"Night Stalkers" is a song by American thrash metal band Megadeth. The song was released on July 22, 2022,[2] as the second single from their sixteenth studio album, The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead!. The song features rapper Ice-T on guest vocals roughly halfway through the song.[3][4]
| "Night Stalkers" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Megadeth featuring Ice-T | ||||
| from the album The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead! | ||||
| A-side | We'll Be Back[1] | |||
| Released | July 22, 2022 | |||
| Recorded | 2019–2021 | |||
| Genre | Thrash metal | |||
| Length | 6:38 | |||
| Label | Tradecraft/Universal | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) |
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| Megadeth featuring Ice-T singles chronology | ||||
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Music and lyrics
editOn the song's lyrical content, frontman Dave Mustaine said, "It's a brutal song. 'Night Stalkers' is about the 160th Battalion with the United States Army, and it's all the black-ops helicopters that go in at night — nobody knows they're there; they're in, they're out. And I had my buddy Ice-T join me on a part in the middle of it, because Ice was a ranger for the army, and he did two tours over in Afghanistan, I think it was."[5]
Mustaine also commented, "I think that's the fastest song we've ever done – 190 bpm... the song... needed that frantic pace because Night Stalker is a secret helicopter division of the military. They fly missions at night and no one knows what they're gonna do until it happens."[6][7][8]
Music video
editA music video was made for the song, the second of the three music videos leading up to the release of the album, chronicling the origins of the band's mascot Vic Rattlehead.[9][10] The "Night Stalkers" music video shows Vic Rattlehead's transformation from a husband, father and soldier into an almost Darth Vader-esque monstrosity who exacts revenge on his enemies as he's haunted by memories from his past.[11]
Personnel
editMegadeth
- Dave Mustaine – rhythm guitar, lead vocals, additional bass[12]
- Kiko Loureiro – lead guitar, backing vocals, flute[13]
- Dirk Verbeuren – drums
Additional musicians
- Steve Di Giorgio – bass
- Ice-T – guest vocals[14]
- Eric Darken – percussion on tracks
- Roger Lima – keyboards and effects
Production
- Dave Mustaine – co-production, engineering, art concept
- Chris Rakestraw – co-production, engineering
- Lowell Reynolds – assistant engineering
- Maddie Harmon – assistant engineering
- Rick West – drum technician
- Josh Wilbur – mixing
- Ted Jensen – mastering
References
edit- ^ "Megadeth – Night Stalkers / We'll Be Back". discogs. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
- ^ "Megadeth join forces with Ice-T for pummeling new single, Night Stalkers". Guitar World. July 22, 2022. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
- ^ Trapp, Philip. "Megadeth Team Up With Ice-T on Scorching New Song 'Night Stalkers'". Loudwire. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
- ^ Grow, Kory (July 22, 2022). "See Megadeth and Ice-T Live Out Revenge Fantasy in 'Night Stalkers' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
- ^ Peacock, Tim (July 22, 2022). "ADVERTISEMENT Megadeth Share Ferocious New Single 'Night Stalkers: Chapter II' Ft. Ice-T". U Discover Music. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
- ^ Jackson Maxwell (August 10, 2022). "Dave Mustaine reveals the fastest song Megadeth have ever written, and it is 190 bpm". guitarworld. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
- ^ Childers, Chad. "Dave Mustaine Reveals Which New Megadeth Song Is Their Fastest Ever". Loudwire. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
- ^ "See Megadeth's Action-Packed Video for New Song "Night Stalkers" Featuring Ice-T". Revolver. July 22, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
- ^ "Hear Megadeth's Ferocious New Song "We'll Be Back"". Revolver. June 23, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
- ^ Lanaheaney (June 27, 2022). "MEGADETH - WE'LL BE BACK". 360 MAGAZINE. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
- ^ Rolli, Bryan. "Hear Megadeth Recruit Ice-T for Blistering 'Night Stalkers'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
- ^ "Dave Mustaine On David Ellefson: 'The Guy That I Know And Love Was A Different Person'". Blabbermouth.net. August 31, 2022. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
- ^ "Megadeth's Kiko Loureiro – Working With Dave Mustaine, Nerves Before First Gig + More". Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Megadeth: Dave Mustaine's track-by-track guide to The Sick, The…". Kerrang!. Retrieved September 13, 2022.