In this article, we shall talk about why is Metallica better than Megadeth. This is merely an opinion. Among others, these may be the top bands of the early 80’s that popularized what we call then as thrash metal.
Nonetheless, what comes to our mind when we speak of heavy metal, heavy rock metal genre? We think of Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, and Slayer. We will delve to the popularity of Metallica and Megadeth, as the two bands have a common ground, who is Dave Mustaine.
Why is Metallica better than Megadeth?
Metallica was formed in 1981 in Los Angeles when Lars Ulrich had an advertisement which read “Drummer looking for other metal musicians to jam with Tygers of Pan Tang, Diamond Head and Iron Maiden.” After the advertisement was posted, several replies came, such as from guitarist James Hetfield, Hugh Tanner, and Dave Mustaine.
Ulrich asked Brian Slager to record a song which he accepted. In 1982, the band recorded its first single, “Hit the Lights,” and when they went on to live performance on March 14, 1982, in California, it became a success.
Megadeth, on the other hand, was formed when Dave Mustaine, the lead guitarist, was fired from Metallica because of personal conflicts with James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich, as well as due to substance abuses.
Mustaine thought of forming Megadeth, a way faster and heavier than Metallica, as a revenge. The band’s name “Megadeth” formed when Mustaine read a pamphlet by Senator Alan Cranston of California, which reads: “The arsenal of megadeath can’t be rid no matter what the peace treaties come to.”((Mustaine, a heavy metal memoir 2011, p.87)) With the word “Megadeath” stuck in his mind, Mustaine re-spelled it to Megadeth
In the above discussion, we may conclude that Metallica is way better than Megadeth considering that Megadeth was a form of revenge to Metallica by Mustaine who was kicked-out from the group.
Also, Metallica is the most popular metal band globally and they did it without Mustaine. Metallica’s core are still united at this time, proving their timeless union.
How do you describe Metallica music?
Heavy Metal, thrash metal, hard rock, and speed metal – these are the genres that described the music of Metallica. Heavy metal is a musical genre that is a development of thick and massive sound. It is characterized by loudness, empathic beats and distortion, bass tone predominating.
Thrash metal on the other hand is a sub-genre of heavy metal which is characterized by its very fast tempo and aggression. Thrash metal songs usually has its fast percussive beats and low-registered guitar riffs.
Hard rock is a sub-genre of heavy metal as well, which has a heavy usage of aggressive vocals and distorted guitars (electronic and bass), and drums. Lastly, speed metal is an extreme sub- genre of heavy metal which was described with “hardcore punk, extremely fast, abrasive and technically demanding music.”((Speed/Thrash Metal))
How do you compare Megadeth with Metallica music?
In metal music, there are these known to be the “big four” and is considered as the most influential metal bands, namely: Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax.
As we compare Megadeth with Metallica, it is of common knowledge that Megadeth’s Mustain was an offspring of Metallica. The battle for the crown of most popular heavy thrash metal has been fought by these two bands.
It is undisputed that Metallica is globally popular. It is the most common symbol of heavy metal music and the icon of headbanging. Metallica has their great sound, and because of this, listeners around the globe easily tend to listen into it owing to its solid variety.
Its guitarists, Hetfield and Hammet, are the inspiration of every heavy guitarist in the industry. Metallica’s music is the standard of heavy metal music, as it was the first and considered as the most successful heavy metal band.
Compared to Megadeth, Mustaine’s compositions were heavier and faster than those of Metallica’s. Moreover, Megadeth absolutely intends pun in their music, as they usually write risky and cryptic lyrics.
Why is Metallica more successful than Megadeth?
Metallica simply made an effort to make their heavy metal music more and incredibly accessible to every listener especially during the 90s. Their music is so mainstream, which transcends from garage to thrash, heavy, then mainstream metal. Obviously, Metallica has sold over 100 million records, making the ratio against Megadeth’s to 2:1.
Furthermore, Metallica has the greater live performances and they have dominated globally with their tours, as compared to Megadeth. For instance, the “World Magnetic Tour,” was toured across the globe and has the revenue of $215 million dollars.
Because Metallica is the ultimate ancestor, as it gave birth to its own superstar, including Megadeth. The combination of the sales of records plus influence in the metal music brings Metallica on top as it was dubbed as the “Led Zeppelin of their generation.”
Why did Jason Newstead leave Metallica?
