10 Greatest Megadeth Riffs
Next in our Greatest Riffs series of Loud Lists, we move on to thrash legends Megadeth and the magic hands of Dave Mustaine. It was tough, but we narrowed down Megadeth’s catalog to the band’s 10 most powerful riffs.
Unsurprisingly, you’ll see plenty of Rust in Peace cuts in this list, including the album’s title track. One Megadeth riff that’s completely undeniable is Rust in Peace’s opening track, “Holy Wars… the Punishment Due.” The riff’s simplicity and rapid-fire delivery sets the perfect mood for Megadeth’s signature album, paving the way for more incredible licks like “Hangar 18” and “Five Magics.”
Megadeth’s debut album, Killing is My Business… and Business is Good!, features some killer riffs as well, including the finale “Mechanix,” but it’s the title track that made the cut here. “Killing is My Business” spotlights one of Megadeth’s more unconventional leads, sticking with a bluesy formula that sounds almost like proto-deth when listening back today. Nevertheless, it’s a kick-ass riff that enjoys a high spot on this list.
Anyone else think “Angry Again” is a criminally underrated Megadeth song? The song actually didn’t appear on any Megadeth full-length, instead being featured on the Last Action Hero soundtrack. “Angry Again” was nominated for a 1993 Grammy Award and eventually appeared on Megadeth’s 1995 Hidden Treasures EP.
Check out our picks for the 10 Greatest Megadeth Riffs in the video above!
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