THE SICK, THE DYING…AND THE DEAD!
Listen on iTunes, Spotify, Podbean, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your Podcasts.
Leave us a Voicemail to be played on a future episode: 980-666-8182
Follow us on the Socials:
Facebook - Instagram - Twitter
Can’t be LOUD Enough Playlist on Spotify
Metal Nerdery Munchies on YouTube
Some links may be affiliate links. This means that we may receive a small commission (at no cost to you) if you purchase something through the links provided. Metal Nerdery is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com
The world just wouldn’t be the same without Dave Mustaine and MEGADETH.
No one else in metal embodies the same snarling, vengeful angst against the psychopathic “powers that be” as Mega Dave, and the band’s 16th studio offering, “THE SICK, THE DYING…AND THE DEAD!” once again proves it.
With topics running the gamut from space travel, war, and (actual) plague to nuclear disaster and shameless celebrity selfie queens, Dave has once again masterfully unleashed his passionate disgust and contempt for everything that has negatively tainted our world with furious thrash-tactical precision that is intricately woven together with thin threads of progressive metal grandeur.
Find other MEGADETH Episodes
Megadeth Peace Sells
Megadeth So Far So Good
MEGADETH on the InterWebs
Released September 2, 2022
Label Tradecraft/Universal
Producer Dave Mustaine Chris Rakestraw
The BAND
Dave Mustaine
Kiko Loureiro
Dirk Verbeuren
Steve Di Giorgio
Tracks
1. "The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead!"
2. "Life in Hell"
3. "Night Stalkers" (featuring Ice-T)
4. "Dogs of Chernobyl"
5. "Sacrifice"
6. "Junkie"
7. "Psychopathy"
8. "Killing Time"
9. "Soldier On!"
10. "Célebutante"
11. "Mission to Mars"
12. "We'll Be Back"
Bonus Tracks
13. "Police Truck" (Dead Kennedys cover)
14. "This Planet's on Fire (Burn in Hell)" (Sammy Hagar cover, featuring Sammy Hagar)
“Step inside, walk this way…”
Go ahead and get your “cortisone shart” out of the way before you slip into your “finger pants” and “request a to-go box” while preparing for the imminent “air horn frenzy” that awaits as you indulge in “a handful and a mouthful” and JOIN US for a dive into MEGADETH: THE SICK, THE DYING…AND THE DEAD!
THE SICK, THE DYING…AND THE DEAD!
What a way to open, with an excellent nod to the almighty Monty Python (and the Holy Grail).
“Bring out your dead!”
The post-apocalyptic winds of death howling in the distance with the funeral bell ringing welcome in an uneasy dirge-like riff to begin the album.
All of the classic Megadeth ingredients are captured here: the harmonized riffs, the incredible guitar solos, and even the darker “unplugged” section in the middle. Really cool how the intro riff transitions into this urgent, thrashy classic Megadeth riff followed by something you would swear came from Rust in Peace. In fact, ALL of these riffs would be right at home on Rust in Peace, in terms of musical genius and technical precision. Glad to see Dave hasn’t lost any of his snarl and angst, particularly regarding a song that addresses actual plague.
“There’s typhus in the air, and ashes everywhere
Amongst the sick, the dying, and the dead…”
LIFE IN HELL
There’s so much going on here. There’s old school, classic Peace Sells… riffs, more technical Rust riffs, and an abundance of finger pants (which none of us have ever actually worn…yet). Bring out your finger pants (even if your fingers don’t wanna wear them) because you know the rules: no finger pants, no finger shoes, no finger service. And remember, classic thrash riffs deserve to wear only the finest finger pants.
Let the record show that the rhythm section is absolutely tremendous and helps give that extra ferocious punch that makes Megadeth so blunt, angry, and fierce. (Thanks to Dirk Verbeuren and Steve Di Giorgio.) Let us also give tremendous thanks to Kiko Loureiro for all the incredible shred as well.
