.

Then there is the fact that both Dave Mustaine and David Ellefson went to rehab and got sober for this album. While Mustaine would end up having ups and downs with his addiction problems, this time period would have him with a clear state of mind, which was reflected in the music. Therefore, this would also represent a period of growth for Megadeth, slowly moving away from substance abuse.

4. The band returning in 2004

It is hard to dimension this now in 2026, but Megadeth seemed borderline dead back in 2002. After the lukewarm reception of the 2001 album, “The World Needs A Hero“, the band decided to call it a day. It wasn’t because of the poor reception of the record, but rather because Dave Mustaine suffered a serious arm injury that, on paper, would have kept him from playing guitar.

However, after a long ordeal with addictions and the psychological issues stemming from the injury, Mustaine managed to make the second comeback of his career. He recovered quite well and began what would be his return to the music business. Originally, the 2004 album, “The System Has Failed“, was going to be his solo album, but he went with the Megadeth name instead. 

It is one of the greatest Megadeth moments because it showed Mustaine‘s mental fortitude. He managed to overcome another setback and get the band back on track, which would define the group’s next twenty years. It was a key point in the group’s history and should be valued a lot more.

5. The Gigantour Festival

Perhaps one of the most underrated choices among the greatest Megadeth moments. After making a comeback with the band in the mid-2000s, Dave Mustaine decided to form his own festival, called Gigantour, named after the 1960s anime he was a fan of. It was a heavy metal music festival, which meant that Megadeth and other bands were touring the United States and Canada as a package deal. They even performed in Australia in 2006 and 2007.

It was a massive achievement from Mustaine‘s part because of everything that a touring music festival requires. When considering the logistics, the demands, etc., it was a very ambitious project. Moreover, it goes to show the man’s business acumen for several years, turning it into one of the most popular metal festivals of its generation.

There is also the fact that, during the festival’s existence from 2005 to 2013, some of the genre’s finest groups were a part of Gigantour. Arch Enemy, Overkill, Opeth, Symphony X, Dream Theater, Fear Factory, Children of Bodom, In Flames, the list goes on. Some of the best metal bands in recent decades were a part of this festival and that also deserves a lot of recognition. Not a lot of groups can boast of having created a project of such stature.

6. “Peace Sells” as the MTV News intro and outro

Every metalhead knows Megadeth‘s “Peace Sells” song. It’s one of the genre’s most iconic anthems and one of the band’s first big musical achievements. However, something that a lot of newer generations might not know is that the song’s opening bassline was the intro and outro for MTV News for more than a decade.

This may not sound like a big deal for a lot of people, especially in these modern times. But it was during the 80s and 90s. MTV was one of the biggest networks of its generation and was the path to give a lot of artists a ton of exposure. Therefore, having a bit of your music played in one of the biggest news shows in North America. It is a big accolade. There is even an argument that it is the thrash metal song with the most exposure ever.

The only downside is that Mustaine and the band never got any royalties. The song is stopped right before it reaches the mark where they have to pay the group. It is a massive shame since they deserved the money, but any publicity is good publicity. One of the greatest Megadeth moments when it comes to pop culture reach.

7. The “Big Four” concerts

Alongside Metallica, Slayer, and Anthrax, Megadeth are considered a part of the “Big Four” of thrash metal. This refers to the four bands within that style of music that hit mainstream commercial success. And in 2010, these four groups agreed to do a tour together under that banner, which became a legendary moment for metal as a whole.

It was a major milestone for Megadeth as well. It was not only a celebration of thrash metal, but also of what this ground stood for. Furthermore, it also gave Mustaine a degree of closure with Metallica. Having left the band so long ago, it was great for him to perform side by side with them. It was an admission that things were water under the bridge.

This tour, which would be repeated during the following years, was also a tremendous moment for the fans. It is one of the biggest tours in metal history and quite symbolic. Seeing all of these great musicians play Diamond Head‘s “Am I Evil?” on stage is probably something that is going to be remembered forever. It should definitely be a part of the greatest Megadeth moments, too.

8. Having sold over 50 million copies worldwide

Some might argue that it isn’t one of the greatest Megadeth moments, but it still has a lot of validity. No matter how mainstream the band has gotten, they are still a metal outfit. This means that they are not as accessible as groups from other genres. And there is no denying that Mustaine‘s voice doesn’t make up for the commercially viable tunes. However, managing to sell over 50 million copies worldwide, as per the band’s official website in 2023, is a major accolade.

Furthermore, it is also worth pointing out the body of work and endurance of the band. During the 80s, while fairly successful, they were never a big mainstream group. And while the group’s commercial peak was in the early 90s, grunge soon took over like a raging storm. Megadeth had to adapt with the times and remain commercially viable, which is something that deserves a lot of respect.

The fact that the band continued to sell well, even during difficult times, it is a prime example of their staying power. It also shows how loyal some of their fans are, supporting them through the good and bad times. And selling 50 million copies all over the world, as a technical thrash metal band, is nothing to scoff at.

9. The 2019 MegaCruise

If there is one thing no one can say about Dave Mustaine, it is that he isn’t ambitious. Back in 2019, the legendary musician started a project called MegaCruise. It was, as the name suggests, a cruise featuring Megadeth and many other prominent metal acts. They would perform several shows and also interact with fans in what was basically a heavy metal vacation.

The results were quite positive. There was not only the chance to see Megadeth perform, but there was also the chance to see a lot of other great bands. The likes of Anthrax, Testament, Queensryche, Dragonforce, Overkill, Suicidal Tendencies, Doro, Metal Church, and many more. It was an experience perfectly suited for metalheads all over the world.

It is one of the greatest Megadeth moments because of how unique and ambitious it is. Not a lot of bands in the genre can pull off a project of this ilk. And it goes to show how Mustaine never rests on his laurels, which should be appreciated.

10. Mustaine Escaping the Shadow of Metallica

Very few musicians, no matter how gifted, can survive being discarded by what would become the biggest metal band to ever exist. However, Dave Mustaine did just that. Once he was kicked out of Metallica in 1983, he managed to form Megadeth, and the rest is history. But it is history that was built with dedication, hard work, and overcoming the worst, including the worst of his own addictions.

It is a great story that should be praised. Dealing with failure and addiction is a struggle for everyone out there, let alone a musician. However, Mustaine managed to build a band with its own legacy, its own achievements, and its own impact across the music business. And the fact that he managed to end his career on his own terms says a lot about his success.

The post 10 of the Greatest Megadeth Moments from their Entire Career appeared first on Metal Shout.

Swedish melodic death metal pioneers At The Gates have released “The Dissonant Void”, the second single from their upcoming eighth studio album, The Ghost of a Future Dead. Set for release on 24th April 2026 via Century Media Records, the album serves as a poignant final chapter and tribute to iconic frontman Tomas Lindberg, who … Continue reading At The Gates unveil “The Dissonant Void” as tribute to Tomas Lindberg