Post by Platypus on Aug 14, 2022 10:00:37 GMT
David Scott Mustaine (13 September 1961 -)
Associated Acts: Megadeth (1983-2002, 2004-present), Metallica (1982-1983)
Vocal Range: C2 - E♭5
One of the seminal vocalists of the 1980s thrash metal scene, Dave Mustaine's signature chest-heavy belting and snarling vocal phrasing make his voice instantly recognisable. Though not all that virtuosic a vocalist in his early career with Megadeth (also when his voice was at its most twangy and nasal), Mustaine was capable of sustaining strong notes and navigating fairly challenging melodies entirely in the upper fourth octave, and was even able to push himself to hit some passable belted D5s in studio, for example on 'Looking Down the Cross'. This appears to have been the limit of Mustaine's 'clean' singing, having to employ a harsher tone to reach some E♭5s in a live performance of the same song, and these notes represented the absolute limit of his upper register.
The 1990s was probably Mustaine's vocal peak in terms of technique: he refined his belting and developed a little more of a rounded tone, displaying some strong notes as high as C♯5 on tracks such as 'Captive Honour' and 'Have Cool, Will Travel'. He also showcased a little more sensitivity and appreciation of softer singing, such as on 'A Tout Le Monde'.
A heavy smoker for much of his life, Mustaine's voice has certainly darkened with age; the passage of time has seen him showcase more of his lower register, including some strong F2s on 'Moto Psycho' and even some passable E2s on 2007's 'Gears of War.' Throughout the 2000s his high singing both in studio and live remained solid enough, but tended to cap near the top of the fourth octave. The 2010s have seen a greater degradation of his voice with 2013's Super Collider probably representing Mustaine's lowest point in studio as a vocalist. His live performances throughout the last few years have generally been poor, with belting in particular putting a real strain on his voice.
In summary, Mustaine is probably a better vocalist than he has often been given credit for; whilst his abrasive tone is something of an acquired taste, he did develop into a solid heavy metal vocalist with little-to-no training or guidance, and a reasonably well-rounded singer overall.
Written by falsetokaiba .
The 1990s was probably Mustaine's vocal peak in terms of technique: he refined his belting and developed a little more of a rounded tone, displaying some strong notes as high as C♯5 on tracks such as 'Captive Honour' and 'Have Cool, Will Travel'. He also showcased a little more sensitivity and appreciation of softer singing, such as on 'A Tout Le Monde'.
A heavy smoker for much of his life, Mustaine's voice has certainly darkened with age; the passage of time has seen him showcase more of his lower register, including some strong F2s on 'Moto Psycho' and even some passable E2s on 2007's 'Gears of War.' Throughout the 2000s his high singing both in studio and live remained solid enough, but tended to cap near the top of the fourth octave. The 2010s have seen a greater degradation of his voice with 2013's Super Collider probably representing Mustaine's lowest point in studio as a vocalist. His live performances throughout the last few years have generally been poor, with belting in particular putting a real strain on his voice.
In summary, Mustaine is probably a better vocalist than he has often been given credit for; whilst his abrasive tone is something of an acquired taste, he did develop into a solid heavy metal vocalist with little-to-no training or guidance, and a reasonably well-rounded singer overall.
Written by falsetokaiba .
