Megadeth leader Dave Mustaine is sharing an update on the progress of the band’s 15th album, which features new guitarist Kiko Loureiro and guest drummer Chris Adler from Lamb Of God.
“We have 15 tracks — 13 originals and two cover songs,” Mustaine tells Rolling Stone. "We did ‘Melt the Ice Away’ by Budgie and ‘Foreign Policy’ by Fear. At this point, the drums are all done and Chris is back home.
“Kiko finished all his rhythms and he's now doing solos. He's an amazing musician, very well-rounded. He did a lot of acoustic stuff, both steel-string and nylon-string, and he played a little piano at the end of a song called ‘Poisonous Shadows.’ It's a really haunting piece, and the part that he played is very Chopin-meets-Megadeth, if that makes sense.”
Mustaine also revealed a few song titles, as well, for the follow-up to 2013’s “Super Collider.”
“There's a song called ‘The Emperor Has No Clothes,’ and another called ‘Tyranocide’,” he says. “Several have working titles but I don't want to say what they are. After we write the lyrics they'll come."
Megadeth’s storied past also seems to have also crept into the vibe of the project, according to Mustaine.
“Over the years we've always said, ‘We're going back to our roots’,” he explains. “But the naysayers, they just want ‘Rust In Peace’ 20 times, which is never gonna happen. Because I've never written the same song twice.
“Unlike a lot of other rock and metal bands that, you know, they rely on a set formula, I try and make the songs all different. The funny thing, though, was that when Ellefson was doing the bass tracks I was telling him, ‘This is the 'Tornado' ['Tornado of Souls'] part,’ ‘This is the 'Bad Omen' part,’ ‘This is the 'Black Friday' part,’ ‘This is the 'Holy Wars' part.’ Because a lot of the things were in that kind of vein.
“Now, is it going back in time? Hell, I don't know. But I like what I'm hearing.”
The guitarist adds that Megadeth are still hoping to release the project before the end of the year.
Mustaine and company have been sharing photo and video updates for fans from the studio, as well.
See also:
Megadeth share photos from the recording studio
Former Megadeth drummer accuses Dave Mustaine of ripping him off
Megadeth issue first photo of new studio lineup
Dave Mustaine raves about new Megadeth guitarist
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