"Mechanix" is a song by the American

thrash metal Thrash metal (or simply thrash) is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its overall aggression and often fast tempo.Kahn-Harris, Keith, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'', pp. 2–3, 9. Oxford: Berg, 2007, . ...

band

Megadeth Megadeth is an American thrash metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1983 by vocalist/guitarist Dave Mustaine. Known for their technically complex guitar work and musicianship, Megadeth is one of the "big four" of American thrash metal along wit ...

. It is the eighth and final track from their debut studio album, '' Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!'', which released in 1985 under

Combat Records Combat Records was an American independent record label founded in 1983 and based in New York City. The label specifically was for heavy metal and punk rock acts, Notable artist include: Megadeth, Circle Jerks, Nuclear Assault, OZ, Death, ...

. The song was written for and recorded for frontman

Dave Mustaine David Scott Mustaine (born September 13, 1961) is an American musician. He is the co-founder, lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and primary songwriter of the thrash metal band Megadeth, as well as their sole consistent member. Mustaine has releas ...

's former band

Metallica Metallica is an American heavy metal band. The band was formed in 1981 in Los Angeles by vocalist/guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, and has been based in San Francisco for most of its career. The band's fast tempos, instrume ...

, and featured on their 1982 ''

No Life 'Til Leather A list of all demos written and recorded by American heavy metal band Metallica. ''Whiskey Audition Tape'' These two cover songs were recorded in then-bassist Ron McGovney’s garage, during rehearsals that took place in March 1982. On the st ...

'' demo. After Mustaine was fired from Metallica, he explicitly requested that the band not use any material he contributed, including "Mechanix". The song was reworked into "The Four Horsemen", which appeared on Metallica's debut album ''

Kill 'Em All ''Kill 'Em All'' is the debut studio album by American heavy metal band Metallica, released on July 25, 1983, through the independent label Megaforce Records. Metallica began by playing shows in local clubs in Los Angeles. They recorded several ...

'' in 1983.

Music and lyrics

"Mechanix" was originally written by

before his tenure in Metallica. He would perform the song with them during his time in the band and, after his departure, the music and lyrics were modified to create "The Four Horsemen". Originally, "Mechanix" was the same speed as "The Four Horsemen", but once Mustaine was kicked out of Metallica, he sped up the songs he wrote, including "Mechanix". He, quote, "Wanted to be faster and heavier than them". Lyrically, "Mechanix" is about having sex at a gas station. They were inspired by Mustaine's time as a gas station attendant.

Controversy

When Mustaine was kicked out of Metallica, he reportedly told the band to not use his songs. However, the band not only used solos and riffs, but some of Mustaine's entire songs, including "Mechanix". Metallica frontman

James Hetfield James Alan Hetfield (born August 3, 1963) is an American musician. He is the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, co-founder and a main songwriter of heavy metal band Metallica. He is mainly known for his intricate rhythm playing, but occasionall ...

wrote lyrics about the

Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are figures in the Christian scriptures, first appearing in the Book of Revelation, a piece of apocalypse literature written by John of Patmos. Revelation 6 tells of a book or scroll in God's right hand tha ...

, and added a

bridge A bridge is a structure built to span a physical obstacle (such as a body of water, valley, road, or rail) without blocking the way underneath. It is constructed for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, which is usually somethi ...

(also written by Mustaine) and cleanly picked guitar solo in the middle. The two songs have sparked debate between many metal fans, over which one is better. In an interview after Megadeth's first ever show, Mustaine talked about the set they played, and said "... and then (we) go into the Mechanix, off of the ''No Life 'Til Leather'' demo. Exactly that way. Not with this 'Four Horsemen' wimp shit".

Accolades

Personnel

Production and performance credits are adapted from the liner notes of '' Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!''. Megadeth *

– lead guitar, lead vocals *

David Ellefson David Warren Ellefson (born November 12, 1964) is an American musician, best known for his long tenure as the bassist for thrash metal band Megadeth. Ellefson initially became an accomplished bassist and honed his songwriting skills while leadin ...

– bass, backing vocals *

Chris Poland Chris Poland (born December 1, 1957) is an American guitarist, best known as the former guitarist of the thrash metal band Megadeth. Since 2002, Poland has been the guitarist of the instrumental rock/jazz fusion bands OHM (band), OHM and OHMphre ...

– rhythm guitar *

Gar Samuelson Gary Charles "Gar" Samuelson (February 18, 1958 – July 14, 1999) was an American musician best remembered for being the drummer for thrash metal band Megadeth from 1984 to 1987, contributing to their first two albums, '' Killing Is My Busines ...

– drums Production * Produced and mixed by Dave Mustaine and Karat Faye * Co-produced by Megadeth * Pre-production by Jay Jones 2002 remix and remaster * Mixed by Bill Kennedy *

Pro Tools Pro Tools is a digital audio workstation (DAW) developed and released by Avid Technology (formerly Digidesign) for Microsoft Windows and macOS. It is used for music creation and production, sound for picture (sound design, audio post-productio ...

Chris Vrenna Chris Vrenna (born February 23, 1967 in Erie, Pennsylvania) is an American musician, producer, engineer, remixer, songwriter, programmer, and founder of the electronic band Tweaker. Vrenna played drums for the industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails ...

Mastered Mastering, a form of audio post production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device (the master), the source from which all copies will be produced (via meth ...

by Tom Baker ''The Final Kill 2018'' remix and remaster * Mixed by Mark Lewis * Mastered by

Ted Jensen Ted Jensen (born September 19, 1954) is an American mastering engineer, known for having mastered many recordings, including the Eagles' ''Hotel California'', Green Day's '' American Idiot'' and Norah Jones' ''Come Away with Me''. Biography Ted ...

References

{{Megadeth 1982 songs Megadeth songs Metallica songs Songs written by Dave Mustaine