“I’m a disease, and I’m addicted to myself
I’m all I need, I’m gonna live and die in Hell…”
NIGHTSTALKERS
Total thrash bone. Case closed. If a guitar could ever sound like a machine gun emptying clip after clip of ammunition, this is exactly what it would sound like. Technical, fast, and precise. The section with Ice-T paints a vivid and disturbing picture of just how far some will go to end you “by any means necessary” simply because you pose a threat to their agenda.
BTW, that riff we were referring to is right after the clean section. In the video, this is where Vic (Rattlehead) reflects upon the tragedy he’s endured and the vengeful retribution that awaits those who’ve wronged him.
The one message that’s perfectly clear is this: Dave Mustaine for President with Ice-T as his running mate.
“From verdict to deliverance to retribution
To the very last beat of a dead man’s pulse…”
DOGS OF CHERNOBYL
Easily one of the most haunting soft intros to ever appear on a Megadeth record that speaks to one of the most tragically haunting nuclear accidents to have ever occurred in history. Very progressive and thematic. Some of the most technical, melodically heavy riffs in all of thrash. The back and forth soloing between Kiko and Dave during the up-tempo part definitely has that Peace Sells… feel.
(Fun fact: The release of Peace Sells… and the disaster at Chernobyl bolth occurred in 1986.)
“No warning, and no pain, only shock and then dread
No one coming, no one going, I’m alive with the dead…”
SACRIFICE
Somehow this has an eclectic Megadeth meets Dream Theater meets Al Di Meola feel with exotic sounding riffs and chord changes. Given the lyrical content, it seems Dave is trying to warn us of black magic that exists all around us. When it doubt, always look to the light, because nothing can be found in darkness but more darkness.
“Every charm and talisman can be broken
It must be unwound, and undone, if you wanna break free…”
JUNKIE
“Step inside, walk this way…”
***Warning: Def Leppard trigger alert!!!***
In all seriousness, this song has just enough pop sensibility that it could easily garner terrestrial radio play (not that anyone really listens to terrestrial radio anymore thanks to soulless corporations who insist on playing the same 9 songs on EVERY non-satellite radio station in the universe!!!). The lyrics really say it all: being a junkie is all consuming and will occupy and conquer every aspect of your life. Some subtle riff references to So Far, So Good… as well.
Also, that was easily the most hilarious Def Leppard flashback ever experienced! Some things you just can’t erase from your mind…or unhear. Ever!
“The cure is worse than the disease,
He’s long past caring if he dies…”
PSYCHOPATHY
More or less an extended “intro” for the next song, an instrumental with a spoken word from Dave about the impact psychopathy has on all of humankind and how we need more research to better understand it in order to more effectively treat and control it, particularly since psychopaths are responsible for the tyranny, manipulation, and utter destruction of everything good in this world.
“Psychopathy, like many psychiatric disorders and syndromes
Has environmental, as well as moderately strong genetic components…”
KILLING TIME
This pairs well with Psychopathy. In fact, the former sets the premise for the lyrical message within this song. The clean breakdown in the middle with the guitar line that follows still gives it a more mainstream accessibility that wouldn’t have been caught dead on any earlier, more anti-commercial Megadeth albums. Sonically this sounds like it would fit well on Countdown to Extinction.
“You’re a sick, psychopath, you squander everything and then laugh
You’ve got to know what comes around goes around…”
SOLDIER ON!
Yeah, the very beginning of this has a definite “grating” sound…then again, being a soldier forced to go off and fight wars created by elitist psychopaths is likely an equally grating mission. A lot of parallels between a military tour of duty and a metal tour of duty.
The high point is hearing Drill Sergeant Dave calling cadence at the end as he takes the troops out for a pre-battle run. Actually, someone needs to remake Full Metal Jacket with Dave as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman.
All we can do right now is get ourselves “a handful and a mouthful” and keep on soldiering on.
“Watching mankind destroy itself
Walk straight into the mouth of Hell
I know I’ve got to soldier on…”
CELEBUTANTE
For a moment…” Foxy Lady” vibes. And then…
The song title is a portmanteau of celebrity and debutante, both of which are equally absurd and ridiculous (yet often quite titillating and entertaining). And that guitar riff is just so…odd. Seriously, I’ll bet in rehearsals it was a challenge to find the “1” … (NOTE: only the musicians are likely to grasp this).