with Megadeth:
Killing is My Business… and Business is Good! (1985) C3 - D5
Peace Sells… but Who's Buying? (1986) F2 - E3 - D5
So Far, So Good… So What? (1988) B2 - E3 - D5
Rust in Peace (1990) B♭2 - E3 - C5
Countdown to Extinction (1992) D3 - C♯5
Youthanasia (1994) F2 - C5
Hidden Treasures (EP) (1995) B♭2 - C♯3 - E♭3 - B4
Cryptic Writings (1997) G2 - A2 - C♯5
Risk (1999) F♯2 - G♯2 - C5
The World Needs a Hero (2001) F2 - B4
The System Has Failed (2004) A2 - B♭4
United Abominations (2007) E2 - B4
Endgame (2009) A2 - G♯4
Thirteen (2011) G2 - A4
Super Collider (2013) G2 - A2 - G4
Dystopia (2016) F2 - B2 - G4 - A4
The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead! (2022) C2 - D2 - G4 - A4
with MD.45:
The Craving (1996) F2 - B♭2 - B4 - E♭5
Significant High Notes:Killing is My Business… and Business is Good! (1985) C3 - D5
Peace Sells… but Who's Buying? (1986) F2 - E3 - D5
So Far, So Good… So What? (1988) B2 - E3 - D5
Rust in Peace (1990) B♭2 - E3 - C5
Countdown to Extinction (1992) D3 - C♯5
Youthanasia (1994) F2 - C5
Hidden Treasures (EP) (1995) B♭2 - C♯3 - E♭3 - B4
Cryptic Writings (1997) G2 - A2 - C♯5
Risk (1999) F♯2 - G♯2 - C5
The World Needs a Hero (2001) F2 - B4
The System Has Failed (2004) A2 - B♭4
United Abominations (2007) E2 - B4
Endgame (2009) A2 - G♯4
Thirteen (2011) G2 - A4
Super Collider (2013) G2 - A2 - G4
Dystopia (2016) F2 - B2 - G4 - A4
The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead! (2022) C2 - D2 - G4 - A4
with MD.45:
The Craving (1996) F2 - B♭2 - B4 - E♭5
E♭5 ("Looking Down the Cross" live Berkely 03/11/1984, "Voices")
D5 ("Last Rites/Loved to Deth" live Berkely 03/11/1984, "Looking Down the Cross", "Mary Jane", "My Last Words")
C♯5 ("The Conjuring" live Tokyo 1987, "Captive Honour", "Have Cool, Will Travel", "Killing Is My Business...And Business Is Good!", "Mechanix", "These Boots" live Berkeley 03/11/1984, "À Tout Le Monde" Live Gigantour 2005)
C5 ("Anarchy In The U.K." live Detroit 1990, "Bad Omen", "Chosen Ones", "Good Mourning/Black Friday", "High Speed Dirt", "Last Rites/Loved to Deth", "Looking Down the Cross", "Lucretia", "Mary Jane", "Never Say Die", "Peace Sells" Live at Wembley, "Problem Child" live Germany 2004, "Rattlehead", "Reckoning Day" live in Arizona 1997, "À Tout Le Monde", "Wake Up Dead" live Castle Donington 1988, "Wanderlust")
B4 ("1000 Times Goodbye", "99 Ways to Die", "Addicted to Chaos", "Ashes in Your Mouth", "Bad Omen", "Blood of Heroes", "Captive Honour", "Coming Home", "The Conjuring", "Crown of Worms", "Devils Island", "The Disintegrators", "FFF", "Good Mourning/Black Friday", "Have Cool, Will Travel", "Holy Wars...The Punishment Due", "I Ain't Superstitious", "In My Darkest Hour", "Killing Is My Business...And Business Is Good!", "Mary Jane", "Mastermind", "Mechanix", "Never Walk Alone… a Call to Arms", "One Thing", "Paranoid", "Peace Sells", "Rattlehead", "Reckoning Day", "Roadman", "Set the World Afire", "Sin", "The Skull Beneath the Skin", "Sweating Bullets", "These Boots", "Train of Consequenes" live Mesa 1997, "Trust", "Use the Man", "Voices", "Wake Up Dead")
B♭4 ("Addicted to Chaos", "Back in the Day", "Black Curtains", "Diadems", "Elysian Fields", "Family Tree", "Hearts Will Bleed", "Hell's Motel", "I Thought I Knew It All", "I'll Get Even", "The Killing Road", "My Last Words", "My Town", "Nothing Is Something", "A Secret Place", "Tornado of Souls", "Train of Consequences", "Victory", "Youthanesia")
A4 ("Anarchy in the U.K.", "Bad Omen", "Black Swan", "Breakpoint", "Burning Bridges", "Captive Honour", "Chosen Ones", "The Conjuring", "Countdown to Extinction" demo version, "The Creed", "Day the Music Died", "Diadems", "The Disintegrators", "The Doctor Is Calling", "FFF", "Gears of War", "Good Mourning/Black Friday", "Hell's Motel", "High Speed Dirt", "Hook in Mouth", "I Ain't Superstitious", "I'll Be There", "I'll Get Even", "In My Darkest Hour", "Insomnia", "Kick the Chair", "Last Rites/Loved to Deth", "Liar", "Looking Down the Cross", "Mastermind", "Mechanix", "Melt the Ice Away", "My Last Words", "Never Say Die", "Night Stalkers", "No More Mister Nice Guy", "Of Mice and Men", "One Thing", "Outshined" live Tokyo 2017, "Poisonous Shadows", "Prince of Darkness", "Psychotron", "Rattlehead", "The Scorpion", "A Secret Place", "Set the World Afire", "Seven", "Sin", "Skin o' My Teeth", "The Skull Beneath the Skin", "Sweating Bullets", "Take No Prisoners", "Tears in a Vial", "These Boots", "This Planet's On Fire (Burn In Hell)", "Tornado of Souls", "Trust", "United Abominations", "Wanderlust", "When", "Whose Life (Is It Anyways?)")
