‘Megadeth’s’ ‘Countdown To Extinction’ Album Remastered And Expanded For 20th-Anniversary Edition

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Megadeth‘s Dave Mustaine has personally overseen a new 20th-anniversary edition of the band’s most popular album, 1992’s double platinum-certified Countdown To Extinction, to be released November 6 by Capitol/EMI.

After wrapping up their Th1rt3en World Tour this fall, Megadeth will perform the acclaimed album in its entirety on their Countdown To Extinction 20th Anniversary Tour this November and December.

Presented in a 2CD lift-top box and digitally, Countdown To Extinction‘s new commemorative edition pairs the remastered original album with a 1992 concert, recorded live at San Francisco’s Cow Palace, which has never before been released in its entirety. The concert audio has been newly remixed for this release. The physical and digital versions both include a booklet with a new liner notes essay by music journalist Kory Grow, and the 2CD box also contains a 24″ x 36″ poster and four collectible postcards. Countdown To ExtinctionMegadeth‘s fifth studio album, was recorded in Los Angeles in 1992 as rioting raged across the city in response to the Rodney King trial verdicts. American tensions weren’t limited to L.A., by any means, as the Gulf War was still fresh in people’s minds, the state of the environment was becoming headline news, and President George H.W. Bush was seeking reelection in a heated campaign season.

Out of this turmoil, Megadeth was inspired to create Countdown To Extinction, considered by many to be the band’s best and most accessible album. The group’s previous albums, including So Far, So Good…So What! and Rust In Peace, included songs that tackled topics like censorship and religious bloodletting in the Middle East. But none were as polemical as the sonic missiles launched by Countdown.Megadeth laced the songs with acid-tongued commentary about subjects ranging from the futility of war [Architecture Of Aggression] to the senseless brutality of caged hunting [Countdown To Extinction]. Foreclosure Of A Dream sampled George Bush‘s infamous “Read my lips” speech, making a statement about taxation endangering the American Dream.

Thanks to a perfect balance of hard-rock song structures, epic choruses, and fleet-fingered guitar work, Countdown To Extinction became an instant classic, benefiting from copious MTV and radio play. Spin magazine raved that “Countdown” “may just be the finest thrash-metal album ever made,” and before long, songs like Symphony Of Destruction,Sweating Bullets and Skin O’ My Teeth had entered metal’s canon of essential recordings. The album shot to No. 2 on the Billboard chart [it may have hit No. 1, if not for Billy Ray Cyrus‘ long chart-topping reign with Some Gave All], and it was certified double platinum in the U.S. within two years, with sales of more than two million copies.

Megadeth was in top form, with Mustaine, the band’s then 31-year-old singer and guitarist leading the album’s assault with lyrics like “You know your worth when your enemies praise your architecture of aggression,” not to mention his venomous rhythm guitar attack. His band mates completed the picture, as lead guitarist Marty Friedman blazed with memorable solos, bassist David Ellefson jammed dizzying arrays of low-end thunder, and drummer Nick Menza attacked his kit. Megadeth sounded hungry, and the band was rewarded when the album earned a Grammy Award nomination [“Best Metal Performance”] and when its title cut garnered a Genesis Award from the Humane Society for raising awareness for animal rights issues.

Track listing:

CD 1

01. Skin O’ My Teeth
02. Symphony Of Destruction
03. Architecture Of Aggression
04. Foreclosure Of A Dream
05. Sweating Bullets
06. This Was My Life
07. Countdown To Extinction
08. High Speed Dirt
09. Psychotron
10. Captive Honour
11. Ashes In Your Mouth

CD 2 – Live At Cow Palace, 1992

01. Intro
02. Holy Wars…The Punishment Due
03. Skin O’ My Teeth
04. Wake Up Dead
05. Hangar 18
06. Countdown To Extinction
07. Foreclosure Of A Dream
08. This Was My Life
09. Lucretia
10. Sweating Bullets
11. In My Darkest Hour
12. The Conjuring
13. Tornado
14. Ashes In Your Mouth
15. Symphony Of Destruction
16. Peace Sells
17. Anarchy In the UK

Upcoming Shows:
Sep 11 Teatro De Verano Montevideo, Uruguay
Sep 14 Estadio Cubierto Malvinas, Río Seco, Argentina
Sep 16 Orfeo, Cordoba, Argentina
Sep 19 Pepsi Center WTC, Mexico, NY
Sep 20 Pepsi Center WTC, Mexico City, Mexico
Sep 21 Arena VFG, Vallarta Poniente, Mexico

Countdown To Extinction 20th Anniversary Tour

Nov. 09 – Providence, RI @ Lupo’s at the Strand
Nov. 10 – Huntington, NY @ Paramount Theatre
Nov. 11 – Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
Nov. 13 – Wallingford, CT @ Oakdale Theatre
Nov. 14 – Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
Nov. 16 – Atlantic City, NJ @ House Of Blues
Nov. 17 – Niagara Falls, NY @ Rapids Theatre
Nov. 19 – Stroudsburg, PA @ Sherman Theater
Nov. 20 – Columbus, OH @ LC Pavilion
Nov. 24 – Myrtle Beach, SC @ House Of Blues
Nov. 25 – Charlotte, NC @ Fillmore
Nov. 26 – Atlanta, GA @ The Tabernacle
Nov. 28 – Kansas City, MO @ Midland Theatre
Dec. 01 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Great Saltair
Dec. 02 – Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory
Dec. 04 – Reno, NV @ Grand Sierra Theatre
Dec. 06 – Las Vegas, NV @ House Of Blues
Dec. 07 – Pomona, CA @ Fox Theatre

For an updated Megadeth’s 2012 tour schedule click here.

Related articles:
‘Megadeth’s’ ‘David Ellefson’ Is Studying to Become a Pastor [Jan. 2012]
‘David Ellefson’ ‘Dave Mustaine’ And I Study Scripture Together [Feb. 2012]
Megadeth – Th1rt3en [CD review]
 ‘Megadeth’ & ‘Rob Zombie’ Announce Co-Headlining Tour [Feb. 2012]
‘David Ellefson’ ‘There Are A Lot Of Artists Who Are Very Open About Their Faith’ [March 2012]
‘David Ellefson’ Launches ‘Ellefson Concert Series’ Rock And Roll Accessories Line [April 2012]
‘Dave Mustaine’ Interviewed At ‘Beale St. Music Festival’ [Video] [May 2012]
New Video Interview With ‘Chris Broderick’ [May 2012]
‘Dave Mustaine’ On his Surgery, Lineup Changes And Winning Awards [May 2012]
‘Megadeth’ At France’s ‘Hellfest’; Video Footage Available [June 2012]
Behind -The-Scenes Footage: ‘Megadeth’ At Belgium’s ‘Graspop Metal Meeting’ [June 2012]
‘Megadeth’ Taps Producer ‘Johnny K’ For New Album [Aug. 2012]
‘Megadeth’ Kicks Off ‘Countdown To Extinction’ 20th-Anniversary Tour In Colombia [Video] [Sept. 2012]

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