Megadeth, Th1rt3en, and Gigantour- Oh My!

I wouldn’t go so far as to say that Megadeth’s last album, Endgame, was their best work, or even a particularly great album, but I really did enjoy it. So with the news that they would be releasing their thirteenth, aptly and annoyingly titled Th1rt3en, I’ve allowed myself to pussyfoot around being excited about it. All the press and statements from the band thus far have dodged the question of what it will sound like in favor of the typical new album posturing, but assuming Megadeth doesn’t take a hard left into electronica, nu-metal territory (I’m looking at you Morbid Angel) or go down the same road they did on Cryptic Writings, Th1rt3en should be alright. 

What do you think?

At any rate, Th1rt3en has been given an official release date, no word on cover art yet, so I’ll turn it over to an official press release from Roadrunner Records for that information and some more of that posturing I was talking about: 

New York, NY:  MEGADETH, easily one of the most recognized and culturally significant names in hard rock music for the past three decades, are pleased to announce the forthcoming release of their thirteenth album, titled TH1RT3EN. The album will be released November 1, 2011 via Roadrunner Records. TH1RT3EN follows up 2009's Endgame, which was one of the most celebrated albums of the pioneering band's storied career. Anticipation is high and fans are anxious for a taste of new music from the legends, who have sold over 25 million albums globally throughout the course of their career, and they will get it imminently.

DAVE MUSTAINE is incredibly proud of the music put forth on the new recording, saying, "This record is the culmination of my work over the 13 records I recorded. There are moments on TH1RT3EN that capture my every emotion, and other moments where I am releasing feelings I never knew existed!  My proudest moments of my musical career are captured on TH1RT3EN.” 

TH1RT3EN also marks the recorded return of bassist Dave Ellefson who was part of the band's classic lineup from 1983 to 2002. In a move that delighted the band's legion of diehards, Ellefson returned to performing live with Megadeth in early 2010 and has remained a fixture on the stage ever since. This is the first time Ellefson has played on a Megadeth record since 2002's Rude Awakening.

The title has several levels of meaning, which leader and guitar deity DAVE MUSTAINE, who first picked up an axe at the age of 13, revealed in a recent chat with RollingStone.com, saying, "I was born on September 13th; this is my thirteenth record. It just seemed like it was the right thing to do to call it TH1RT3EN."

The band is spending its summer dominating and decimating the main stage of the fourth annual Rock Star Energy Drink Mayhem Festival alongside Godsmack and Disturbed. The band will cap off a busy and headline-making summer by performing as part of "The Big 4" once again, this time in New York at Yankee Stadium alongside Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax. The only previous "Big 4" show in the U.S. took place in April in Southern California.

The band also recorded an original track, "Never Dead," specifically for the NeverDead action-adventure video game franchise. "Never Dead" will appear on TH1RT3EN. Additionally, "Sudden Death" was recorded for Guitar Hero: Warriors Of Rock and will appear on the album.

In other news, Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine recently told KISW 99.9 FM, a Seattle-area radio station, that in 2012 fans can expect to see a return of the renowned Gigantour featuring Megadeth, presumably in support of Th1rt3en, and assorted other acts being booked now.

More on that later.