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“I’ve always listened to the suggestions of the people I work with. It doesn’t mean I do what they say, but I listen”: How Symphony Of Destruction turned Megadeth from tech-thrashers to Platinum-selling sensation
A new feature revisits how Megadeth's 1992 single Symphony Of Destruction helped transform the band from a technically-minded thrash act into platinum-selling mainstream rock stars. The piece traces the song's origins to late 1991, shortly after the band's Rust In Peace album earned them a third Gold record, when their record label pushed frontman Dave Mustaine for additional, stronger material ahead of recording their next record.
According to the article, Mustaine and then-bassist David Ellefson were told the label wanted more, better and longer songs before sessions began with producer Max Norman (known for his work with Ozzy Osbourne and Death Angel), scheduled for shortly after New Year's Day. In response, Mustaine wrote the riff that became Symphony Of Destruction, which the piece ranks alongside Metallica's Enter Sandman and Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit as one of the most iconic heavy riffs of the 1990s. Mustaine is also quoted reflecting on his collaborative approach, saying he has "always listened to the suggestions of the people I work with" even if he doesn't always act on them.
In short
- Megadeth's label pushed for stronger songs before their fifth album
- Dave Mustaine then wrote the riff for Symphony Of Destruction
- Song is ranked among the era's most iconic heavy riffs
Explained simply
Megadeth are a heavy metal band formed in the late 1980s by frontman Dave Mustaine, known for their technical skill and complex musical arrangements. By the early 1990s, they had built a dedicated following and achieved some commercial success, but they remained largely confined to the metal audience rather than reaching mainstream radio listeners.
In late 1991, their record label wanted the band to pursue more commercially appealing material to reach a wider audience. The label asked Mustaine and bassist David Ellefson to write longer, stronger songs before recording began with producer Max Norman in early 1992.
In response, Mustaine wrote Symphony Of Destruction, a song that combined the band's musical complexity with a more accessible sound. The song became one of the defining rock hits of the 1990s and helped transform Megadeth from a cult favourite into a platinum-selling mainstream success.