Dave Mustaine was an early member of the band Metallica, and helped pen tracks that wound up on their first two albums. In 1983, Mustaine was let go from the group by Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield due to personal conflicts and substance abuse. He would be replaced by Kirk Hammett, guitarist for the Bay Area thrash band Exodus, who remains with the band to this day. Dave felt slighted and vowed to make his own band, which would be even faster and heavier than Metallica. Mustaine picked the name "Megadeth" from a pamphlet by California senator Alan Cranston that read: "The arsenal of megadeath can't be rid no matter what the peace treaties come to."
In 1985, Megadeth released their debut album, Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!, on the independent record label Combat Records, to moderate success. It caught the attention of bigger labels, which led to Megadeth signing with Capitol Records. Their first major-label album, Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?, was released in 1986 and was a major hit with the underground metal scene. Band members' substance abuse issues and personal disputes had brought Megadeth negative publicity during the late 1980s. Nonetheless, the band went on to release a number of platinum-selling albums, including So Far, So Good... So What! (1988), Rust in Peace (1990), and Countdown to Extinction (1992). These albums, along with worldwide tours, brought them public recognition.
Megadeth has had numerous guitarists, drummers and bassists throughout its 39-year career, with Mustaine being the only remaining original member of the group. The band temporarily disbanded in 2002 when Mustaine suffered an arm injury and re-established in 2004 without longtime bassist David Ellefson, who had taken legal action against him. Ellefson settled out of court and rejoined the band in 2010, but was fired in 2021 amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Megadeth's current lineup includes Mustaine, bassist James LoMenzo, guitarist Kiko Loureiro and drummer Dirk Verbeuren.
Megadeth earned platinum certifications in the United States for six of its sixteen studio albums, and has received twelve Grammy nominations. Megadeth won its first Grammy Award in 2017 for the song "Dystopia" in the Best Metal Performance category. The band's mascot, Vic Rattlehead, regularly appears on album artwork and live shows. Megadeth has hosted its own music festival, Gigantour, several times since July 2005, and held its first MegaCruise in October 2019.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megadeth
Studio albums
Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! (1985)
Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? (1986)
So Far, So Good... So What! (1988)
Rust in Peace (1990)
Countdown to Extinction (1992)
Youthanasia (1994)
Cryptic Writings (1997)
Risk (1999)
The World Needs a Hero (2001)
The System Has Failed (2004)
United Abominations (2007)
Endgame (2009)
Thirteen (2011)
Super Collider (2013)
Dystopia (2016)
The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead! (2022)
Conjuring
Megadeth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Feel at home in our black conventicle
As we anathmastise
All those who oppose us.
Don't summon the devil,
Don't call the priests
If you need the strength,
The conjuring, obey!
From the compass' cardinal points
Burn the sacred oil,
And with the ashes you'll annoint
Arrange the symbols
Of the wizard and magician.
Light the candles,
Place the parchment paper in position
Between its leaves place
The lash from a black cat's eye,
A straw of a broom,
Fold, burn and centralize.
Don't summon the devil,
Don't call the priests
If you need the strength,
The conjuring.
I am the devil's advocate
A salesman, if you will.
You know my name.
I met your father years ago
Gave him what he'd please.
He called my name, you'll do the same.
I'm claiming what is mine by right
It's time to close the deal.
You're bought and sold, bought and sold.
Come join me in my infernal depths,
Mephisto's Hall of Fame
I've got your soul, I've got your soul.
The conjuring. Obey!
The lyrics to Megadeth's song "The Conjuring" describe an imaginary cult worshiping the devil and performing a conjuring ritual to gain strength and power. The singer welcomes others to join in their "sanguinary sect or worship" and feel at home in their "black conventicle." The lyrics instruct the listener on how to perform the ritual, including burning sacred oil, arranging symbols, lighting candles, placing parchment paper, and burning and centralizing the lash from a black cat's eye and straw from a broom. The chorus repeatedly urges the listener not to summon the devil or call the priests for help, but instead to obey the conjuring for strength and empowerment.
The final verses of the song switch perspectives and feature a speaker who identifies themselves as the devil's advocate and a salesman. This speaker claims to have met the listener's father in the past and given him what he wanted, suggesting that the listener is also owed to the devil based on some past agreement. The song concludes with the singer urging the listener to join them in the "infernal depths" and asserting that they have already claimed the listener's soul.
Overall, the lyrics of "The Conjuring" seem to be a celebration and warning both of the power and danger that can come with aligning oneself with dark, supernatural forces. Through vivid imagery and an evocative musical performance, Megadeth creates a memorable and unsettling impression of a world where occult knowledge and rituals hold the power of life and death.
Line by Line Meaning
Welcome to our sanguinary sect or worship
We invite you to our bloody religious group
Feel at home in our black conventicle
Be comfortable in our dark gathering
As we anathematise all those who oppose us
We'll curse anyone who disagrees with us
Don't summon the devil, Don't call the priests
Ignore spiritual extremes, try our method instead
If you need the strength, The conjuring, obey!
Trust in our ritual if you desire power
Behold! the flames rise From the compass' cardinal points
Watch as fire appears in all directions
Burn the sacred oil, And with the ashes you'll anoint
Use this oil as a blessing, rubbing its remnants on yourself
Arrange the symbols Of the wizard and magician
Organize the sigils of the skilled sorcerer
Light the candles, Place the parchment paper in position
Illuminate with candles, position the parchment
Between its leaves place The lash from a black cat's eye,
Inside, put a whip made of a dark cat's gaze
A straw of a broom,
A broom straw will do
Fold, burn and centralize.
Fold it, burn it, and focus on this
I am the devil's advocate
I speak for Satan
A salesman, if you will.
Think of me as a merchant
You know my name.
You're familiar with me
I met your father years ago Gave him what he'd please.
I offered your dad whatever he wanted long ago
He called my name, you'll do the same.
He called my name, and now so will you
I'm claiming what is mine by right
I'm taking what's mine
It's time to close the deal.
It's time to make an agreement
You're bought and sold, bought and sold.
You're mine, I've got you
Come join me in my infernal depths, Mephisto's Hall of Fame
Join me in hell
I've got your soul, I've got your soul.
I own your soul
The conjuring. Obey!
Perform the ritual, listen to me!
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVE MUSTAINE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind