Editing Megadeth (section)

===1992–1993: ''Countdown to Extinction''===
The music for Megadeth's fifth studio album was written in two different sessions. The first session occurred after the conclusion of the [[Clash of the Titans (tour)|Clash of the Titans]] tour, while the second session happened in the fall of 1991 following a one-month break.<ref name="WordPress">{{cite web|url=http://warrmageddoninc.wordpress.com/2013/03/27/archive-interview-with-dave-ellefson-of-megadeth/|title=Archive: Interview with Dave Ellefson of Megadeth|first=Johnny|last=Ringo|date=March 27, 2013|work=Hails & Horns|publisher=[[Word Press]]|access-date=October 19, 2013|archive-date=October 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024052548/http://warrmageddoninc.wordpress.com/2013/03/27/archive-interview-with-dave-ellefson-of-megadeth/|url-status=live}}</ref> Recording sessions for the album began in January 1992 at [[The Enterprise Studios|Enterprise Studios]] in [[Burbank, California]]. [[Max Norman]] was chosen to produce, as the band was pleased with his mixing of ''Rust in Peace''.<ref>{{cite book|title=Countdown to Extinction ''liner notes (Japanese edition)''|year=1992|publisher=[[Capitol Records]]|pages=3–5, 7–8, 10}}</ref> Megadeth spent nearly four months in the studio with Norman, writing and recording what became the band's most commercially successful album, ''[[Countdown to Extinction]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Herrmann|first=Brenda|title=Megadeth&nbsp;– Countdown to Extinction (Capitol)|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1992/07/30/megadethcountdown-to-extinction-capitol-starstarstarstarlike-metallica-megadeth/|access-date=December 8, 2013|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=July 30, 1992}}</ref> The album, whose title was suggested by Menza, features songwriting contributions from each band member.<ref>{{cite news|last=Prince|first=Patrick|title=Megadeth fully embraces "Countdown" anniversary|work=[[Goldmine (magazine)|Goldmine]]|url=http://www.goldminemag.com/article/megadeth-fully-embraces-countdown-anniversary|date=November 19, 2012|access-date=November 17, 2013}}</ref> Ellefson explained that the band changed its approach to songwriting for this album, beginning to write more melodic songs.{{sfn|Ellefson|McIver|2013|p=103}}
{{Listen
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| description = ''Countdown to Extinction''{{'}}s first single, "[[Symphony of Destruction]]", has become one of Megadeth's best-known songs with its concise structure and memorable [[hook (music)|hooks]].{{sfn|Popoff|2002|p=108}}
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Released in July 1992, ''Countdown to Extinction'' entered the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart at number two and was certified double platinum in the United States.<ref name="Allmusic Bio"/>{{certification cite ref|region=United States|artist=Megadeth|type=album|refname=RIAA|access-date=March 19, 2019}}{{sfn|Joyner|2002|p=301}} It received a nomination for Best Metal Performance at the [[35th Annual Grammy Awards|1993 Grammy Awards]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19930108/1678846/grammys-show-influence-of-seattle-music|title=Grammys show influence of Seattle music|last=MacDonald|first=Patrick|date=January 8, 1993|work=[[The Seattle Times]]|access-date=December 17, 2009|archive-date=June 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170614185516/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19930108&slug=1678846|url-status=live}}</ref> and its title track won a [[Genesis Award]] from the [[Humane Society of the United States|Humane Society]] in 1993 for raising awareness for animal rights issues.<ref>{{cite web|last=Grow|first=Kory|title=Megadeth&nbsp;– Countdown To Extinction 20th Anniversary Edition Cover Art Shown In New York's Times Square|work=[[Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles]]|url=http://www.bravewords.com/news/190162|date=September 13, 2012|access-date=November 17, 2013|archive-date=February 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228223605/http://www.bravewords.com/news/190162|url-status=dead}}</ref> Ellefson later said that he and Friedman were disappointed that Megadeth did not win the Grammy: "It was such a bizarre moment, because it was as if the amount of work it had taken to ramp up to that hopeful night was literally gone in a second."{{sfn|Ellefson|McIver|2013|p=106}}

