Artist: MEGADETH
Album: COUNTDOWN TO EXTINCTION REMASTERED (CD)

Release date: 1992/ 2004
EAN/UPS: 0724359862026
Media type: CD

The position of new lead guitarist for MEGADETH fuelled rumours concerning HEATHEN's Lee Altus, SAVATAGE's Criss Oliva, PANTERA's Diamond Darryl and Jeff Waters of ANNIHILATOR. Waters nearly got the gig, but Darryl was in fact offered the position. The PANTERA guitarist insisted though that his brother, PANTERA drummer Vinnie, also be given a place and as such the negotiations broke down.

Mustaine pulled in old acquaintance CHRIS POLAND to perform on the demo recordings for a new album, but it was to be former DEUCE, VIXEN, HAWAII and CACOPHONY man MARTY FRIEDMAN who landed the job. The result of this union was 'Rust In Peace', released in September 1990 and produced by Mike Clink. Recording took place with Mustaine undergoing drug rehabilitation treatment, but the resultant album was to be their most mature effort to date giving them a further hit. 'Rust In Peace', viewed by many fans as the pinnacle of MEGADETH's artistic achievement, provided Mustaine with a wide canvas in which he put down his observations on the Irish conflict, war in the Middle East, nuclear weapons, esoterica and aliens.

UK touring in March of 1991 saw strong support from both THE ALMIGHTY and ALICE IN CHAINS. MEGADETH forged part of the immense 'Clash Of The Titans' touring bill that caught the band appearing alongside fellow heavyweights ANTHRAX and SLAYER. The North American dates, with openers ALICE IN CHAINS, proved a huge success with sell out attendance's. The band dropped in a couple of San Francisco club shows billed as VIC & THE RATTLEHEADS and by October the 'Clash Of The Titans' touring package, now with support from TESTAMENT and SUICIDAL TENDANCIES, hit Britain and Europe. The live work was far from over however, as returning to America the band were to hook up with British metal legends JUDAS PRIEST for their 'Painkiller' tour.

July 1992's 'Countdown To Extinction' would propel MEGADETH into the major league with the momentum gained from previous strong releases, just missing out on the US number 1 position and propelling Megadeth past the two million sales mark for the first time. The album, co-produced by Dave Mustaine and Max Norman, proved transitional in merging thrash with a more formatted hard rock approach. Megadeth added to their arsenal of classics with strong tracks such as the title number, ‘Skin O' My Teeth’, ‘Sweating Bullets’ and the near mantric ‘Symphony Of Destruction’.

TRACKLIST:

1. Skin 'O My Teeth
2. Symphony Of Destruction
3. Architecture Of Aggression
4. Foreclosure Of A Dream
5. Sweating Bullets
6. This Was My Life
7. Countdown To Extinction
8. High Speed Dirt
9. Psychotron
10. Captive Honour
11. Ashes In Your Mouth

Bonus tracks:

12. Crown Of Worms - previously unreleased
13. Countdown To Extinction (Demo) - previously unreleased
14. Symphony Of Destruction (Demo) - previously unreleased
15. Psychotron (Demo) - previously unreleased

LINE-UP:

Dave Mustaine (vocals/ guitar)
Marty Friedman (guitar)
Dave Ellefson (bass)
Nick Menza (drums)