INTERVIEW: Dirk Verbeuren of Megadeth – “The Sick, the Dying… and the Dead” Album Breakdown


 


Ghost Cult’s Omar Cordy held an EXCLUSIVE interview with Dirk Verbeuren of Megadeth! They caught up to discuss the new album “The Sick, the Dying… and the Dead!” and a variety of signposts in Dirk’s journey in heavy music. He chatted about the new album, the return of touring, how the band chooses a setlist, Megadeth’s many soundtrack favorites, Dirk’s thoughts on Gar Sameulson, and Nick Menza, how he made it into the band, how he chose to leave Soilwork in a professional way, his many passions outside of music, and more!

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CONCERT REVIEW: Five Finger Death Punch – Megadeth – The HU – Fire From The Gods Live at Xfinity Center


 

Five Finger Death Punch last performed in Massachusetts in 2018 and it was long overdue for their return, tonight at the Xfinity Center. Supporting their latest record Afterlife (Better Noise Music), the band brought a huge, full-stage production, as they usually do. The set list was full of fan favorites. They sounded amazing and left everyone wanting more. Read our review of Afterlife here.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Megadeth – The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead


 

Whether you want it to or not, once a nickname is acquired, it sticks. Sometimes for life. For almost as long as the band has existed itself, Californian speed metal legends Megadeth have been known by fans as Megadave. A purely affectionate nickname for sure, but one which grew out of frontman Dave Mustaine‘s often brutal and cold-blooded approach to personnel management. The singular constant in a revolving door of band members, make no mistake. Mustaine is Megadeth. Always was, always will be.

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FESTIVAL REVIEW: Download Festival 2022 Part II


My Saturday at Download began over at the main stage where I caught the retro new wave of classic rock act Those Damn Crows, a band who have amassed a significant following in Wales thanks to appearances at the likes of Steelhouse Festival and other rock-oriented affairs. Possibly one of the smallest acts to perform on the main stage this year, the band spared no expense offering a fantastic wake-up call with some unremarkable if solid hard rock tunes. The day’s proceedings then continued firmly in the rocky territory with a southern, slightly heavier twang with Black Label Society, in their first festival appearance on UK soil since 2015, and with less of Zakk Wylde’s expectedly lengthy and tiresome soloing. Don’t get me wrong, Zakk was still doing his usual thing, but with a much-needed addition of percussion, making the moments of instrumental wankery much more palatable than usual.

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FESTIVAL REVIEW: Download Festival 2022 Part I


After a prolonged absence from the British metal scene courtesy of the COVID-19 pandemic (save for a scaled-back pilot event in 2021), Leicestershire’s iconic summer rock, punk, and metal weekender, Download Festival returned to Castle Donnington in a maximalist blaze of glory, packing in a full-scale 5-day experience with some familiar favorites, hotly tipped up-and-comers and some of the best international acts that rock and metal scene has to offer.

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Metallica’s First Show Ever Took Place Forty Years Ago Today!


Forty years ago today on March 14th, 1982, Metallica performed their first concert ever at Radio City club in Anaheim, California. The Los Angeles band (at the time) performed a set of mostly NWOBHM covers and a few originals. The band consisted of co-founders James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich, with Dave Mustaine and Ron McGovney. Metallica called out this anniversary on social media with some messages for the occasion, including the band’s first-ever concert by sharing an early flyer from the gig and their first-ever setlist. It cost $15 to get in and according to the post (from Lars’ diary entry of the show) 75 people attended.

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Gibson Guitars Teams with Dave Mustaine of Megadeth for the Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V™ EXP


Gibson has teamed up with their sponsored artist Dave Mustaine of Megadeth wide release of the new Dave Mustaine Collection, the Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V™ EXP. The Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V™ EXP are now available in Antique Natural and Silver Metallic finishes at select global dealers and on the Gibson.com website. Continue reading


Dave Mustaine Says The New Megadeth Album is Now Due Out This Summer


 

In a new interview with Forbes discussing the “The Metal Tour of the Year”Dave Mustaine says that Megadeth’s new album due in 2022, The Sick, The Dying And The Dead, will be released this summer and that the band will soon announce another major tour. “The Metal Tour Of The Year’ will kick off on April 9 in Las Vegas, Nevada and run through May 15 in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

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Dave Mustaine Shares a Snippet of a New Megadeth Song – “Life in Hell” on Cameo


Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine has shared a snippet of a new song – “Life in Hell” on Cameo. The song comes from Megadeth’s upcoming 16th studio album – The Sick, The Dying, and The Dead with release date as yet to be announced, but apparently due out next spring. Cameo lets users hire celebrities to record brief, personalized video messages about virtually any topic. Mustaine charges $299 for each of his Cameo videos for personal use $2,093 for a video for business use, while other artists charge anywhere from $5 – $1000s. Addressing a fan named Gabe, Dave said (as transcribed by Blabbermouth.net): “I will play you something that’s been recorded already and is special. How would you like to hear a little bit of the new album? This is song two from side one. It’s called ‘Life In Hell’.”

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CONCERT REVIEW: The Metal Tour of The Year with Megadeth – Lamb of God – Trivium and Hatebreed – Live at The Concord Pavillion


 

It had been 511 days, 16 hours, and 42 minutes, and 57 seconds since my last show, but who’s counting? I had fseen one local show, filled with riffs, crowd surfers, headbanging, booze, but mostly stress and trepidation. Still, I needed to see shows again, and see this tour in particular. The Metal Tour of The Year with Megadeth – Lamb of God – Trivium, and Hatebreed was coming and I was excited for it. Not just because this was the first major metal of this scope tour since the abyss that was the last year and a half, but because of the greatness of the bands, We are by no means out of the water with regards to the pandemic, but for a few hours we could forget about our troubles and enjoy some metal for a while.

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