Megadeth: Killing Is My Business…And Business Is Good – The Final Kill Review
Killing Is My Business is an undeniable classic in the thrash canon. A low-fi production perfectly captured the DIY aesthetic of an underground scene. Megadeth have scrapped the original art, remixed and remastered the music, and added bonus tracks in a definitive edition titled The Final Kill.
One can’t help but note how “modern” the record sounds. Purists worried that a remix would lose the debut’s nostalgic charm. The energy, feel, and spirit of 1985-era Megadeth remain.
Guitars and vocals now have a clarity that eighties technology failed to capture. The rhythm section has also been enhanced. Once the drums and bass enter “Last Rites/Loved To Death,” the power of this new remaster is apparent.
Gar’s drums sound absolutely brutal. Newly discovered drum performances have been inserted into unnamed tracks. Final Kill reminds us that a world-class drummer was lost with the passing of Samuelson. I like to envision this remix as a tribute to the late musician.
Killing Is My Business has been plagued for years by the Lee Hazelwood lawsuit. “These Boots” remain problematic. After disappearing from CDs pressed in the nineties, Megadeth released a censored version in 2002. Mustaine has now re-recorded the vocals to reflect Hazelwood’s original lyrics.
Rather than close out Side One, “These Boots” now occupies the final slot. Anyone that grew up with the original pressing will find the track-list jarring. In a weird way, the new sequencing makes sense. Contemporary vocals simply can’t match the snarl of a young Dave Mustaine. By placing the revamped cover song at track eight, disruptions to continuity are minimized.
Final Kill has no shortage of bonus tracks. Every song except “These Boots” is represented with a live version sourced from VHS tapes found in Dave Mustaine’s attic. Quality varies in these bootlegs. Although a few live tracks are quite rough, they are historically significant. Most recordings are taken from shows in 1986 and 1987. “Skull Beneath the Skin” is taken from a 1990 UK concert and is the only performance to not feature the original line-up.
The 1984 demo, Last Rites, round out The Final Kill. These tracks were previously available through the 2002 reissue. Including Last Rites again was essential in marketing this latest reissue as the ultimate version of Killing Is My Business…And Business Is Good!
Remixing a classic album is controversial. Previous reissues of the Megadeth catalogue have been disasters. The Final Kill is an exception. This updated recording will NEVER replace the original. If purchased as a companion disc, The Final Kill is a worthwhile addition to any Megadeth collection.
