Architecture of Aggression

David Weigel | July 9, 2007

When Marxist rappers par excellence The Coup wanted to put an exploding World Trade Center on the cover of Party Music—before 9/11, mind—the studio killed it. Megadeth's new album cover depicts the United Nations being torn apart by holy fire and no one seems to care. No one except Shawn Macomber, who scores an interview with head Megadether Dave Mustaine and discovers that his verbal diarrhea is as acute as it ever was.

It's the lack of outrage that has Mustaine outraged. "Why doesn't Michael Moore do an expose on the UN?" he asked, adding, "When I see Syria on the Security Council [in 2002-2003], am I supposed to feel secure? It's mad....They just rely on UNICEF, this one good thing they're doing, to cover up all the stuff that they're not doing, to put them beyond dissent. I'm not impressed. How long are they going to sit by and watch Hezbollah fire Katyusha rockets into Israel from Lebanon? That's a question I'd like answered."

Speaking of Israel, on another track, "Amerikhastan," Mustaine envisions a dystopian future wherein a "legion of bankrupt souls with a lust for revenge" brings civilization to its knees. "You must ignore the focus groups," he advises in his melodic howl. "You must send in the Mossad/Turn off the BBC and CNN/And don't look back."

Whole thing here. Michael C. Moynihan on Swedish metal here.

Comments

|7.9.07 @ 8:39AM|#

Uh oh. As Megadeth goes, so goes the nation.

|7.9.07 @ 8:45AM|#

I don't know why disaffected youth wouldn't appreciate the message. A struggle versus THE MAN is a timeless teen motivator.

highnumber|7.9.07 @ 9:06AM|#

Sounds more like a struggle to be The Man.

|7.9.07 @ 9:08AM|#

Whenever I get that not-so-fresh-feeling, a little Dave Mustaine clears it right up.

|7.9.07 @ 9:10AM|#

Dream Theater's "Live Scenes from New York" original had an album cover depicting New York burning with the an apple wrapped in barbed wire. It was released on 9/18/01. Talk about bad timing. The album was pulled from shelves three days later.

Original cover can be seen here.

ed|7.9.07 @ 9:23AM|#

Sure to become a classic, just like Lynyrd Skynyrd's Band On The Runway album,
or whatever it was called.

|7.9.07 @ 9:26AM|#

Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot was supposed to be released on 9/11/01 and featured a cover photo showing identical twin towers (Chicago's Marina condos). They were not on fire, however.

steveintheknow|7.9.07 @ 9:28AM|#

I here by summon Adam Beyer's dad to kick Dave Mustaine's dad's ass!

Seriously Dave is all right with me, for real. The ex-metal star border town circuit has gotta be a little tough on the ego. Although they do sell fajitas by the kilo in Brownsville, and I hear they are yummy.

|7.9.07 @ 9:38AM|#

Despite the Mustaine hatred, it's obvious that James Hetfield is the real threat.

|7.9.07 @ 9:40AM|#

Mustaine has been dead to me ever since I witnessed him in that Metallica movie, still whining over having been dismissed from the band back in the early 80's. Even though Megadeth has been very successful in its own right.

Timothy|7.9.07 @ 9:41AM|#

Wait, Megadeth is still around? Next we'll all be watching Scott Baio on TV again!

VM|7.9.07 @ 10:03AM|#

*hastily changes channels

Why, Timothy, would you mention that?

[gestures wildly] LOOK OVER THERE!!!!!!

*runs off

Timothy|7.9.07 @ 10:23AM|#

ZOMG IT'S SCOTT BAIO!

AIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

|7.9.07 @ 10:26AM|#

supposedly, George Carlin was planning to release a tv special and album on or around Sept. 11. It was called "I kind of like it when a lot of people die."
Whoops.
Brief mention of the title here: http://www.yaledailynews.com/articles/view/132?badlink=1

Andrew Ian Dodge|7.9.07 @ 10:29AM|#

The title track nails the UN pretty handily. Its one of Megadeth's best albums and certainly his best stuff for a very long time.

|7.9.07 @ 10:40AM|#

an interview with head Megadether Dave Mustaine and discovers that his verbal diarrhea is as acute as it ever was.


Yeah but he's an awesome vocalist with a hot voice, so anything he says will still sound good.

|7.9.07 @ 10:49AM|#

There seems to be a natural progression towards making more politically aware music when artists give up shooting heroin.See also Nine Inch Nails and Primal Scream.

I'd make fun of them for it, but a lot of the time the music is a vast improvement.

Oh, and despite their being socialists, I kinda like the Coup.

|7.9.07 @ 11:11AM|#

Also, I impressed my friends and won the favor of enemies when I totally pwned "Hangar 18" on Guitar Hero II. I shredded their faces off with my button-pushing skillz.

|7.9.07 @ 11:16AM|#

I will say that Megadeth's Rust In Peace is the best heavy metal album ever in my book.

