In My Darkest Hour
| "In My Darkest Hour" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotional single by Megadeth | ||||
| from the album So Far, So Good... So What! | ||||
| Released | June 17, 1988 | |||
| Recorded | 1987 | |||
| Studio | Music Grinder, Los Angeles | |||
| Length | 6:16 (6:26 on 2004 reissue) | |||
| Composer(s) | Dave Mustaine | |||
| Lyricist(s) |
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| Producer(s) |
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| Megadeth singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "In My Darkest Hour" on YouTube | ||||
"In My Darkest Hour" is a song by the American thrash metal band Megadeth. It is the sixth track from their third studio album So Far, So Good... So What! It was released as a promotional single in 1988. The song is frequently performed live by the band. The song was featured in the documentary The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years, where it received a music video[1] as well as featuring on the films official soundtrack released under Capitol.[2] Dave Mustaine has said that the song has one of his favorite solos that he has written.[3]
Development
[edit]The music of the song was written by band frontman Dave Mustaine in a single sitting after a friend had contacted Mustaine to inform him of Metallica bassist Cliff Burton's passing. Mustaine was frustrated with the members of Metallica for not contacting him personally, stating in an interview:[4]
I took it really personal because, I figured, "You fuckers, you know we're all brothers in a band and he dies and you have someone else call me?" So I took it very, very, very bad.
— Dave Mustaine
The "darkest hour" mentioned in the song refer to general loneliness and isolation, however the lyrics and song subject refer to an ex-girlfriend of Mustaine's.[4] The song was released as a promotional single for the film The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years, in which the song features as part of the film's official soundtrack. Penelope Spheeris stated she had the song close the film "... because everything had been a little light and fluffy before that."[5] And that she needed something "...more substantial."[5]
Critical reception
[edit]Adrien Begrand of MSN Music, said the song is one of Dave Mustaine's "...greatest achievements as a songwriter" and that it is "an all-time metal classic."[6] Mike Stagno of Sputnikmusic said that the song: "...could be considered a classic" and that it "...represents Dave's finest writing, lyrically and musically".[7] Holger Stratmann of Rock Hard, called it an "excellent song".[8]
Music video
[edit]The music video accompanying the song was directed by Penelope Spheeris and featured a trimmed version of the song (from 6:16 to 5:12), intercut with interview footage of the band as well as a live performance of the song. The music video was banned from airing on MTV following accusations the lyrics promoted suicide.[9][10]
Covers
[edit]In 2012, the Swedish band NonExist, covered the song, with MetalSucks reacting to it unfavorably.[11]
In 2021 the Chilean band Parasyche performed a Spanish version of the song. [citation needed]
Legacy
[edit]In 2018, Billboard ranked the song 5th on their list of "The 15 Best Megadeth Songs".[12] Loudwire called the song "one of Mustaine's greatest songs"[13] and ranked it as the 7th best Megadeth song.[14] Metal Hammer called it one of the most overlooked Megadeth songs.[15] MusicRadar called it of the 5 songs guitarists need to hear by Megadeth.[16] Penelope Spheeris stated "It's a very, very heavy song and a really kind of classic piece of Megadeth that really displays their philosophy in a beautiful way".[17]
Accolades
[edit]| Year | Publication | Country | Accolade | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Louder Sound | United States | The Top 20 Best Megadeth Songs Ranked[18] | 6 |
| 2018 | Billboard | United Kingdom | The 15 Best Megadeth Songs: Critic’s Picks[19] | 5 |
Personnel
[edit]Megadeth
[edit]- Dave Mustaine - guitars, vocals
- Jeff Young - guitars
- David Ellefson - bass
- Chuck Behler - drums
Production
[edit]- Produced by Paul Lani and Dave Mustaine
- Engineered by Paul Lani with Matt Freeman
- Mixed by Michael Wagener
- Executive Produced by Tim Carr
- Mastered by Stephen Marcussen
References
[edit]- ^ Herzog, Kenny (2011-07-18). "Dave Mustaine". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
- ^ The Decline Of Western Civilization, Part II: The Metal Years - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2020-08-26
- ^ Childers, Chad (2021-11-11). "Megadeth's Dave Mustaine Reveals Favorite Guitar Solos He Wrote". Loudwire. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
- ^ a b Grow, Kory (2017-01-11). "Megadeth's Dave Mustaine: My Life in 15 Songs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
- ^ a b Dalton, Stephen (2018-06-07). "The 7 best scenes from the Decline Of Western Civilization". Loudersound. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
- ^ Begrand, Adrien (2013-01-25). "Megadeth, 'So Far, So Good...So What!'". MSN Music. Archived from the original on 2013-11-09. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
- ^ Stagno, Mike (2007-04-25). "Megadeth - So Far, So Good... So What! (staff review)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
- ^ Stratmann, Holger. "Megadeth: So Far, So Good... So What!" (in German). Rock Hard. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
- ^ "MEGADETH - IN MY DARKEST HOUR - FROM THE VAULT". SkullsNBones Metal Website. 2012-04-24. Retrieved 2021-11-28.
- ^ Arnett, Jeffrey Jensen (1996). Metalheads: Heavy Metal Music And Adolescent Alienation. Westview Press. ISBN 0-8133-2813-6.
- ^ "Nonexist's Version of "In My Darkest Hour" is the Worst Megadeth Cover Ever". MetalSucks. 2012-10-25. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
- ^ Titus, Christa (2018-03-15). "The 15 Best Megadeth Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
- ^ Ives, Brian (2018-01-19). "Megadeth's 'So Far, So Good… So What': Their Underrated Masterpiece". Loudwire. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
- ^ Hartmann, Greg (2012-09-13). "10 Best Megadeth Songs". Loudwire. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
- ^ Beaulieu, Corey (2016-01-06). "The 10 best Megadeth songs you may have overlooked". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
- ^ Horsley, Jonathan (2021-04-17). "5 songs guitarists need to hear by... Megadeth". MusicRadar. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
- ^ Heller, Noah (16 March 2021). "Dave Mustaine: He was Too Maniacal for Metallica". Musicoholics. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
- ^ Stewart-Panko, Kevin (14 July 2022). "The top 20 best Megadeth songs ranked". Louder Sound. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
- ^ Titus, Christina. "The 15 Best Megadeth Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
