Megadeth Announces Restored 'Killing Is My Business...and Business Is Good - The Final Kill'

From my inbox, for the Megadeth fans:

Hailed as “The Best Thrash Metal Debut Album All Time” (VH1), legendary thrash metal trailblazers MEGADETH will continue to celebrate the band’s 35th Anniversary with a deluxe re-issue of their revolutionary debut album, “Killing Is My Business…and Business Is Good!”.  The band have partnered with Century Media and Legacy Recordings for a June 8, 2018 release in North America & Europe, and in Japan on June 6, 2018 via Sony Japan.

“Killing Is My Business...and Business Is Good - The Final Kill” has been completely restored to DAVE MUSTAINE’s intended vision. Remixed by veteran metal mixer, Mark Lewis (Trivium, Death Angel, Devildriver, Whitechapel) and re-mastered by Ted Jensen for an optimal listening experience, the 2018 version reveals previously unheard parts and performances throughout the record, including a missing drum performance found during the mixing sessions. This rare gem includes the full original album, along with 7 live audio tracks from VHS tapes found in MUSTAINE’s own attic!

In addition to the bonus live tracks, the re-issue also features MEGADETH’s 1984 3-track demo and the previously removed cover of “These Boots”, that has been added back to the record with recut vocals true to Lee Hazelwood’s version.

 A complete track listing is as follows:

“Killing Is My Business...and Business Is Good - The Final Kill”

1. Last Rites / Loved to Deth (Remastered)   

2. Killing Is My Business...And Business Is Good! (Remastered)   

3. The Skull Beneath the Skin (Remastered)   

4. Rattlehead (Remastered)

5. Chosen Ones (Remastered)   

6. Looking Down the Cross (Remastered)   

7. Mechanix (Remastered)   

8. These Boots (Remastered)   

9. Last Rites / Loved to Deth (live) (1987 London, UK) 

10. Killing Is My Business...And Business Is Good! (live) (1986 Denver, CO)   

11. The Skull Beneath the Skin (live) (1990 London, UK)   

12. Rattlehead (live) (1987 Bochum, Germany) 

13. Chosen Ones (live) (1986 Denver, CO)   

14. Looking Down the Cross (live) (1986 Denver, CO)   

15. Mechanix (live) (1986 Denver, CO)  

16. Last Rites / Loved to Deth (demo) (Remastered)    

17. The Skull Beneath the Skin (demo) (Remastered)   

18. Mechanix (demo) (Remastered)   

The re-issue is further enhanced by new album cover artwork, as seen showcased above, featuring a fully executed sculpture of the iconic skull that has been lost over the many years since the album’s initial release. The packaging also includes classic flyers and band photos pulled from their archive of timeless metal moments from MEGADETH’s storied 35-year history. 

‘The Final Kill’ is the complete vision of main man, MUSTAINE, who commented stating, “I am just as much amazed at the music we made as I am at the pure fact that we survived it all!” 

MUSTAINE further delves into the struggles during that time period as well as some of the surprising moments during the remixing sessions throughout the re-issue’s liner notes.

“Killing Is My Business...and Business Is Good - The Final Kill” is now available for pre-order in the below format options:

North America:
CD Digipak (In stores & Online)
Gatefold Red 2LP – Limited to 1500 copies (In stores & Online)
Gatefold Black 2LP (In stores & Online)
Gatefold White 2LP -  Limited to 500 copies (FYE Exclusive)
Gatefold Silver 2LP – Limited to 500 copies (Band Exclusive available on www.megadeth.com)

Comments

[Him]

Dave is a bit of a loon. He treats his employees (err, band members) like interchangeable parts worthy of praise or blame depending on the moment. But the man knows his thrash. Those first three Megadeth albums were scorchers.

And the thing that has defined him musically throughout the years, the thing that sets him apart from his former band-mates in Metallica, is . . . anger. Sure, the musical results haven't always been stellar (though I liked _Risk_ and _Super Collider_). And that anger hasn't translated into the same international acclaim that Metallica has garnered. But he is never not interesting.

