Killing Is My Business...

Killing Is My Business... is the debut on which Megadeth, centered on Dave Mustaine’s sharply twisted riff sense, inscribes a rough early drive rawly. The extraordinary fighting spirit of Mustaine, who had left Metallica, fills the whole. Within the roughness of the sound, Chris Poland’s flowing guitar and David Ellefson’s bass create intricate, technical movement. From the speed of “Rattlehead,” following the opening instrumental overture, and the complex “Looking Down the Cross” to the title track “Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!,” the songs hold speed and irony, technique and chaos at once. “Mechanix” is also known as a fateful song Metallica would later release in another form. “The Skull Beneath the Skin” and “Chosen Ones” are sharp too. Precisely because of its rough, not-over-polished texture, the earnest, aggressive energy at Megadeth’s starting point comes through vividly. Despite a low-budget recording, the skill of the players, who also have a jazz background, is already no ordinary thing. Announcing the arrival of a new thrash-metal talent, it is a rough but important debut.