Recommended Track: Ashes In Your Mouth, Mustaine saves the best for last and produces another slice of thrash perfection; a classy way to close a sophisticated thrash/metal album. Easily the most commercial record on this list, Countdown to Extinction was Megadeths attempt to replicate the success of Metallica's Black album and they came remarkably close. Released in 1992, this was a forward thinking, modern reflection on Thrash that made a massive dent in the mainstream market. Double platinum status was achieved and the only reason this release was kept off the number 1 spot was because of Billy Ray Cyrus and his bloody 'Achy Breaky Heart'! Megadeth's dynamic change in musical style resulted in a more structured album, filled with memorable choruses and a streamlined hard rock formula which the band would frustratingly embrace further, with less impressive results, over following albums. On Countdown to Extinction Megadeth managed to achieve the perfect balance; old meeting new in a thrilling combination of Thrash crunch and mainstrean rock accessibility.