G♯4 ("Almost Honest", "Back in the Day", "Breadline", "Designer Behavior", "Elysian Fields", "Head Crusher", "Hearts Will Bleed", "Look Who's Talking", "My Kingdom", "My Town", "No Pain", "Problems", "Reckoning Day", "Roadman", "Take No Prisoners", "À Tout Le Monde", "Voices", "Wanderlust")
G4 ("99 Ways to Die", "Almost Honest", "Anarchy in the U.K.", "Ashes in Your Mouth", "Back in the Day", "Black Swan", "Blackmail the Universe", "Blessed Are the Dead", "Built for War", "Bullet to the Brain", "Burn!", "Burning Bridges", "Coming Home", "Deadly Nightshade", "Death from Within", "The Doctor Is Calling", "Dogs Of Chernobyl", "Ecstasy", "Endgame", "Five Magics", "Foreclosure of a Dream", "Foreign Policy", "Gears of War", "Guns, Drugs and Money", "The Hardest Part of Letting Go… Sealed With a Kiss", "Holy Wars...The Punishment Due", "Hook in Mouth", "How the Story Ends", "I'll Get Even", "Insomnia", "Liar", "Life In Hell", "Lying in State", "Mastermind", "Melt the Ice Away", "New World Order", "Night Stalkers", "Off the Edge", "One Thing", "Outshined" live Tokyo 2017, "Paranoid", "Play for Blood", "Police Truck", "Prince of Darkness", "Promises", "Psychotron", "Rust in Peace...Polaris", "School's Out", "The Scorpion", "Set the World Afire", "Seven", "She-Wolf", "Sleepwalker", "Soldier On!", "Sudden Death", "Super Collider", "Tears in a Vial", "This Day We Fight!", "This Planet's On Fire (Burn In Hell)", "This Was My Life", "Truth Be Told", "United Abominations", "Use the Man", "Vortex", "Washington Is Next", "We the People", "We'll Be Back", "When")
F♯4 ("13", "1320'", "44 Minutes", "Am I Evil?" live Bulgaria 2010, "Architecture of Aggression", "Black Curtains", "Black Swan", "Breakpoint", "Burnt Ice", "Day the Music Died", "Delivering the Goods", "Designer Behavior", "Dread and the Fugitive Mind", "Endgame, "Family Tree", "Fast Lane", "FFF", "Foreign Policy", "Kick the Chair", "Lucretia", "My Sweet Lord" live Buenos Aires 1997, "Never Dead", "Never Walk Alone… a Call to Arms", "No More Mister Nice Guy", "Nothing Is Something", "Of Mice and Men", "Recipe for Hate… Warhorse", "Rust in Peace...Polaris", "Sacrifice", "Take No Prisoners", "This Day We Fight!", "Tornado of Souls", "Trust", "Vortex", "Whose Life (Is It Anyways?)", "You're Dead", "Youthanesia")
Significant Low Notes:
