Author: Rok Klemše
Artist: Megadeth
Label: Sanctuary Records
Release: 2001
CONTENT:
I don’t need to introduce one of the best thrash metal bands to you, but if you’ve never come across Megadeth, this documentary will walk you through them in great detail and in superb style.
Behind the Music focuses on how Megadeth came to be, what their frontman was up to before Megadeth (yeah, yeah, we all know he got kicked out of Metallica, but it tells that story in a completely new way, one you’ve never heard before), and the hell that the individual band members went through. A big part of the documentary is interviews with former members (like guitar virtuoso Marty Friedman), and even James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich chip in their two cents.
Just how personal this film is shows in Mustaine revealing the circumstances in which he wrote what I think is one of the better Megadeth tracks, and definitely one of the deepest, In My Darkest Hour (Mustaine wrote it just hours after finding out about the death of Metallica bassist Cliff Burton). That’s enough about the content, saying any more would be too much of a spoiler.
VIDEO:
Since the DVD covers a very wide time span, that shows in the video quality too. The older footage, especially the live clips, is lower quality, since most of it was shot on camcorders. The newer footage looks good. The sharpness and color are really nice, though they get worse the older the footage is. Sadly, the DVD has no subtitles, so you’ll need to know English.
AUDIO:
Dolby Digital 2.0 and Dolby Digital 5.1 are available. The interviews are clear and easy to understand, and the music underneath isn’t too loud and doesn’t get in the way of the conversations. The music includes a few tracks from Kill ’em All, but mostly Megadeth, of course.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Music Video Moto Psycho (not exactly one of Megadeth’s shining tracks, they could have thrown in a few more videos).
Bonus Footage (10 minutes of unused interviews and clips).
Statistics (bios of some of the members).
Photo Gallery
FINAL VERDICT:
A must for every Rattlehead! It might win over a few people who aren’t one, too, because the documentary is really excellent, it’s gripping, and it’s over in the blink of an eye. For anyone who wants to get to know the story behind one of the biggest names in metal and the story of one of metal’s best frontmen, Dave Mustaine, on top of the music.
Track List
Documentary Behind the Music
Special features:
Video for Moto Psycho
Bonus Footage
Statistics
Photo Gallery
Running time: 90 minutes
