Megadeth is an American thrash metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1983 by … Read Full Bio ↴Megadeth is an American thrash metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1983 by vocalist/guitarist Dave Mustaine. Known for their technically complex guitar work and musicianship, Megadeth is one of the "big four" of American thrash metal along with Metallica, Anthrax, and Slayer, responsible for the genre's development and popularization. Their music features complex arrangements and fast rhythm sections, dual lead guitars, and lyrical themes of war, politics, religion, death, and personal relationships.

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)

Psychotron
Megadeth Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Assassin in stealth
Assailant from hell
Impervious to damage

Computer on board
Engaged in war
Non-stop combatant

Maybe not a mutant, maybe a man
Part bionic
And organic
Not a cyborg
Part bionic
And organic
Not a cyborg
Call him Psychotron

Burning inside
Godspeed in glide
Battle plan running

A killing machine
Just downright mean
And forever gunning

Maybe not a mutant, maybe a man
Part bionic
And organic
Not a cyborg
Part bionic
And organic
Not a cyborg
Call him Psychotron

Part bionic
And organic
Not a cyborg
Part bionic
And organic
Not a cyborg
Call him Psychotron

Target to destroy
Arms in employ
Full assault fire threat

Sensors indicate
You will terminate
Life systems disconnect
Part bionic
And organic
Not a cyborg
Part bionic
And organic
Not a cyborg
Call him Psychotron

Part bionic
And organic
Not a cyborg
Part bionic
And organic
Not a cyborg

Call him Psychotron
Psychotron

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Megadeth's song "Psychotron" describe a deadly assassin known as Psychotron, who is an organic and part-bionic being. He is described as a non-stop combatant, who is impervious to damage and engaged in a constant battle. The song talks about his godspeed in glide, his burning inside, and battle plan running. He is a killing machine who is downright mean and forever gunning.

Throughout the song, the lyrics raise questions about Psychotron's identity. Is he a man, a mutant, or a cyborg? The lyrics suggest that he is part bionic and organic, but not a cyborg. The song is about Psychotron's mission to destroy his target with his arms in full assault fire threat. The song ends with the lyrics "sensors indicate, you will terminate, life systems disconnect," implying that Psychotron has completed his mission and terminated his target.

Line by Line Meaning

Assassin in stealth
Someone who is stealthy and sneaky like an assassin

Assailant from hell
A hellish attacker who is relentless

Impervious to damage
Cannot be damaged by any type of attack

Computer on board
There is a computer present that is assisting in the war

Engaged in war
Fighting in a war or conflict

Non-stop combatant
Fighting constantly without any rest or stopping

Maybe not a mutant, maybe a man
Not sure if this is a genetically altered being or just a regular human

Part bionic
Having certain parts of the body that are mechanical and/or electronic

And organic
Also having parts of the body that are made of living tissue

Not a cyborg
Even though there are mechanical and electronic parts, this being is still primarily a biological organism

Call him Psychotron
This being is named Psychotron