E3 ("1000 Times Goodbye", "13", "Amerikhastan", "Architecture of Aggression", "Blackmail the Universe", "Blessed Are the Dead", "Bodies", "Breadline", "Burnt Ice", "Captive Honour", "Cold Sweat", "Countdown to Extinction", "Dance in the Rain", "Deadly Nightshade", "Disconnect", "The Disintegrators", "The Doctor Is Calling", "Dread and the Fugitive Mind", "Endgame", "Fast Lane", "Fatal Illusion", "Go to Hell", "Guns, Drugs and Money", "Head Crusher" live Moscow 2012, "Holy Wars...The Punishment Due", "How the Story Ends", "In My Darkest Hour", "Kill The King", "Killing Is My Business...And Business Is Good!", "My Kingdom", "Psychotron", "Recipe for Hate… Warhorse", "Return to Hangar", "The Right to Go Insane", "The Scorpion", "Seven", "She-Wolf", "Sleepwalker", "Something That I'm Not", "Sudden Death", "Sweating Bullets", "These Boots", "This Was My Life", "Time: The Beginning", "Truth Be Told", "United Abominations", "Use the Man", "Wake Up Dead", "Washington Is Next", "Wrecker", "You're Dead")
E♭3 ("Angry Again", "Crush 'Em", "Diadems", "Family Tree", "Fight Hate", "Hell's Motel", "The Killing Road", "Look Who's Talking", "Nothing Is Something", "Reckoning Day", "The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!", "À Tout Le Monde", "Voices", "Youthanesia")
D3 ("1000 Times Goodbye", "44 Minutes", "Almost Honest", "Beginning of Sorrow", "The Blackest Crow", "Bodies", "Burn!", "Burning Bridges", "Célebutante", "Coming Home", "Dance in the Rain", "Death from Within", "Die Dead Enough", "Disconnect", "Dogs Of Chernobyl", "Don't Turn You Back", "Dread and the Fugitive Mind" live Hellfest 2022, "Ecstasy", "Endgame", "Guns, Drugs and Money", "The Hardest Part of Letting Go… Sealed With a Kiss", "Holy Wars...The Punishment Due" live Hellfest 2022, "I'll Be There", "Junkie", "Killing Time", "Kingmaker", "Life In Hell", "Lying in the State", "Night Stalkers", "Off the Edge", "Peace Sells" live Hellfest 2022, "Poisonous Shadows", "Police Truck", "Post American World", "Prince of Darkness", "Promises", "Public Enemy No. 1", "Recipe for Hate… Warhorse", "The Right to Go Insane", "Seven", "She-Wolf", "Sudden Death", "Sweating Bullets", "Symphony of Destruction", "The Threat Is Real", "Time: The Beginning", "À Tout Le Monde" live Hellfest 2022, "Trust", "Use the Man", "Wake Up Dead" live Bloodstock 2017, "Wanderlust", "Washington Is Next")
C♯3 ("Addicted to Chaos", "Angry Again", "Bullet to the Brain", "Family Tree", "I'll Get Even", "Looking Down the Cross", "Promises", "Public Enemy No. 1", "Reckoning Day", "Sacrifice", "The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!", "Sleepwalker", "This Day We Fight!")
