I wasn’t a fan of metal music when I was young, and I don’t think I’ll ever be. That doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate a good riff here and there, and if a song is really good, it’ll go into my collection.

My first experience with Megadeth was Youthanasia, and Train of consequences had a fantastic riff, but it just didn’t click with me.

Fast forward a few years into the future and I was in a hotel in Villahermosa. The warm nights in late october clocked around 35 degrees celsius and 100% humidity. On the TV, VH1, which I used to catch up with 80s stuff and also to keep up with current stuff. I had to shower twice in that heat, especially after spending the majority of the day walking on the jungle, taking photos and videos, and measuring GPS coordinates of oil installations. Tough work, and the pay wasn’t good, but at least all expenses were covered.

The work laptop was much better than what I had at home, so besides a copy of Pinnacle video and GIMP for visual processing, I installed a VERY LEGAL copy of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. After cooling down for work and filling out the coordinates for each photograph and rendering some videos, I would play a couple of missions, or just drive around in the pixelated neon Miami stand in. The game felt much better than GTA III and the music made a major difference. Pretty sure a big chunk of the budget went for licensing top of the line 80s music.

VROCK was an interesting station. I knew the names of the bands, but not that many of the songs. I used to “borrow” a PCJ-6000 motorbike and drive like a maniac once the combination of Megadeth and Slayer played. Whoever chose to have Peace Sells and Raining blood together is a genius.

A ramp? Time it with the music. A few steps that could also work as a ramp? Same. I’d try to time my jumps with screams or with the last bars of peace sells. It felt proper, you know?

I’ve never bought a Megadeth album, but I’ve checked their stuff. There’s a few tracks that I like, like Symphony of Destruction, and I’m at peace with the fact I don’t obsess with them. You can’t like everything. It’s too fake to be a savant on all bands of all genres. I’m happy with loving a band to bits, even their demos and b-sides. I’m also happy loving a band only for a couple of tracks. Megadeth is one of them and this track just makes my day every time I listen to it.

-Sam J. “THIS IS THE NEWS” Valdés López