Music Review #4-Megadeth-Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!

Alright my friends, this is Megadeth's debut album back in 1985. Wait, 1985? A little late for the party don't you think guys? I mean seriously, Metallica and Slayer both debuted their 1st album back in 1983 and Anthrax debuted in 1984. But there's probably a reason why Megadeth arrived late and this is what I think. When Dave Mustaine was kicked out of Metallica in '82 or '83, Dave TOLD them not to use any of his songs he had written. And what do they do? Use his songs! That really burned Mustaine up. Anyway I could go on about Dave's history about leaving Metallica and forming Megadeth but this would be too long of a review. So let's move on shall we? KIMB is Megadeth's debut album and was possibly the fastest American Thrash Metal album at the time. This was way before Slayer started play Mach 5 speeds. But it's probably because Slayer lead guitarist Kerry King played with Megadeth for while, seeing how Mustaine was a MAJOR influnce on King when Dave was in Metallica. Anyway, on to the debut!

1. Last Rites/Loved to Death- Or is it Loved to Deth? Anyway it doesn't matter. The song starts of with a piano playing some classical music piece and then opening riff starts and ho-ly crap what a riff! The song is wild man! Odd time meters and a kick ass solo by Mustiane. This song, according to Dave Mustaine himself, is "Boy meets girl, boy loves girl, girl doesn't love boy, so boy kills girl." Is that creepy or what?

2. Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!- The title track of the album. The song is straight foward, mid-tempo verse, fast chrous. This song is about a hitman who, ironicly, kills the person who hired him.

3. The Skull Beneath the Skin- This song starts with a creepy sounding riff. The song is about the formation of Megadeth's mascot Vic Rattlehead and it's based off of pagan rituals and symbols.

4. Rattlehead- The opening riff on this tune is killer! This song is about the early Thrash Metal fans, particually the early Megadeth fans. This song doesn't let up and it's really neat!

5. Chosen Ones- This one of Megadeth's few humorous songs. The riffs are cool and there's a neat bass solo towards the end. This song is based off the killer rabbit scene of Monty Python's "In Search of the Holy Grail".

6. Looking Down The Cross- This is the slow song off the album but it's still good. Kinda has a meancing tone to it. This song is about Jesus's last moments on the cross but instead of forgiving man, he condemns them to damnation.

7. Mechanix- Dave acutally wrote this song before he joined Metallica but was recorded in Metallica's demo No Life 'Til Leather. After Dave got kicked out, Metallica re-worked it as The Four Horsemen. That song is about the Four horsemen of the apocolyspe. This song is about sex, back when it was cool to sing about that stuff in Thrash. The lyrics however are disguised as fixing a car. It's even faster than the Metallica song.

8. These Boots- Yes folks, this is a cover of "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'". However there is a twist. That song is about footwear. This song is about sex. Dave re-worked the lyrics. However, since I have the 2002 remastered version, the explict lyrics are literally, 'bleeped' out. That's because the person who wrote that song found it to be offensive. That really sucks cause I want to hear what Dave is singing.

Since this is the 2002 remastered version, it comes with bonus tracks. But it's demo, so I'll review that another time. This album is great. It has a lot of energy. The only downside is the bleeps on These Boots. But that doesn't mean that it's a bad album. If you're new to Meegadeth, I wouldn't start here. Maybe Countdown to Extinction.

4.5 out of 5.

Music Review-#3-Slayer-Hell Awaits

Man, it's been a long time since my last review but anyway, I'm back and with a new album to review. This album is by Slayer and it called Hell Awaits. Released in 1985, a year before Thrash Metal hit mainstream consciousness, I consider it the Slayer's best album in Metal Blade. This is actually Slayer's second album, with their first titled Show No Mercy back in '83 also released in Metal Blade. There is a total of 7 tracks in this album but are fairly lengthy. So is it an album worthy enough for you to buy it or does it suck the big one? Read on to find out!

1.Hell Awaits- At first you hear nothing, but wait! Don't turn up the volume just yet! It gradually builds up and your demonic voices saying "Join us" but backwards and then you hear a DEEP, demonic voice saying "Welcome back!!". When I first that, I jumped! Then the song starts and its actually very good. This song is about Satanic forces battling angels.

2. Kill Again- This song is also very cool. Starts off a bit slow but then picks up and the music is awsome. A song about killing people.

3.At Dawn They Sleep- This song is about vampires, y'know, back when they were cool to sing about in Heavy Metal music. This is possibly the slowest song off the album and gets even slower towards the ending. It's only fast for about 45 seconds towards the end. Decent song.

4.Praise of Death- Now this is were things start to pick up again. Starts out with a snare drum and BANG!! The song starts. There is a really neat bass line in the middle. Drives me mad whenever I hear it. This song is about nihilism or something like that.

5. Necrophiliac- Start out with guitar and then the song starts. Really cool song about,well, necrophilia.

6. Crypts of Eternity- Starts off with some tribal riff. It's a little slow but it a cool song. It's about the Devil.

7. Hardening of the Arteries- No, it's not about a heart attack, however, it's about the end of the world. Great song and after the song is done, they play the intro to Hell Awaits.

Well, that was short but then again, it's only 7 tracks. I think this is a really good album, a lot better than their debut. Here this is were Slayer finally abandoned their NWOBHM influenced sound in exchange for pure Thrash Metal (Along with their EP Haunting of the Chapel). Do I recommend it. Yes. This is the most unique Slayer album I've heard so far. Pick it up whenever you get the chance.

4.25 out of 5