Megadeth's debut album, , was released in 1985 to critical acclaim. The album's fast-paced, aggressive sound was a breath of fresh air in the metal scene, and songs like "Killing Is My Business..." and "My Last Serenade" showcased the band's technical prowess.

: A more straightforward, hard-rock-oriented effort that divided fans much like Risk did, focusing on traditional rock grooves rather than hyper-speed thrash.