With Megadeth, the thrash is back
By Wade Coggeshall
Hendricks County Flyer (Avon, Ind.)
INDIANAPOLIS ??? One cursory listen to the snarling, virtuosic "United Abominations" proves seminal thrash metal band Megadeth has come full circle in its illustrious, decades-long career.
Part of the credit should go to guitarist Glen Drover. Before joining Megadeth in 2004, he contributed his legato-style shred to King Diamond and fronted his own thrash band Eidolon with his drummer brother Shawn (who also joined Megadeth in ???04).
The axe-wielding Drover is being hailed by many as one of the driving forces by the resurgence of the guitar solo.
"I think the influence from me and Shawn, being that we grew up with the old albums, helped embrace the past," Drover said about the making of "United Abominations." "But it's a mixture of old and new. It's a well-rounded album. It's a step forward, from even the last album ??? going toward the older style of Megadeth."
Although Drover grew up listening to Megadeth founder Dave Mustaine's shredding technique, there were other, stronger influences when it came to playing guitar.
"Although I do like his guitar playing, my style tends to be a little different," he said. "I grew up listening to different guitar players for solos. I was more into the shrapnel guys. The neoclassical stuff really got me going."
Nonetheless he's still lucid of the banner under which he now plays.
"It was exciting enough for me to get into the band," Drover said. "Then to bring my brother in, whom I've been playing with since I was 10 years old ??_ We have a strong bond, a strong chemistry, which is evident live. That's really a big part of the chemistry of Megadeth now."
Drover never hesitated when the opportunity arose either, despite Mustaine's notoriety for tyrannical leadership and very public spats with other musicians ??? particularly his former bandmates in Metallica.
"We're all having fun. We get along," Drover said of the current Megadeth lineup, which includes bassist James Lomenzo. "As long as that's maintained, we move forward. That's what it's all about really. As long as we're having fun and it works, then we remain a band. So far it's been great. We're doing a lot of damage."
