Megadeth returns with the second chapter in the Vic Rattlehead saga.
The thrash metal legends released “Night Stalkers”, which features a guest appearance by iconic rapper Ice-T. This new track will be featured on the band’s sixteenth studio album, The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!, which is set to drop on September 2nd of this year. Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine spoke on the new record and the meaning behind it’s lyrics, as well as the choice to collaborate with Ice-T.
“It’s a brutal song. I can’t remember if that was the fastest one [on the new album] or not. But ‘Night Stalkers’ is about the 160th Battalion with the United States Army, and it’s all the black-ops helicopters that go in at night — nobody knows they’re there; they’re in, they’re out. And I had my buddy Ice-T join me on a part in the middle of it, because Ice was a ranger for the army, and he did two tours over in Afghanistan, I think it was. I think that was back in ’91, when I first met him. It might have been a little earlier than that, but I know he was a ranger. And I had just done something on his last record. But when I asked him, I thought it would be great to have him because of his bravado and then the fact that he’s got real credibility as someone who was there. And then we’ve got several other guys to participate in the track just to make it as real as possible. We’re going up to the base to go film a bunch of helicopter footage and sounds and stuff like that. We’ve got three videos that we’re making for this record right now down in Brazil, and we’re combining all that production and the stuff from the base, with the helicopters and everything together, to make this first three-song video offering up.”
Mustaine created “Night Stalkers: Chapter II”, along with producer Rafael Pensado, and director Leo Liberti. This serves as the next episode in the multi-chapter saga about the origin of the Megadeth mascot Vic Rattlehead as we continue to follow the tragic events leading to our operative’s complete transformation as he systematically exacts his revenge.
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The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead! is set to drop on September 2nd of this year. It’s release has been pushed back numerous times due to Dave Mustaine’s health issues, the COVID-19 pandemic, and a myriad of other roadblocks to strike the band. The album is available for pre-order now.
Megadeth will hit the road with Five Finger Death Punch, The Hu, and Fire From The Gods later on this fall. The tour will stop through Milwaukee at American Family Insurance Amphitheatre on Oct. 7th.
Megadeth / The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead! / Release Date: September 2nd, 2022
