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)
How the Story Ends
Megadeth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But rest assured they're out there and they're coming
If you listen, the sound is growing nearer of infantry
Marching out a hypnotizing rhythm
Destroying every town, light it up and burn it down
You may not like it now, but this is how the story ends
A sign to all the warriors who cannot hear
Amidst smoke of cannonballs, they bang the drums of death
Pound a cadence out for those who cannot see
Destroying every town, light it up and burn it down
You may not like it now, but this is how the story ends
Poison the wells and scorch the earth, everything's slashed and burnt
You may not like it now, but this is how the story ends
Destroying every town, light it up and burn it down
You may not like it now, but this is how the story ends
Poison the wells and scorch the earth, everything's slashed and burnt
You may not like it now, but this is how the story ends
The lyrics of Megadeth's song "How The Story Ends" describe a scene of impending war and destruction. The first stanza sets the stage by describing the approach of an army, with their torches visible on the horizon and the sound of their march growing ever nearer. This is followed by a depiction of the violence that they bring with them, "destroying every town, light it up and burn it down." The refrain is a warning that though the listener may not like what they hear, this is how the story ends.
The second stanza provides further detail on the war-like imagery. The sound of "clashing steel" and "cannonballs" fills the air as flags are raised and drums beaten. This is a call to arms for warriors who are unable to see or hear the battle. The refrain is repeated, emphasizing the inevitability of the destruction: "poison the wells and scorch the earth, everything's slashed and burnt."
The song can be interpreted as a warning against the horrors of war and the destruction that it brings. The repetition of the refrain suggests a fatalistic view that this is simply the way things are, and that war cannot be avoided. The hypnotic rhythm of the marching army, described in the first stanza, reinforces this sense of inevitability.
Line by Line Meaning
Far off on the horizon you can barely see their torches
In the distance, the enemy is approaching with only their flickering torches visible
But rest assured they're out there and they're coming
Despite the distance, the enemy is definitely on their way
If you listen, the sound is growing nearer of infantry
The footsteps of the enemy soldiers are getting closer, becoming louder
Marching out a hypnotizing rhythm
Their footsteps create a rhythmic pattern, which has a mesmerizing effect
Destroying every town, light it up and burn it down
The enemy is ruthless, destroying every town and setting it on fire
You may not like it now, but this is how the story ends
The outcome may not be favorable, but it is inevitable
Above the ring of clashing steel, they raise flags of war
During battle, the enemy hoists their flags high for all to see
A sign to all the warriors who cannot hear
The flags are a warning to the ignorant soldiers who are unaware of the impending danger
Amidst smoke of cannonballs, they bang the drums of death
In the chaos of war, the enemy beats the drums of death amid smoke from cannon fire
Pound a cadence out for those who cannot see
The drums provide a beat for the soldiers who cannot see what is happening around them
Poison the wells and scorch the earth, everything's slashed and burnt
The enemy is willing to use any means necessary, including poisoning wells and leaving a trail of destruction
You may not like it now, but this is how the story ends
Despite how unpleasant the situation may be, it is the inevitable conclusion
Destroying every town, light it up and burn it down
The enemy is persistently destroying and burning down every town
You may not like it now, but this is how the story ends
The ending may not be favorable, but it is the inescapable fate
Poison the wells and scorch the earth, everything's slashed and burnt
The enemy is leaving a trail of destruction everywhere they go, destroying everything in their path
You may not like it now, but this is how the story ends
The conclusion may not be welcomed, but it is the only possible outcome
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVE MUSTAINE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
H. E. M.
This is Megadeths best sounding album. The tone is fucking heavy, bass is nice and audible, and drums sound great (if only drover was good live). Dystopia doesn’t even sound this crisp. Also best solo on the album.
Kurt Wagner
Definitely! Producer Andy Sneap is a legend.
Stewart Williams
YES! finally..absolutely. It is the best sounding album, the tones are off the chain. Right on
ErikGaming
"Destroying every town, light it up and burn it down You may not like it now, but this is how the story ends Poison the well and scortch the earth, everything slashed and buurned, you may not like it now, but this is how the story ends!" Its just simply Badass
Jesse Medel
Be prepared bro 💪🤘🗡🏹🛡💣🔫
Illlium
Dude, these lyrics are mental in general, it's a shame it's like half-finished
Lord Hades
Sounds like the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in a nutshell
米鸭酱
The most memorable solo that Broderick played in Megadeth.
Đức Thịnh Mai
Machine solo
Đức Thịnh Mai
Insane solo