Countdown to Extinction is the fifth studio album by thrash metal band Megadeth, released on July 14, 1992 by Capitol Records.
It was the group’s second studio release to feature the “classic” lineup of Dave Mustaine, Marty Friedman, David Ellefson and Nick Menza. All four of them contributing to the songwriting.
The album features some of the band’s biggest and best-known songs such as “Symphony of Destruction,” “Sweating Bullets,” and “Skin o’ My Teeth,” which enjoyed significant chart success and exposure on MTV.
Countdown to Extinction
Countdown to Extinction was a critical and commercial success. It reached number 2 on the Billboard 200 chart in the US, selling well over 2 million copies worldwide. It was certified 2x Platinum by the RIAA.
Critics praised the album for its more accessible sound, which helped Megadeth reach a wider, mainstream audience. However, some fans of the band’s earlier, more aggressive material called the album polished.
In addition to Dave Mustaine, Countdown to Extinction was produced by Max Norman.
The album’s sound was a departure from Megadeth’s earlier work, with a greater emphasis on melody and groove. The lyrics on the album deal with a variety of topics, including war, environmentalism, and social injustice.
Megadeath also supported it with a successful world tour, which included a performance at the Monsters of Rock festival in Moscow.
Countdown to Extinction helped to establish Megadeth as one of the most popular and influential metal bands in the world. Many consider it one of the greatest thrash metal albums of all time.
In 2012, in recognition of the album’s 20th anniversary, Megadeth released a special, deluxe edition of the album that included a full, live concert at the Cow Palace in Daly City, California from December 4, 1992. A 180-gram 2LP vinyl version was also released as part of the 20th anniversary of the album.
Megadeth is currently out on the road on their “Crush The World” tour with Biohazard.
They have stops at Hollywood Casino in Grantville, PA on September 15th and at the Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena in Atlantic City on September 17.
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