James Newstead has been a member of the band for over 14 years. Yet, on January 17, 2001, Newstead finally decided to leave Metallica. In a Joint Statement issued by Metallica and Newstead, the latter confirmed that the reason why he left Metallica was due to “private and personal reasons”.
The physical pressure and rigors of the band’s global tour schedule were controlling factors in making his decision to leave the band. He added that it was the most difficult decision of his life, and the same was made in the best interest of himself, his family, and for the continued growth of Metallica.
However, despite Newstead’s departure from Metallica, he remained close with the other band members, and he was reunited with Metallica on April 4, 2009 during its induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame appearing along with his former bandmates.
Is AC/DC bigger than Metallica, or the other way around?
While Metallica was formed in 1981 in Los Angeles, AC/DC is an Australian rock band created in 1973. While the two may have an 8-year gap from, it is undisputed that Metallica is bigger than AC/DC in terms of ticket sales and revenues making it the biggest metal band across the globe.
Widely acclaimed as the pioneer in heavy metal music world, their refined style of heavy metal sounds may may have continued to endure every generation of musicians and music fans since 1981 or after 38 years from the time they were formed.
They continue to dominate global tours, jampack arenas and stadiums and setting records as regards world tour, it really shows how big Metallica is, in terms of revenue but as well as to influence.
In a Pollstar article,((Tour and Destroy: The Case for Metallica As the World’s Biggest Touring Act, August 17, 2019)) Metallica was named as the “biggest all-time touring band,” as Metallica sold nearly “22.1 million total tickets and grossed some $1.4 billion since 1982, dwarfing huge rock bands of the era including AC/DC (14.3 million tickets) and Ozzy Osbourne (10 million, 13.2 if counting Ozzy plus Black Sabbath).”
In the said article, Metallica has secured its spot as one of the biggest bands worldwide and is still growing. It is undisputed, Metallica has conquered and dominated the world of heavy metal music. The group’s music, even until now, can captivate new listeners, more so the die hard ones.
Why did Metallica ditch Dave Mustaine?
Dave Mustaine became one of the pioneers and founders of Metallica, after he responded to Lars Ulrich’s advertisement. The advertisement was about a “Drummer looking for other metal musicians to jam with Tygers of Pan Tang, Diamond Head, and Iron Maiden.”
However, in 1983, due to Mustaine’s excessive drinking, drugs abuse, and aggressive behaviour when he is under influence of either alcohol or drugs, Metallica finally decided to fire him.
Moreover, Mustaine had a personal conflict as well between his co-band members Hetfield and Ulrich. When the band decided to fire him, Mustaine recalled packing up his gears, put him on a four-day bus from New York en route to Los Angeles as he was told he will not be flying. He recalled it as his longest ride.
What is the best ever song of Metallica?
Music can be subjective. Some of us may not listen to heavy metal music. Some of us prefer to listen to classical music or to country ones. It is totally understandable as heavy metal music has its distorted bass guitar and drumbeats, making it uneasy and uncomfortable to some people to lend their ears to it.
However, there are fans who took polls and enumerated the top 10 music of heavy metal band, Metallica. The author gives credit to a poll which listed the top 10 best Metallica songs. According to Rolling Stone Reader’s Poll,((Readers’ Poll: The 10 Best Metallica Songs)) which was published on May 14, 2014, these are the top 10 Best Metallica Songs:
On the tenth spot is “Seek and Destroy,” followed at ninth by “Battery,” then on the eighth is “Welcome Home,” “Blackened” being the seventh, “For Whom The Bell Toll,” being the sixth, “Creeping Death” on the fifth spot, fourth would be “Orion,” “Fade to Black” the third, “Master of Puppets” is the second, and “One” is the best. In the said article, many
Metallica Fans said that “One” was their first exposure to the band and this song has been a “been a key moment in their live show ever since.” This sounds great influence, if not fanaticism.
Conclusion
When Metalica was founded in 1981, it set the standard of heavy metal music across the globe. Indisputably, Megadeth was born out of it when Dave Mustaine was fired from Metallica. Mustaine vowed to make revenge by making heavier and faster music of Megadeth from that of Metallica.
However, Metallica stood strong and became the world’s biggest metal band. With its stature and revenue, Metallica really had secured its spot in global fame and its music, as its legacy, cannot be easily erased and it will always continue to linger on as time goes by.