In My Darkest Hour

"In My Darkest Hour" is a song by the American thrash metal band Megadeth. It is the sixth track from their third studio album So Far, So Good... So What! It was released as a promotional single in 1988. The song is frequently performed live by the band. The song was featured in the documentary The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years, where it received a music video[1] as well as featuring on the films official soundtrack released under Capitol.[2] Dave Mustaine has said that the song has one his favorite solos that he has written.[3]

This article is about the Megadeth song. For the Symphony X song, see Underworld (Symphony X album).
"In My Darkest Hour"
Promotional single by Megadeth
from the album So Far, So Good... So What!
ReleasedJune 17, 1988 (1988-06-17)
Recorded1987
Recording studioMusic Grinder, Los Angeles
Length6:16 (6:26 on 2004 reissue)
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Paul Lani
  • Dave Mustaine
Megadeth singles chronology
"Mary Jane"
(1988)		 "In My Darkest Hour"
(1988)		 "No More Mr. Nice Guy"
(1989)
Music video
"In My Darkest Hour" on YouTube

Development

The music of the song was written by band frontman Dave Mustaine in a single sitting after a friend had contacted Mustaine to inform him of Metallica bassist Cliff Burton's passing. Mustaine was frustrated with the members of Metallica for not contacting him personally, stating in an interview:[4]

I took it really personal because, I figured, "You fuckers, you know we're all brothers in a band and he dies and you have someone else call me?" So I took it very, very, very bad.

— Dave Mustaine

The "darkest hour" mentioned in the song refer to general loneliness and isolation, however the lyrics and song subject refer to an ex-girlfriend of Mustaine's.[4] The song was released as a promotional single for the film The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years, in which the song features as part of the film's official soundtrack. Penelope Spheeris stated she had the song close the film "... because everything had been a little light and fluffy before that."[5] And that she needed something "...more substantial."[5]

Critical reception

Adrien Begrand of MSN Music, said the song is one of Dave Mustaine's "...greatest achievements as a songwriter" and that it is "an all-time metal classic."[6] Mike Stagno of Sputnikmusic said that the song: "...could be considered a classic" and that it "...represents Dave's finest writing, lyrically and musically".[7] Holger Stratmann of Rock Hard, called it an "excellent song".[8] Conversely, Matthew Clouse of Osyssey, said it "...is easily the most overrated Megadeth track of all time" but that he "believe(s) it is a good song, but not a great one."[9]

Music video

The music video accompanying the song was directed by Penelope Spheeris and featured a trimmed version of the song (from 6:16 to 5:12), intercut with interview footage of the band as well as a live performance of the song. The music video was banned from airing on MTV following accusations the lyrics promoted suicide.[10][11]

Covers

In 2012, the Swedish band NonExist, covered the song, with MetalSucks reacting to it unfavorably.[12]

Legacy

In 2018, Billboard ranked the song 5th on their list of "The 15 Best Megadeth Songs".[13] Loudwire called the song "one of Mustaine's greatest songs"[14] and ranked it as the 7th best Megadeth song.[15] Metal Hammer called it one of the most overlooked Megadeth songs.[16] MusicRadar called it of the 5 songs guitarists need to hear by Megadeth.[17] Penelope Spheeris stated "It's a very, very heavy song and a really kind of classic piece of Megadeth that really displays their philosophy in a beautiful way".[18]

Accolades
Year Publication Country Accolade Rank
2022 Louder Sound United States The Top 20 Best Megadeth Songs Ranked[19] 6
2018 Billboard United Kingdom The 15 Best Megadeth Songs: Critic’s Picks[20] 5

Personnel

Megadeth

Production
  • Produced by Paul Lani and Dave Mustaine
  • Engineered by Paul Lani with Matt Freeman
  • Mixed by Michael Wagener
  • Executive Produced by Tim Carr
  • Mastered by Stephen Marcussen

References
  1. Herzog, Kenny (2011-07-18). "Dave Mustaine". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  2. The Decline Of Western Civilization, Part II: The Metal Years - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2020-08-26
  3. Childers, Chad (2021-11-11). "Megadeth's Dave Mustaine Reveals Favorite Guitar Solos He Wrote". Loudwire. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
  4. Grow, Kory (2017-01-11). "Megadeth's Dave Mustaine: My Life in 15 Songs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  5. Dalton, Stephen (2018-06-07). "The 7 best scenes from the Decline Of Western Civilization". Loudersound. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
  6. Begrand, Adrien (2013-01-25). "Megadeth, 'So Far, So Good...So What!'". MSN Music. Archived from the original on 2013-11-09. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
  7. Stagno, Mike (2007-04-25). "Megadeth - So Far, So Good... So What! (staff review)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
  8. Stratmann, Holger. "Megadeth: So Far, So Good... So What!" (in German). Rock Hard. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
  9. Clouse, Matthew (2017-08-01). "Megadeth: 'So Far, So Good... So What!' Album Review". Odyssey. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
  10. "MEGADETH - IN MY DARKEST HOUR - FROM THE VAULT". SkullsNBones Metal Website. 2012-04-24. Retrieved 2021-11-28.
  11. Arnett, Jeffrey Jensen (1996). Metalheads: Heavy Metal Music And Adolescent Alienation. Westview Press. ISBN 0-8133-2813-6.
  12. "Nonexist's Version of "In My Darkest Hour" is the Worst Megadeth Cover Ever". MetalSucks. 2012-10-25. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
  13. Titus, Christa (2018-03-15). "The 15 Best Megadeth Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
  14. Ives, Brian (2018-01-19). "Megadeth's 'So Far, So Good… So What': Their Underrated Masterpiece". Loudwire. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
  15. Hartmann, Greg (2012-09-13). "10 Best Megadeth Songs". Loudwire. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  16. Beaulieu, Corey (2016-01-06). "The 10 best Megadeth songs you may have overlooked". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  17. Horsley, Jonathan (2021-04-17). "5 songs guitarists need to hear by... Megadeth". MusicRadar. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  18. Heller, Noah (16 March 2021). "Dave Mustaine: He was Too Maniacal for Metallica". Musicoholics. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
  19. Stewart-Panko, Kevin (14 July 2022). "The top 20 best Megadeth songs ranked". Louder Sound. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  20. Titus, Christina. "The 15 Best Megadeth Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
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