SxCx|7.9.07 @ 11:18AM|#

Anyone remember the transgressive poetry better known as Mechanix?

To this day, I suspect it's the real reason he was kicked out of Metallica.

|7.9.07 @ 11:27AM|#

What's that thing with the wings supposed to be?

B|7.9.07 @ 11:28AM|#

I believe Slayer's God Hates Us All was also released on 9.11.01.

|7.9.07 @ 11:45AM|#

Anyone remember the transgressive poetry better known as Mechanix?


Later repackaged by Hetfield as "The Four Horsemen", correct?

Aside from that, I don't remember what it was about.

|7.9.07 @ 11:57AM|#

There seems to be a natural progression towards making more politically aware music when artists give up shooting heroin.See also Nine Inch Nails and Primal Scream.

Actually Megadeth has always been a fairly "political" band. But I do agree many artist seem to go that route. Unfortunately they end up sounding like an advocacy group and their music usually suffers.

I believe Slayer's God Hates Us All was also released on 9.11.01.

Yep. Worst release date ever for their worst album ever.

|7.9.07 @ 12:10PM|#

What IS that garbage you're watching?? I want to watch the news!

dhex|7.9.07 @ 12:57PM|#

yeah slayer probably should have stopped sometime around '95.

i still dream of seeing the RNC keynote speaker come out to the strains of "war ensemble" though. i think it would be an appropriate republican theme song at this point in history.

|7.9.07 @ 1:33PM|#

What IS that garbage you're watching?? I want to watch the news!
This IS the news

Randolph Carter|7.9.07 @ 1:55PM|#

Speaking of Political Trent, anyone else think that Year Zero is a really spotty album? Some of the songs rock so hard, and some of them sound like a drunk with a drum machine. wtf mate.

Randolph Carter|7.9.07 @ 1:57PM|#

dhex,
Perhaps Warlord by Vader would be the most apt:

I stand strong and fierce
I am so mighty... I am so dark
Overlooking the battlefields below
I see my Brothers, their courage and strength
Looking in the eyes of the Enemy Leader
The one who Lead the light

As legions march, across the withered earth
Trembling on broken human bones
All weapons drawn and sharp
My warriors, my proud of the dungeons black

Onwards to engage the Light!!! The Enemy!!!
Onwards to engage the light!!!

yeah I listen to that when I work out.

|7.9.07 @ 2:06PM|#

The last Slayer album had some pretty good songs on it.Not their best, but much better than God Hates Us All.

I like the new Nine Inch Nails CD. It's got some spotty songs on it for sure, but at least we didn't have to wait five years to hear the same lame songs in an overproduced state. The new CD trounces the last one easily.

Randolph Carter|7.9.07 @ 2:09PM|#

Maybe I could start a minarchist band called Minideth

|7.9.07 @ 2:13PM|#

There is a local Megadeth cover band here called Degameth. :P


I like Minideth better...it would be best if the band members were all midgets, too.

Randolph Carter|7.9.07 @ 2:15PM|#

Degameth - are they from the plains states? Holes in their mouths? I think they played at my friend's trailer once

dhex|7.9.07 @ 2:23PM|#

hmmm good band names using minarchist would have the downfall of everyone thinking you were being ironic and stuff. like uh "small government playset" or "roll back the new deal" or whatever.

other good bands for republicans to come out to at the rnc would include discordance axis, pig destroyer and the locust. at least be honest about what you are. plus you might recapture the part of the youth vote that actually cares about getting laid.

Randolph Carter|7.9.07 @ 2:32PM|#

How could I forget!! the RNC theme song is most definitely "Scumdogs of the Universe" by GWAR. And Karl Rove is Sleazy P. Martini.

SxCx|7.9.07 @ 3:19PM|#

Later repackaged by Hetfield as "The Four Horsemen", correct?

Aside from that, I don't remember what it was about.

Yeah, that's the one.

Mustaine's version is basically a transparent allegory about fucking a car.

|7.9.07 @ 4:27PM|#

If peace sells, who's buying?

SxCx|7.9.07 @ 4:36PM|#

Dave's enthusiasm for the Mossad is puzzling. Isn't this the same man who shouted "Military Intelligence -- two words combined that can't make sense"?

|7.9.07 @ 4:37PM|#

Whaddymean I don't support your system?

I'd go to court, if they still let people do that.

Jim Murphy|7.9.07 @ 6:09PM|#

Mustane is a crybaby, but Megadeth kicks ass...."Hanger 18" is on a short list of my all time favorite metal songs....

|7.9.07 @ 10:47PM|#

So, Megadeth is so sterile now that they're lifting ideas for album covers from Libertarian presidential candidates' policy proposals?