Music of the Day, 16 November 2024

swaying to the symphony

Today’s MotD is a first: I chose a runner-up to the song that started looping insistently on the radio station in my mind yesterday. Now is not the time for that song.¹

There are bands that I adore, but I can’t blithely put on their music any ol’ time and enjoy it. They pop up only under specific circumstances, and woe betide me if I don’t heed that signal. I forgot that part of the equation yesterday.

The circumstances today are much more personal than the song might lead one to believe, because there is broader relevance. But enough chitchat. Prepare thy eardrums.

Megadeth’s fifth studio album, Countdown to Extinction, was released about a month after one of the most consequential things in my life² happened to me. “Symphony of Destruction” was the first single from it, and while the specific theme didn’t apply to my situation, the aggressive music and general theme of destruction did.

I bought the disc shortly after its release. It became a release for my pain, anger, and frustration. Each track had its own role to play as I worked through my emotions and tried to maintain an outward semblance of normalcy in my life. The first track on the disc is what started playing in my mind yesterday—an indicator that I have some shit to work through.

Countdown was Megadeth’s best-selling studio album, being certified double platinum by the RIAA. With the classic lineup of Dave Ellefson (bass, backing vocals), Marty Friedman (lead guitar, backing vocals), Nick Menza (drums, backing vocals), and Dave Mustaine (lead vocals, guitar), there isn’t a bad track on the disc for me. The combination of flat-out headbanging music plus intelligent lyrics always satisfies.

I just wish I didn’t need to be in such a negative headspace to listen to it. Is anyone else like this—certain bands or songs can only be enjoyed under very specific conditions?

1. and it may never appear here; metal fans will grok if they keep reading

2. I had to get a D&C (coded as an abortion even back then) to end a wanted, nonviable pregnancy