Megadeth

Released: July 14, 1992

Songwriter: Dave Mustaine David Ellefson

Producer: Max Norman Dave Mustaine

[Verse 1]
Born from the dark in the black cloak of night
To envelop its prey below, deliver to the light
To eliminate your enemy, hit them in their sleep
And when all is won and lost, the spoils of wars are yours to keep

[Chorus]
Great nations built from the bones of the dead
With mud and straw - blood and sweat
You know your worth when your enemies
Praise your architecture of aggression

[Post-Chorus]
Praise your architecture of aggression

[Verse 2]
Ensuing power vacuum, a toppled leader dies
His body fuels the power fire and the flames rise to the sky
One side of his face, a kiss - the other, genocide
Time to pay with your ass, a worldwide suicide

[Chorus]
Great nations built from the bones of the dead
With mud and straw - blood and sweat
You know your worth when your enemies
Praise your architecture of aggression

[Instrumental Break]

[Verse 1]
Born from the dark in the black cloak of night
To envelop its prey below, deliver to the light
To eliminate your enemy, hit them in their sleep
And when all is won and lost, the spoils of wars are yours to keep

[Chorus]
Great nations built from the bones of the dead
With mud and straw - blood and sweat
You know your worth when your enemies
Praise your architecture of aggression
Great nations built from the bones of the dead
With mud and straw - blood and sweat
You know your worth when your enemies...
Praise your architecture of aggression

After being kicked out of Metallica, Dave Mustaine decided to form a Thrash Metal band that not only rivaled his former band, but played faster, more technical Metal. Along with bassist David ‘Junior’ Ellefson and a revolving door of guitarists and drummers, Mustaine set the world afire as Megadeth became known as the world’s state-of-the-art Speed Metal band throughout the 80s and the early 90s. One of the Big Four of Thrash Metal, Megadeth remains one of Metal’s most popular acts today.

However, Dave Mustaine’s fledgling band got off to a shaky start. Initially unable to find like-minded individuals, it was not until an altercation with his (underage) downstairs neighbours Dave Ellefson and Greg Handevidt, that led to him buying them beer and forming the first incarnation of the band with drummer Dijon Carruthers in 1983.

The band was named after a political pamphlet that referred to a “megadeath” (one million deaths by nuclear explosion):

more tracks from the album

Countdown to Extinction

From the album

Countdown to Extinction (1992)

Megadeth popular songs

Architecture of AggressionMegadeth

Megadeth

Countdown to Extinction