Megadeth plugs in at the Casino Ballroom

megadeath: one million deaths—usually used as a unit in reference to nuclear warfare
—Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary

Anyone who saw the 2004 documentary “Metallica: Some Kind of Monster,” probably remembers a particularly tense scene in which Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich sat down with Megadeth singer and guitarist Dave Mustaine. Watching Mustaine gush about his undying resentment over being kicked out of Metallica in the early 1980s, along with his mournful confession that Megadeth has never approached the type of success Metallica has enjoyed, stands out as one of the most memorable moments in the film. (Mustaine personally raised a stink about the scene, saying he never gave Metallica or the filmmakers consent to use the footage.)

But, just a few years later, Metallica seems to have drifted into the dusty chronicles of heavy metal history, while Megadeth remains as active as ever. Even in the documentary, ongoing bickering between Ulrich and Metallica front man James Hetfield makes the metal legends seem like a pair of cranky old spouses, and Ulrich has become one of the most hated public figures in the music industry, thanks to his vocal opposition to illegal online music sharing. With Metallica steadily fading out of the picture, Mustaine could rightly call himself the reigning king of heavy metal.

“I am the king, an evil king / Who dreams the wickedest of dreams,” Mustaine sings in “Washington Is Next!,” the second track on Megadeth’s latest studio release, “United Abominations.”

Released in May, “Abominations” debuted at number eight on the U.S. Billboard charts. It is the band’s first album on Roadrunner Records, representing their 11th overall studio album. Megadeth has also released a number of greatest hits and live compilations, and the music keeps coming. A four-CD and DVD box set, “Warchest,” is slated for release on Oct. 2, including previously unreleased and digitally remastered tracks. A live DVD, “That One Night – Live in Buenos Aires,” also came out this year.

Megadeth is still touring with all the pent fury and vigor of its nearly quarter-century existence. Mustaine and his mates will be at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Saturday, Sept. 29, for an 18 and over show, just days before the release of “Warchest.” The group then heads to Asia for fall shows in Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Korea and Japan. 

Mustaine recently told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he thinks heavy metal music is making a comeback. The success of “United Abominations” shows that new and old fans are still thirsty for ’deth tunes. The bandleader also told Record Collector Magazine that he thinks his best work is still ahead of him. In a recent Sam Ash catalog, Velvet Revolver guitarist Slash called Mustaine “an all time genius heavy metal guitar player.”

All this hype about someone who’s musical career nearly experienced a quick death back in 1983. It was a year earlier, in 1982, that Mustaine left Panic and joined Ulrich and Hetfield in Metallica. Bassist Cliff Burton soon signed up as well, and one of the most powerful heavy metal bands of all time was born.

But Metallica kicked Mustain out of the band in April 1983 and replaced him with Kirk Hammet, saying his excessive substance abuse inhibited his playing ability. Bent on vengeance, Mustain quickly convened a band called Fallen Angels. Angels was short-lived, but Mustain soon linked up with bassist David Ellefson, guitarist Greg Handevidt and drummer Dijon Carruthers to form Megadeth. Metallica’s first full-length album, “Kill ’Em All,” came out shortly thereafter. 

In 1984, Megadeth signed with Combat records and hired Chris Poland as a new guitarist. That summer, the band played its first major shows in New York, alongside Slayer. The following spring, Megadeth released its first full-length album, “Killing Is My Business … And Business Is Good!” In 1986, Capitol Records signed the band in time to release its second album, “Peace Sells … but Who’s Buying?” Megadeth began touring the world in 1987, and the band also toured in opening slots for Alice Cooper, Dio and Iron Maiden during the latter part of the decade.

By the early 1990s, bands like Alice in Chains, Pantera and Suicidal Tendencies were opening for Megadeth. The band had become one of the top heavy metal acts in the world, and Mustaine’s guitar playing and dark lyrics had helped to further define the genre. While Metallica’s appeal would eventually spread to a mainstream audience, played as often at junior high dances as on “Headbangers Ball,” Megadeth continues to primarily attract strict metal-heads to this day.

The band has gone through countless personnel changes, leading to its current lineup of Mustaine, guitarist Glen Drover, drummer Shawn Drover and bassist James Lomenzo. This is the entourage Mustaine will bring to Hampton Beach on Saturday night. The Ballroom doors open at 6 p.m., and the show begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 in advance, $32 day of show, although it is likely to sell out.

While Mustaine may still hold a grudge against Metallica, he is obviously comfortable with his own hard-earned stardom. The music and lyrics on “United Abominations” are as dark and cynical as ever, with Mustaine spouting ominous messages that reflect the world’s current political climate. “The quiet war has begun with silent weapons / And the new slavery is to keep the people / Poor and stupid,” he sings in “Washington Is Next!”

But Mustaine, who just turned 46, has also changed over the last 25 years. On his profile page on the Megadeth Web site, www.megadeth.com, he says he relaxes by focusing on his health. He has said in recent interviews that he regularly works out and is in great shape, a far cry from the young Mustaine who was axed from Metallica for allegedly focusing too much on his boozing and not enough on his guitar work.

Mustaine’s profile includes a number of religious references. He lists Jesus Christ as his favorite historical figure, and his most important life lesson is “Love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as you would yourself.” If he were not a musician, Mustaine says he would like to be president of the United States. Given that he listed FOX News and the O’Reilly factor among his favorite TV shows, one wonders what kind of president he would make.

But some things never change. Megadeth might be the world’s lead manufacturer of T-shirts depicting flaming skulls and heavily armed skeletons, and plenty of this merchandise will surely be available at the Casino Ballroom on Saturday.
For tickets, call 603-929-4100 or visit www.casinoballroom.com.