Megadeth

Founded in Los Angeles in 1983 by guitarist and vocalist Dave Mustaine and bassist David Ellefson, Megadeth emerged as part of the first wave of American thrash metal. The band forged a blend of thrash, speed, and heavy metal, built on fast, precise riffs, complex song structures, and lyrics addressing politics, war, religion, and social alienation. After a few demos, Megadeth released Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! (1985) and then Peace Sells... but Who’s Buying? (1986), which firmly established the band on the international metal scene. The early 1990s, marked by the presence of Marty Friedman and Nick Menza, saw the release of Rust in Peace (1990) and Countdown to Extinction (1992), while Youthanasia (1994) ushered in a more melodic phase. Despite frequent lineup changes and a hiatus in the early 2000s, Megadeth resumed studio and live activity with albums such as The System Has Failed (2004), Endgame (2009), Dystopia (2016), and The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead! (2022), continuing to tour at numerous international festivals and to share the bill with other bands from the thrash scene.