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This article is about the Megadeth song. For the Symphony X song, see Underworld (Symphony X album).
"In My Darkest Hour"
Promotional single by Megadeth
from the album So Far, So Good... So What!
ReleasedJune 17, 1988 (1988-06-17)
Recorded1987
StudioMusic Grinder, Los Angeles
Length6:16 (6:26 on 2004 reissue)
Composer(s) Dave Mustaine
Lyricist(s)
Producer(s)
  • Paul Lani
  • Dave Mustaine
Megadeth singles chronology
" Mary Jane"
(1988) 		"In My Darkest Hour"
(1988) 		" No More Mr. Nice Guy"
(1989)
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

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

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] Conversely, Matthew Clouse of Osyssey, said it "...is easily the most overrated Megadeth track of all time" but that he "believe(s) it is a good song, but not a great one." [9]

Music video

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. [10] [11]

Covers

In 2012, the Swedish band NonExist, covered the song, with MetalSucks reacting to it unfavorably. [12]

In 2021 the Chilean band Parasyche performed a Spanish version of the song. [ citation needed]

Legacy

In 2018, Billboard ranked the song 5th on their list of "The 15 Best Megadeth Songs". [13] Loudwire called the song "one of Mustaine's greatest songs" [14] and ranked it as the 7th best Megadeth song. [15] Metal Hammer called it one of the most overlooked Megadeth songs. [16] MusicRadar called it of the 5 songs guitarists need to hear by Megadeth. [17] 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". [18]

Accolades

Year Publication Country Accolade Rank
2022 Louder Sound United States The Top 20 Best Megadeth Songs Ranked [19] 6
2018 Billboard United Kingdom The 15 Best Megadeth Songs: Critic’s Picks [20] 5

Personnel

Megadeth

Production

  • 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

  1. ^ Herzog, Kenny (2011-07-18). "Dave Mustaine". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  2. ^ The Decline Of Western Civilization, Part II: The Metal Years - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2020-08-26
  3. ^ Childers, Chad (2021-11-11). "Megadeth's Dave Mustaine Reveals Favorite Guitar Solos He Wrote". Loudwire. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
  4. ^ a b Grow, Kory (2017-01-11). "Megadeth's Dave Mustaine: My Life in 15 Songs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  5. ^ a b Dalton, Stephen (2018-06-07). "The 7 best scenes from the Decline Of Western Civilization". Loudersound. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ Stagno, Mike (2007-04-25). "Megadeth - So Far, So Good... So What! (staff review)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
  8. ^ Stratmann, Holger. "Megadeth: So Far, So Good... So What!" (in German). Rock Hard. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
  9. ^ Clouse, Matthew (2017-08-01). "Megadeth: 'So Far, So Good... So What!' Album Review". Odyssey. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
  10. ^ "MEGADETH - IN MY DARKEST HOUR - FROM THE VAULT". SkullsNBones Metal Website. 2012-04-24. Retrieved 2021-11-28.
  11. ^ Arnett, Jeffrey Jensen (1996). Metalheads: Heavy Metal Music And Adolescent Alienation. Westview Press. ISBN  0-8133-2813-6.
  12. ^ "Nonexist's Version of "In My Darkest Hour" is the Worst Megadeth Cover Ever". MetalSucks. 2012-10-25. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
  13. ^ Titus, Christa (2018-03-15). "The 15 Best Megadeth Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
  14. ^ Ives, Brian (2018-01-19). "Megadeth's 'So Far, So Good… So What': Their Underrated Masterpiece". Loudwire. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
  15. ^ Hartmann, Greg (2012-09-13). "10 Best Megadeth Songs". Loudwire. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  16. ^ Beaulieu, Corey (2016-01-06). "The 10 best Megadeth songs you may have overlooked". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  17. ^ Horsley, Jonathan (2021-04-17). "5 songs guitarists need to hear by... Megadeth". MusicRadar. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  18. ^ Heller, Noah (16 March 2021). "Dave Mustaine: He was Too Maniacal for Metallica". Musicoholics. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
  19. ^ Stewart-Panko, Kevin (14 July 2022). "The top 20 best Megadeth songs ranked". Louder Sound. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  20. ^ Titus, Christina. "The 15 Best Megadeth Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
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