A world tour in support of the album was launched in late 1992, with [[Pantera]] and [[White Zombie (band)|White Zombie]] as supporting acts.{{sfn|Ellefson|McIver|2013|p=106}} The tour included a North American leg in early 1993, with [[Stone Temple Pilots]] as the opening act. One month into the leg, the remaining shows, including dates in Japan, were canceled when Mustaine returned to substance abuse, ending up in a hospital emergency room.<ref>{{cite web|last=Chirazi|first=Steffan|title=Trial by Fire|url=http://megadeth.rockmetal.art.pl/interviews_rip1993.html|work=RIP|publisher=Rockmetal.art.pl|date=October 1993|access-date=December 8, 2013|archive-date=February 14, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214232455/http://megadeth.rockmetal.art.pl/interviews_rip1993.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> After seven weeks in rehab, Mustaine emerged sober again and the band returned to the studio to record "[[Angry Again]]". The song is featured on the [[Last Action Hero (soundtrack)|soundtrack]] of the 1993 film ''[[Last Action Hero]]'' and received a Grammy nomination in 1994.<ref>{{cite web|first=Carlos|last=Ramirez|title=10 Most Underrated Megadeth Songs|url=http://noisecreep.com/most-underrated-megadeth-songs/|website=[[Noisecreep]]|date=September 13, 2013 |access-date=November 24, 2013}}</ref>

During mid-1993, Megadeth performed at a number of shows with Metallica in Europe. The first was at [[National Bowl|Milton Keynes Bowl]] in England, and included [[Diamond Head (English band)|Diamond Head]].{{sfn|Ellefson|McIver|2013|p=106}} In July, Megadeth was added as the opening act for [[Aerosmith]]'s [[Get a Grip Tour]], but was removed from the bill after three shows.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hartmann|first=Graham|title=Megadeth's David Ellefson Plays 'Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction?'|url=http://loudwire.com/megadeth-david-ellefson-wikipedia-fact-or-fiction/|work=[[Loudwire]]|date=April 2, 2014|access-date=May 25, 2014}}</ref> Aerosmith said that Megadeth was "dumped" because of Mustaine's erratic behavior, while Capitol Records said it was due to "artistic restrictions".<ref>{{cite journal|author=''Spin'' staff|title=Clash of the Quasi-Titans|journal=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|date=October 1993|volume=9|page=36|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fsi_VCMy0tQC&q=megadeth+aerosmith+tour&pg=PA36|access-date=November 18, 2013}}</ref> After the canceled US tour, Megadeth returned to the studio to record "[[99 Ways to Die (song)|99 Ways to Die]]", which appeared on ''[[The Beavis and Butt-Head Experience]]'', a compilation album released in November featuring songs interspersed with commentary by the main characters of the animated series ''[[Beavis and Butt-Head]]''. The song was nominated for Best Metal Performance at the [[37th Annual Grammy Awards|1995 Grammy Awards]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Harris|first=Chris|title=The Grammys Don't Understand Metal|url=http://noisecreep.com/the-grammys-dont-understand-metal/|website=[[Noisecreep]]|date=January 29, 2010|access-date=December 8, 2013}}</ref> During these sessions, Megadeth recorded a cover version of [[Black Sabbath]]'s "[[Paranoid (Black Sabbath song)|Paranoid]]", which appeared on the Black Sabbath tribute album ''[[Nativity in Black]]''; it was nominated for a Grammy the following year.<ref>{{cite news|last=MacDonald|first=Patrick|title=Presidents of the U.S. are riding high in the musical polls|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19960105/2307442/presidents-of-the-us-are-riding-high-in-the-musical-polls|date=January 5, 1996|work=[[The Seattle Times]]|access-date=December 17, 2009|archive-date=September 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120926021748/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19960105&slug=2307442|url-status=live}}</ref>