Personally, I will take a middling Megadeth album over anything new by Metallica these days. And that is coming from someone who really did enjoy Metallica up to _. . . And Justice For All_. But, hey, that is just one metal fan's opinion.

[Metalboy!]

Make that two Metal fans opinion, HIM.

But I’ll take it one step further ... I’ll take any of the first three Megadeth albums over ANY Metallica album and I own them all!

[Snoot]

First three? I personally think Rust in Peace is their finest hour,
So Far, So Good suffers from crappy production and the only track on side A worth a damn is Mary Jane.
But yeah, Dave is a bit of a loon and after this comment you may think the same of me Him.

[Him]

Not at all, Snoot. Tastes vary. No biggie here.

Like I intimated, I enjoy Megadeth's entire catalog (even if the _The World Needs A Hero_/_The System Has Failed_ era sags a bit) . And _Rust in Peace_ definitely was the first to feature the most rock solid line-up the band has ever had. So I can't fault a person for liking that album. Hell, I like it too!

I guess I like the rougher sound on those first three, where you could hear the band just striving to make their mark and not implode from all the internal tensions.

RIP Gar and Nick. Some damn fine people have shuffled through the band and, sadly in some cases, off this mortal coil. Mustaine knows talent, even if he struggles to keep things moving forward.

[Gary]

I'll take Countdown to Extinction as my favorite Mustaine release. Symphony Of Destruction is one of those songs that makes me want to listen to it at 120 decibels, as I drive 150 mph down the interstate, while flipping off the state cops chasing me. 😂😂

[Bob]

What scares me about this reissue is that Dave has a tendency to really screw around with parts: deleting some, re-recording some, and adding others; plus adding extra effects that weren't in the originals. It sounds to me like a lot of tinkering was done with this new version of KIMB. I have yet to hear a Megadeth reissue that was better than, or even as good as the original album. On another note that will probably make people hate me, :) , I saw Megadeth at the old Airport Music Hall in Allentown, PA on a double bill with savatage. This was around 1986. Awesome show! Finally, how many of you have heard the old Mustaine phone interview from around '84 or '85 where he is talking to either a radio host, or a magazine reporter; I don't remember which. Anyway, he is at work at the time, and you can hear him telling his boss that he'll work late to make up the time he is on the phone. A very real moment before he was world famous, and had an actual job while he was trying to make it big. I have the interview somewhere in my collection, but I imagine it's probably on YOutube.

[Metalboy!]

Thanks for the intel, Bob ...

150 MPH! What kind of car do you have, Gary?!

p.s. I once drove a friend’s 1960 ‘Vette 135 MPH. Also, I had a fuel injected ‘76 Eldorado convertible. I got up to 120 MPH before it started to feel like the wheels were going to come off! AND I had a ‘69 Chrysler 300 convertible I got up to 140 MPH because I would add 40% jet fuel to the tank !! But I’ve never had the pleasure to drive 150. Guess it’s time to pick up an Adventura, haha!!

[Gary]

lol Mb. That was a typo. I've never been over about 125 in any car. That was in my buddies 67 Chevelle. He scared the hell out of me because I know it had more left as it had a 396 big block in it that screamed. I told him if we blow a tire right now I'll kick your ass when we get scraped off the interstate and wake up in hell. Lol 😂

[Shawn]

Symphony of Destruction gets my vote - it deserves to be played at 120 decibels at 150 MPH Gary... I always wanted one of those 1970 Chevelle SS 396 big block with cal induction - 450HP straight from the factory. At 100 though I can no longer hear my stereo on the bike - Bob is right reissues sometimes get meddled with and honestly I am surprised Dave survived the baggage of Metallica and hi anger did fuel his already insane drive to make it.

[Bob]

Oh man! Love the car discussion. My buddy Brian had a '67 Mustang, and my buddy Joe had a '79 Mustang cobra. Brian's car would smoke the cobra off the line, but once that cobra got going, it was hard to keep up with. I can't drive of course, not legally anyway, but I remember many nights coming back from the Airport Music Hall at 2AM, and Brian and Joe racing each other on route 78 through New Jersey, easily hitting triple digits...Not smart, but definitely fun.