(Wait…there was almost an “Among the Living” vibe there for a second…)
The harmony guitars and the clean guitars all layered over each other is what sets Dave apart from the rest of the thrash community. Progressive thrash perfection.
“All the right gossip, all the right trends,
All the right knives in the backs of your friends…”
MISSION TO MARS
Different kind of energy with this one, especially that intro (the song we were referring to is actually Mudshovel by Staind if you’re interested).
The verbal exchange between the astronauts (enroute to Mars) and Space Force Control contains some choice lyrical easter eggs (listen closely and you’ll hear them). It’s very prog sounding initially, but the tone quickly transitions to frantic urgency as the astronauts are pleading with S.F.C. for help.
“Countdown is commencing, pretty soon I’ll be saying “Goodbye Earth”,
A rocket ride on a bucking bronc, at seventeen thousand miles an hour…”
WE’LL BE BACK
This was the first “lead-off” single before the album came out. Naturally, when everyone heard this (which was the first new music we’d heard from Dave since 2016!), we were immediately reassured that Megadeth IS BACK with a righteous, snarling vengeance.
If you haven’t checked out any of the videos for the new album, definitely go do that, post haste! This video launched the multi-part origin story of Megadeth mascot, Vic Rattlehead (which for long time fans is like a nice little bonus). Almost sounds a bit like a tune from M.O.P. there near the end… (in a good way though).
That final riff is skanky angst at its finest.
“The time is right to exact my revenge,
Stealing enemy blood, I will fight to the end…”
Show Notes:
(00:01): “That’s not what I was gonna say…” / #GrandmaBeavis / #theuncorking (“That was a wet one”) and a #bigmouth / #cortisoneshart and the joy of #superfarts / #thisepisodesclinkyoftheepisode #SinEater (Cinnamon flavored whisky) #itleaked because of #thebigmouth / ***WARNING!!!*** #listenerdiscretionisadvised ***WELCOME BACK TO THE METAL NERDERY PODCAST!!!*** #tainttightener / What dimension did you materialize from? / #thisepisodesbeeroftheepisode #layoff #adderalldeficitdisordermoment #WickedWeedBrewing from #Asheville #FreakOfNature (excellent #albumcover) #highgravitybeer and #properdaydrinking tips. / “That’s the loudness that you taste…” / #eightpointfivepercentABV (aka #loudbeer) / ***Shoutout to local boys #ActusReus*** / #whatsthat #didyoumarkthat #TheyDidSomeTool #ultramegaremix #pitchshiftedhilarity
(09:11): “Be teased…” #psychicblueballs (or you could just read further down in the show notes) / “Blair Witch meets Evil Dead…” / #DeadStream #spoileralert / “Man, her tits were I-rated…” / (Russell says #boobs the best.) #Wokeshitsucks especially in #horrormovies and #RussellsReflections and an #editorial regarding the mass #boobdeficit in horror / #thevoicemailsegment ***GIVE US A CALL AND LEAVE US A VOICEMAIL AT 980-666-8182!!!*** #thereturnofthepost “How do #guitarsolos affect you?” (NOTE: the answers may vary between guitarists and non-guitarists…) / The emotional (and sometimes physical) impact of songs and/or guitar solos are very similar / “That was recorded in one single take!” #onetakewonder #Xanadu / “Damn I wish I could play guitar…” / And now, a rebranding: there’s #bassguitar and #trebleguitar / #onemorevoicemail #thereheis #numberonepodcast (thank you for that, Johnny-O) #thatmanisablessin / NO ONE is handing out the #goodcandy to children on #Halloween…even in the #legalweedstates (because it’s too expensive!). / Teachable moments…
