Megadeth is one of the most celebrated heavy metal bands of all time, especially when it comes to thrash. It’s sad that the band is calling it quits, especially sooner than many of its contemporaries, but Megadeth want to go out on top, and they’re doing just that. Of course, they could decide to unretire at some point, like so many other bands out there, so time will tell.
While Megadeth have some great, well-known tracks, they also have some fantastic songs that don’t get enough attention. In honor, Audio Ink Radio is naming five underrated Megadeth deep cuts that need to be heard. Also check out our feature on the best thrash bands of all time.
Underrated Megadeth Songs That Totally Rock
1. “Set the World Afire” (from “So Far, So Good… So What!” – 1988)
Let’s start with a track that practically kicked off Megadeth’s post-debut identity, and yet, it rarely gets the praise it deserves. “Set the World Afire” was actually the first song Dave Mustaine wrote after being unceremoniously ousted from Metallica. Originally titled “Megadeth,” this track is a raw, venomous mission statement.
The song starts with an eerie sample of The Ink Spots’ “I Don’t Want to Set the World on Fire” and then dives into thrash chaos. The riffs are serrated, the lyrics apocalyptic, and Mustaine sounds absolutely feral. It’s not polished, not in the way later Megadeth songs would be, but it’s urgent and dangerous. In many ways, it captures the band’s early DNA better than more celebrated tracks.
If “Holy Wars” is the perfectly engineered weapon, “Set the World Afire” is the rusted, bloodied blade that somehow cuts deeper.
2. “The Disintegrators” (from “Cryptic Writings” – 1997)
When people talk about “Cryptic Writings,” they usually go straight to “Trust” or “Almost Honest.” But buried on the second half of the album is a blitzkrieg of a track that feels like it snuck in from an earlier, thrashier era.
“The Disintegrators” clocks in at just over two and a half minutes, but it rips. It’s fast, mean, and feels like it could’ve been on “Rust in Peace” if not for the late-90s production sheen. There’s zero fat here, just straight-up speed metal with Mustaine spitting venom over military-precision drumming.
It’s a reminder that even as Megadeth flirted with more radio-friendly sounds in the late 90s, they hadn’t forgotten how to kick teeth in. A mosh pit anthem hiding in plain sight.
3. “Looking Down the Cross” (from “Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good!” – 1985)
“Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good!” is one of Megadeth’s biggest moments, but not every song on there got the attention that it deserved. “Looking Down the Cross” is one of the most sophisticated tracks from Megadeth’s debut album, a record that otherwise thrives on raw aggression and DIY chaos. There’s a looming sense of dread that builds into wild solos and tight instrumental interplay. It’s almost theatrical in its intensity, like a metal opera shoved into six minutes.
Why this track isn’t mentioned in the same breath as “The Skull Beneath the Skin” or “Rattlehead” is beyond me.
4. “Burnt Ice” (from “United Abominations” – 2007)
Here’s one that rarely makes any list, underrated or otherwise. But “Burnt Ice,” the closer on 2007’s “United Abominations,” is a dark horse standout that sneaks up on you. It’s groovy, sinister, and oddly funky in places, like Megadeth’s version of a biker bar shootout.
The first two-thirds of the track are almost restrained by Megadeth standards, more hard rock than thrash. But then the solo section hits and everything erupts into chaos. It becomes this frenetic instrumental showdown where Mustaine and company cut loose with reckless abandon.
It’s also a great example of how Megadeth can flirt with non-thrash genres and still sound dangerous. There’s a swagger to “Burnt Ice” that’s less about speed and more about menace. It’s criminally overlooked, especially as a closer, and especially for an album that often gets lost in the shuffle of post-“Countdown” releases.
5. “When” (from “The World Needs a Hero” – 2001)
Let’s get this out of the way: yes, “When” borrows a little (okay, a lot) from Diamond Head’s “Am I Evil?” But imitation aside, it transforms that structure into something uniquely Megadeth.
Clocking in at over nine minutes, “When” is the longest Megadeth song to date, and it earns every second. The solos are molten, the vocals are bitter, and the lyrics drip with betrayal and revenge. It’s the sound of a man sharpening a blade, slowly, deliberately, and then going in for the kill.
It’s not a thrash song in the traditional sense, but it’s heavier than a lot of faster tracks. Think of it as Megadeth’s answer to Sabbath-style doom, filtered through 2000s paranoia.
Honorable Mentions
Because five is never really enough, here are a few more that barely missed the cut but deserve your next headbang session:
- “Ashes in Your Mouth” (brutal, technical, and a beast of a closer on “Countdown to Extinction”)
- “Millennium of the Blind” (haunting and introspective)
- “My Kingdom” (short but incredibly effective)
- “Liar” (pure venom from “So Far, So Good… So What!”)
- “Back in the Day” (cheesy? maybe. but it’s a thrash history lesson with killer riffs)
The Final Word on Megadeth
Megadeth’s catalog is a sprawling, often chaotic maze of brilliance. So next time you’re about to spin “Hangar 18” for the hundredth time, do yourself a favor. Listen to some of the deeper cuts. You might just find a new favorite in the underrated corners of Megadeth’s discography.
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