Megadeth To Release Countdown To Extinction 20th Anniversary Edition

Megadeth leader Dave Mustaine has personally overseen a new 20th-anniversary edition of the band's most popular album, 1992's double platinum-certified "Countdown To Extinction", which will be released on November 6.

Presented in a 2CD lift-top box and digitally, "Countdown To Extinction"'s new commemorative edition pairs the remastered original album with a 1992 concert, recorded live at San Francisco's Cow Palace, which has never before been released in its entirety. The concert audio has been newly remixed for this release. The physical and digital versions both include a booklet with a new liner notes essay by music journalist Kory Grow, and the 2CD box also contains a 24" x 36" poster and four collectible postcards.

Megadeth’s fifth album, "Countdown To Extinction" was recorded in Los Angeles in 1992 as rioting raged across the city in response to the Rodney King trial verdicts. American tensions weren't limited to L.A., by any means, as the "Gulf War" was still fresh in people's minds, the state of the environment was becoming headline news, and President George H.W. Bush was seeking reelection in a heated campaign season.

Out of this turmoil, Megadeth was inspired to create "Countdown To Extinction", considered by many to be the band's best and most accessible album. The group's previous albums, including "So Far, So Good...So What!" and "Rust In Peace", included songs that tackled topics like censorship and religious bloodletting in the Middle East. But none were as polemical as the sonic missiles launched by "Countdown".

Megadeth laced the songs with acid-tongued commentary about subjects ranging from the futility of war ("Architecture Of Aggression") to the senseless brutality of caged hunting ("Countdown To Extinction"). "Foreclosure Of A Dream" sampled George Bush's infamous "Read My Lips" speech, making a statement about taxation endangering the American Dream.

Thanks to a perfect balance of hard-rock song structures, epic choruses, and fleet-fingered guitar work, "Countdown To Extinction" became an instant classic, benefiting from copious MTV and radio play.

The album shot to No. 2 on the Billboard chart (it may have hit No. 1, if not for Billy Ray Cyrus' long chart-topping reign with "Some Gave All"), and it was certified double platinum in the U.S. within two years, with sales of more than two million copies.

Megadeth will perform the acclaimed album in its entirety on their "Countdown To Extinction 20th Anniversary Tour" this November and December – see tour dates below.

Megadeth
"Countdown To Extinction - 20th Anniversary Edition"
Release date: November 6

CD 1

01. Skin O' My Teeth
02. Symphony Of Destruction
03. Architecture Of Aggression
04. Foreclosure Of A Dream
05. Sweating Bullets
06. This Was My Life
07. Countdown To Extinction
08. High Speed Dirt
09. Psychotron
10. Captive Honour
11. Ashes In Your Mouth

CD 2 – Live At Cow Palace, 1992

01. Intro
02. Holy Wars…The Punishment Due
03. Skin O' My Teeth
04. Wake Up Dead
05. Hangar 18
06. Countdown To Extinction
07. Foreclosure Of A Dream
08. This Was My Life
09. Lucretia
10. Sweating Bullets
11. In My Darkest Hour
12. The Conjuring
13. Tornado
14. Ashes In Your Mouth
15. Symphony Of Destruction
16. Peace Sells
17. Anarchy In the UK

Megadeth
Countdown To Extinction 20th Anniversary Tour

11/09 - Providence, RI - Lupo's at the Strand
11/10 - Huntington, NY - Paramount Theatre
11/11 - Worcester, MA - The Palladium
11/13 - Wallingford, CT - Oakdale Theatre
11/14 - Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom
11/16 - Atlantic City, NJ - House Of Blues
11/17 - Niagara Falls, NY - Rapids Theatre
11/19 - Stroudsburg, PA - Sherman Theater
11/20 - Columbus, OH - LC Pavilion
11/24 - Myrtle Beach, SC - House Of Blues
11/25 - Charlotte, NC - Fillmore
11/26 - Atlanta, GA - The Tabernacle
11/28 - Kansas City, MO - Midland Theatre
12/01 - Salt Lake City, UT - Great Saltair
12/02 - Boise, ID - Knitting Factory
12/04 - Reno, NV - Grand Sierra Theatre
12/06 - Las Vegas, NV - House Of Blues
12/07 - Pomona, CA - Fox Theatre

Thanks to Hennemusic for the report.

Comments

[sciacallo010]

I just preordered it from play.com for just 10€!

[Spartan101400]

So we get a 25th for Peace Sells and a 20th for Countdown, but no special release of Rust in Peace?

[502Megadeth1320]

They did, it was "Rust in Peace 20th Anniversary Tour Live" back in '10 when they played RIP songs all on the tour...

[Spartan101400]

What I mean was a remastered album, we get remasters for Countdown and Peace Sells, but...nothing for RiP :/

[502Megadeth1320]

We all know the originals are the best tho.

[Camron62\m/]

every album before the world needs a hero was remastered by Dave in 2004

[Maiden95]

I was so excited to see them touring the States for Countdown. But then.. no Michigan date.

[GageGuitar245]

my thoughts exactly!

[barbquebutt]

I don't think I would have ever said Countdown was their most popular. I would have given that title to Rust in Peace or Peace Sells.

[Megadethfan245]

Rust in Peace is usually regarded as their best album by many, but as far as sales go and the average people knowing songs from the album that definitely goes to Countdown

[RJ13]

So how many more years is it until a bloody world tour? Come to New Zealand already

[milanio]

What?! It's only £7 on Play.com. If it's not wrong I'm in for a deal

[milanio]

Btw I'm not a bot from play or anything, just everywhere else is selling it for over 20 quid!

[mauigreen]

i was at that show!!!! fricken awesome!!!!

[jetfuel495]

>special occasion
>ANOTHER remaster of this album

[DaniArrow]

Including letters about politics, weapons and gays - handwritten by Dave Mustaine!

[red_hot_chili18]

JUST seen your comment hahaha

[red_hot_chili18]

Hopefully this will have some free political advice from the one and only Dave Mustaine included.

[milosppf]

Remaster of the original LP or the remaster of the remixed version?