C3 ("Anarchy in the U.K." live Mesa 1997, "Beginning of Sorrow", "The Blackest Crow", "Built for War", "Burn!", "Death from Within", "Forget to Remember", "Last Rites/Loved to Deth", "Mission To Mars", "Poisonous Shadows", "Police Truck", "Post American World", "A Secret Place", "She-Wolf" live at Resurrection Fest EG 2018, "Sweating Bullets" live Hellfest 2022, "Symphony of Destruction" New York Acoustic 2013, "Trust" live Hellfest 2022, "Wanderlust")
B2 ("44 Minutes", "Breadline", "Bullet to the Brain", "The Doctor Is Calling", "Dread and the Fugitive Mind", "I'll Get Even", "In My Darkest Hour", "Kill The King", "Look Who's Talking", "Losing My Senses", "Mastermind", "Millenium of the Blind", "The Scorpion", "Time: The Beginning", "Washington Is Next")
B♭2 ("Angry Again", "The Blackest Crow", "Dawn Patrol", "Nothing Is Something", "Promises")
A2 ("Amerikhastan", "Built for War", "Célebutante", "The Hardest Part of Letting Go… Sealed With a Kiss", "Have Cool, Will Travel", Humming the riff to Apache Never Mind the Buzzcocks, "Insomnia", "Junkie", "Killing Time", "Losing My Senses", "Never Say Die", "Night Stalkers", "Sacrifice", "A Secret Place" Live Boston 1998, "The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!", "Tears in a Vial", "Time: The Beginning" live Toronto 2001, "Trust", "When", "Wild Irish Rose" Live Nashville 2013, "The World Needs a Hero")
G♯2 ("Prince of Darkness", "Roadman", "Seven", "Wanderlust")
G2 ("Civil War", "Dance in the Rain", "Dogs Of Chernobyl", "Killing Time", "Millenium of the Blind", "Recipe for Hate… Warhorse", "A Secret Place" Live Boston 1998, "Trust" Spanish Version, "The World Needs a Hero")
F♯2 ("Dawn Patrol" live Athens 2012, "The Doctor Is Calling", "Last Dying Wish")
F2 ("The Conjuring", "The Creed", "Family Tree", "I'll Be There", "Moto Psycho", "Poisonous Shadows", "Psychopathy", "Wild Irish Rose" Live Nashville 2013)
E2 ("Gears of War", "The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!", "Trust" live Guitar Center Sessions 2012)
D2 ("Dogs Of Chernobyl")
C2 ("Life In Hell")
B♭5 ("Last Rites/Loved to Deth" [1])
A5 ("Last Rites/Loved to Deth" [1])
E5 ("Junkie" [4])
E♭5 ("Dawn Patrol" live Athens 2012 [3], "Mary Jane" [5a], "Take No Prisoners" Demo version [5])
D5 ("Life In Hell" [4])
E2 ("Almost Honest" [3], "Blackmail the Universe" [2][4], "Seven" [2][4], "Sin" [2][4])
D2 ("Gears of War" [3], "United Abominations" [3])
G1 ("Life In Hell" [3])
F1 ("Dawn Patrol" [3a])
E1 ("Never Dead" [3])
.......................................................
[1] marks yelps and short trills in high range or anacrusis and short dips in low range.
[2] marks notes of questionable identity that cannot be confirmed to be the singer in question.
[3] marks non-melodic notes that don't have a significant enough pitch to warrant inclusion.
(a) This song is pretty much fry-speak galore. F1 is the lowest note in the song that still holds somewhat of a pitch.
[4] marks notes that possess uncertain pitch or have been pitch-shifted.
[5] marks notes that do not fit the previous criteria but are not of a substantial enough quality to warrant counting towards the singer's range.
(a) Brief and overshot.
Additional formatting and bolds by falsetokaiba . Old thread by kewis . A5 ("Last Rites/Loved to Deth" [1])
E5 ("Junkie" [4])
E♭5 ("Dawn Patrol" live Athens 2012 [3], "Mary Jane" [5a], "Take No Prisoners" Demo version [5])
D5 ("Life In Hell" [4])
E2 ("Almost Honest" [3], "Blackmail the Universe" [2][4], "Seven" [2][4], "Sin" [2][4])
D2 ("Gears of War" [3], "United Abominations" [3])
G1 ("Life In Hell" [3])
F1 ("Dawn Patrol" [3a])
E1 ("Never Dead" [3])
.......................................................
[1] marks yelps and short trills in high range or anacrusis and short dips in low range.
[2] marks notes of questionable identity that cannot be confirmed to be the singer in question.
[3] marks non-melodic notes that don't have a significant enough pitch to warrant inclusion.
(a) This song is pretty much fry-speak galore. F1 is the lowest note in the song that still holds somewhat of a pitch.
[4] marks notes that possess uncertain pitch or have been pitch-shifted.
[5] marks notes that do not fit the previous criteria but are not of a substantial enough quality to warrant counting towards the singer's range.
(a) Brief and overshot.
.......................................................
Blue indicates falsetto notes.
Grey indicates heavily fry-ish notes.
Underlines mark notes in backing vocals or otherwise obscured in the song mix.
Italics mark non-melodic notes.