(24:46): No #shittah from those of you in the tri-county area, but a recommendation… / #KingVolumeRecords (Not sure of the artist). #stonerdoomgoodness #artistunknown #fuzzy #fuzztease / #JurassicWitch “BLACK MASSES AND ASHES” VELOCIREAPER (“Someone needs to load a bowl for this…”) ***You can also find this on #bandcamp*** #killersongtitles (Not really #WellPlayYourShittah but also, kinda…) / “It’s time to get the band back together…I want to scream again…”
(31:45): #TheDocket MEGADETH “THE SICK, THE DYING, AND THE DEAD” / Quick first impressions and Dave’s uncanny gift for picking gifted guitarists to be part of #Megadeth / Production critiques / “Maybe that’s why it’s fun…” / #guitarbliss #awwwmannn and the evolution of Dave’s vocal style over the years / “Is it just as easy as asking for a to-go box?” #Poorlytimedrimshot and #poorlytimedlaughter #sadtrombone and that absurdly annoying buzzer siren noise (see also #airhorn) / #themostobnoxiousnoiseintheworld #thatnoise #homemadelube
(41:53): Excellent #MontyPythonReference (NOTE: Actually, it’s from #TheHolyGrail) #killeropener THE SICK, THE DYING…AND THE DEAD! (The riff with the harmonies is total #guitarbone) #yeah #killerharmonies / Remember when you first figured out how to play #complexicated riffs? / “Yours is #moreannoying…” / #pastawithattitude / The first Megadeth album without David Ellefson / LIFE IN HELL #oldschoolthrash (Wait…#fingerpants?)
(50:56): NIGHT STALKERS (feat. ICE-T) #sickriff (definitely thrashy, old school style!) / (NOTE: the part in question is actually after the acoustic, interlude part) / #ilovethehelmet / “Mites grow on a chicken’s ass”/ DOGS OF CHERNOBYL #justkiddingASMR #softintro #killeracousticintro #MegaProg / “Let’s say you had an amazing butt recipe…” / A word about Kiko’s genius / “What are you doing with your life?” / #vaginahaircuts and #genitalbeards
(1:00:24): SACRIFICE #thatriff / Amazing guitarists and the power of influences / Speaking of #guitarbone (#dualguitarbone) #markthetime / “So that’s a yes…” and more #adderall please / “They’re made from a mold…” / JUNKIE (“Is this Def Leppard?”) #Fuckyoubolth because “you can’t unhear it…ever!” #gothim / #MegaLeppard / PSYCHOPATHY #spokenwordpart (and the different kinds of #psychopathy) / “I’m not laughing at the fact; I’m laughing at the delivery…”
(1:09:35): KILLING TIME / Guitarists (like Kiko) with multi-tentacled tentacles who take home the gold in the #guitarolympics / #motivationalmoments / SOLDIER ON! (Very old school sounding…) #killeroutro (#DrillSeargentMustaine calling cadence…) / “Handful of pussy and a mouthful of ass…” / CELEBUTANTE (and a flashback to 1983…) and #weirdrifftiming (“Where’s the 1?”) / #perfectsegue into the next…
(1:19:36): MISSION TO MARS (“It’s got a lot of bottom…”) / Cool middle part…and a #catalogcallback / #supernaturaltentacles / “Dave would make a killer #voiceactor…” / Update regarding #TheShroomChronicles / #nogagcomplex (or #gagreflex) / #weirdlegaldumbness / WE’LL BE BACK #killercloser / “He might be A.I.” / ***BONUS TRACKS (on the #digitaledition of #TheSickTheDyingAndTheDead)*** #boneustracks POLICE TRUCK (#DeadKennedys cover) / WTF is that voice anyway: maybe #LarsDamone or #NewYorkLars? / THIS PLANET’S ON FIRE (BURN IN HELL) #SammyHagar cover / Favorite tracks / Released September 2, 2022 / ***THANK YOU FOR JOINING US!!!*** #untilthenext #timetoemptytheballs / ***PLEASE VISIT OUR 33RD FLOOR I.U.B.P. GIFT SHOPPE AND MAKE A PURCH OF SOME MERCH AT metalnerdery.com/merch ***) / #outroreel #hehahuh #longlivemetalnerdery
CBLE-2