LAMB OF GOD has joined forces with MEGADETH to remake a true classic. Originally released in 1986, "Wake Up Dead" was the lead single from MEGADETH's iconic multi-platinum selling album "Peace Sells… But Who's Buying?" And now, one week before the second installment of "The Metal Tour Of The Year" is set to commence, LAMB OF GOD has released "Wake Up Dead" featuring MEGADETH leader Dave Mustaine as well as the other three members of the current lineup of MEGADETH. LAMB OF GOD vocalist Randy Blythe, guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler, bassist John Campbell and drummer Art Cruz recorded the MEGADETH classic remotely and recruited the MEGADETH frontman himself to feature guitar and vocals on the song. Mustaine lent his signature vocal to the track, with lead guitar work on the various solos by Morton, as well as Mustaine and MEGADETH guitarist Kiko Loureiro. The recording also includes vocal contributions from Loureiro and other MEGADETH members Dirk Verbeuren and James LoMenzo.
Commented Mustaine: "We had a blast playing with LAMB OF GOD on their cover of 'Wake Up Dead'. Almost as much fun as we're going to have playing every night on 'The Metal Tour Of The Year'. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone!"
Added Blythe: "The first leg of 'The Metal Tour Of The Year' back in 2021 was a total blast, and we're about to take it on the road again. What better way to kick it off than a little inter-band jam session? All nine members of MEGADETH and LAMB OF GOD are on the thrash classic 'Wake Up Dead'. Turn it up, and we'll see you on the road!”
Said Morton: "'Wake Up Dead' was a massively important song for me as an aspiring young guitar player. It was one of the first songs that began my lifelong love of thrash metal and helped reinforce for me that, while solos may be fun, my allegiance is to the RIFF! So you can imagine what a thrill it's been for LAMB to cover this legendary song with Dave and the rest of the MEGADETH guys. Truly an honor. We all had a lot of fun putting this together and I think you can hear that energy in the track. I hope everybody enjoys this one and we can’t wait to see y'all on 'The Metal Tour Of The Year'."
The 2022 leg of LAMB OF GOD's "The Metal Tour Of The Year" with MEGADETH will kick off on Saturday, April 9 in Las Vegas, Nevada and hit a further 21 cities before wrapping in Allentown, Pennsylvania on Sunday, May 15.
LAMB OF GOD recently entered a California studio with longtime producer Josh Wilbur (KORN, MEGADETH, GOJIRA, TRIVIUM) to record some of its brand music, tentatively due later in the year.
LAMB OF GOD's upcoming effort will be the follow-up to the band's self-titled album, which was released in June 2020 via Epic Records in the U.S. and Nuclear Blast Records in Europe. That LP marked LAMB OF GOD's first recordings with Art Cruz, who joined the band in July 2019 as the replacement for the group's founding drummer, Chris Adler.
"Lamb Of God" was recorded with Wilbur and included special guest appearances by Jamey Jasta (HATEBREED) and Chuck Billy (TESTAMENT).
