Thirteen – Megadeth (2011)
Overview
Released on November 1, 2011, Thirteen is Megadeth’s thirteenth studio album, blending traditional thrash metal elements with melodic hooks and modern production. The album reflects Dave Mustaine’s desire to combine aggression, melody, and technical musicianship, maintaining relevance in the 2010s metal scene.
Lyrically, the album addresses politics, war, personal struggles, and societal decay, continuing Mustaine’s signature socially conscious themes.
Credits (Core Lineup)
- Dave Mustaine – vocals, rhythm guitar, primary songwriting
- Chris Broderick – lead guitar
- Dave Ellefson – bass
- Chris Adler – drums (session musician)
Production:
- Produced by Johnny K & Dave Mustaine
- Label: Roadrunner Records
Fun Facts & Trivia
- The album was originally planned to be Mustaine’s 12th but was delayed and became Thirteen.
- “Sudden Death” was written for the video game Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock and features rapid-fire thrash riffs.
- The album mixes heavy, aggressive songs with more melodic tracks, such as “Whose Life (Is It Anyways?)”.
- Chris Adler of Lamb of God performed drums as a session musician due to the absence of a permanent drummer at the time.
- Mustaine described the album as a balance between classic Megadeth thrash and modern metal sensibilities.
Did You Know? 🤘
- Dave Mustaine co-wrote “Sudden Death” with David Ellefson and Chris Broderick in just a few days specifically for a video game soundtrack.
- “Public Enemy No. 1” deals with government surveillance and social control, reflecting Mustaine’s political concerns.
- The album’s working title was Twelve, but it was delayed and renamed after internal production changes.
- This album marked a period of lineup experimentation before Shawn Drover and Chris Broderick became fully integrated into the touring lineup.
Album Sales & Legacy
- Peaked at #11 on the Billboard 200.
- Estimated worldwide sales: ~200,000–250,000 copies.
- Seen as a solid modern-era Megadeth release, appreciated for technical precision, songwriting, and its mix of aggressive and melodic tracks.
Get Megadeth albums from Amazon
Megadeth Full Discography: Complete Guide to Albums & Covers Collection (1985--2016)
More Albums:
Megadeth - Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! (1985)
Megadeth - Peace Sells... But Who's Buying? (1986)
Megadeth - So Far, So Good... So What! (1988)
Megadeth - Rust in Peace (1990)
Megadeth - Countdown to Extinction (1992)
