Crisis and Reinvention

Towards the end of the 90s, Megadeth's golden streak stumbled. Mustaine, always restless, wanted to experiment beyond thrash. The result was Risk (1999), an album that, as its name indicated, was a stylistic "risk": it incorporated elements of alternative rock and pop metal that confused many fans. Risk (produced by Dann Huff) contained singles like "Crush 'Em" –designed to sound in sports stadiums– and softer ballads, moving away from the traditional aggressive sound. The reception was mixed to negative; although it sold decently and reached Gold status, Risk is remembered as Megadeth's most controversial album.

The most controversial album of their career

Creative tension reached its peak: Marty Friedman left the band in December 1999, citing "musical differences" with Mustaine. After almost ten years, Megadeth lost their acclaimed lead guitarist. Mustaine hired the experienced Al Pitrelli (ex Savatage, Alice Cooper) to fill the vacancy in 2000, and the band rushed to compose new material to reconnect with their metal roots and reconnect with their older audience.

The end of an era - Marty says goodbye

Al Pitrelli, the veteran replacement

The new millennium brought an attempt at course correction with World Needs a Hero (2001). This album sought to recover the band's classic heavy tone following the criticism of Risk. With Mustaine again in charge of almost all compositions, World Needs a Hero offered tracks like "Moto Psycho" and "Dread and the Fugitive Mind", which, while not reaching the brilliance of the classics, did show Megadeth attempting to revitalize their metal identity. During 2001 they toured more modestly, but very memorably in certain places. They also released their first live album 'Rude Awakening'. The album was planned to be recorded live at a concert in Argentina, but due to the September 11 attacks in 2001, the band decided to record it live in the United States. The album was a total rejection of much of Megadeth's softer material (like the Risk album, from which no tracks were included) and was seen as a return to their heavier days of the 80s and early 90s. (Much of the chosen material, if not all, was selected by fans who voted for them on Megadeth.com).

Attempt to return to their metal roots

First live album - Rude Awakening

Fortunately, Mustaine didn't take as long to recover as expected. After months of intensive therapy, he learned to play guitar again. In 2004, with renewed faith (Mustaine had become a devout Christian during this period and abandoned excesses), he decided to resurrect Megadeth –initially conceived as a solo project, but finally using the band name for its historical weight. That year The System Has Failed (2004) was released, an album that marked a true rebirth. Recorded with session musicians –including former guitarist Chris Poland as a guest on solos–, The System Has Failed was acclaimed as the best Megadeth album in many years, with sharp songs like "Kick the Chair" and "Die Dead Enough" that recalled the nineties glory.

The rebirth album

Mustaine recovering and being reborn

Mustaine, now the only original member, assembled a new lineup for the world tour: he recruited guitarist Glen Drover, bassist James MacDonough (ex Iced Earth) and drummer Shawn Drover (Glen's brother). Curiously, Nick Menza had tried to return to drums at the start of the 2004 tour, but after some rehearsals he found himself physically unable to fulfill the tour and Shawn Drover took his place permanently within days of starting the journey. With this lineup, Megadeth embarked on the Blackmail the Universe Tour (2004-2005), proving they were back. In parallel, Mustaine founded his own traveling festival that year, Gigantour, bringing together legendary and new metal bands to tour together. The first edition in 2005 included Dream Theater, Nevermore, Anthrax and, of course, Megadeth as headliners. Mustaine established himself as a visionary curator of the metal community, carefully selecting a lineup that ranged from respected veterans to new genre promises. The second edition in 2006 expanded its reach with Lamb of God, Opeth, Arch Enemy and Overkill, demonstrating Mustaine's commitment to stylistic diversity within metal. The Gigantour concept revolutionized the way metal bands could collaborate and promote the genre, establishing a legacy that would influence future traveling festivals.

The Drover brothers join

The Gigantour festival is born

In 2006, original bassist Ellefson remained absent (still estranged from Mustaine), so James LoMenzo –veteran of Black Label Society and White Lion– entered on bass, replacing MacDonough. With Glen and Shawn Drover plus LoMenzo, Megadeth recorded United Abominations (2007) under the Roadrunner label. This album returned to political-social themes (Mustaine openly criticized the United Nations in the title song) and featured interesting collaborations, such as guest vocals by Cristina Scabbia (Lacuna Coil) on a new version of "À Tout Le Monde". United Abominations received positive reviews and placed in the Billboard Top 10, a sign that the band maintained relevance. The 2007-08 world tour was successful, but again there were changes: in early 2008, Glen Drover retired, claiming he wanted to dedicate more time to his family and certain personal dissatisfaction.

Political criticism and special collaborations

James LoMenzo, bass veteran

Mustaine applauded Glen Drover's honesty and quickly found a formidable replacement: Chris Broderick, virtuoso former guitarist of Nevermore and Jag Panzer. Broderick debuted live with Megadeth in February 2008 and fit perfectly, contributing technical precision and renewed energy. His incorporation marked the beginning of a new creative stage for the band, which would prepare for one of their most acclaimed albums in years.

Chris Broderick, renewed technical virtuosity

With Broderick in the ranks, Megadeth released Endgame in 2009, an album that many fans celebrated as a full return to vertiginous thrash metal. Songs like "Head Crusher" and "This Day We Fight!" showed a furious Mustaine, inspired by contemporary socio-political themes. Endgame received praise for its ferocity –even Dave Ellefson commented that it reminded him of the aggressiveness of Rust in Peace–. Commercially it placed Top 10 in several countries. After its release, something happened that followers longed for: in February 2010, David Ellefson (after reconciling with Mustaine after years of estrangement) returned to Megadeth's bass. Shawn Drover contacted Ellefson when he learned that LoMenzo was planning to leave, and Mustaine and Ellefson took the opportunity to leave old grudges behind. Thus, at the close of the 2000s decade, Megadeth reinvented itself again, combining new blood (Broderick, Shawn) with the classic Mustaine–Ellefson chemistry.

The return to vertiginous thrash

Head Crusher - Renewed ferocity