Album · Megadeth
Countdown to Extinction by Megadeth
Countdown to Extinction is an album by Megadeth, released in 1992. 1 song from it has charted on rock radio countdowns, with 14 countdown appearances in total. The biggest is “Symphony of Destruction”, on 14 lists with a best position of #18.
Countdown to Extinction, Megadeth's fifth album, arrived on Capitol in 1992, and it's the sound of a thrash band cutting the fat. It was the second studio record from the so-called classic lineup, Dave Mustaine on guitar and lead vocals, Marty Friedman on guitar, David Ellefson on bass and Nick Menza on drums, with all four sharing the songwriting, and Max Norman produced.
Reviewers liked what they heard: leaner, simpler songs than on the record before it, and lyrics aimed squarely at politics. "Symphony of Destruction", "Sweating Bullets" and "Skin o' My Teeth" became some of the band's best-known songs. It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, went double platinum as their biggest seller, picked up a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance, and the title track earned a Genesis Award from the Humane Society for its animal-rights message. In 2012 they took it to South America on a 20th anniversary tour, playing it front to back.
Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.
Songs from Countdown to Extinction on radio countdowns
| # | Song | Strength | Lists | Best | #1s | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Symphony of Destruction | 14 | #18 | – | 1994–2023 |
Only songs that appear on at least one countdown are listed. Release data from MusicBrainz.