10 Most Underrated Megadeth Songs
7. FFF
"Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."
Take this famous Benjamin Franklin quote, run it through a heavy metal mincer and the result would be FFF (Fight For Freedom). The song arrived in 1997 as a part of the polarising 'Cryptic Warnings' LP. Many critics and listeners were disappointed by the album's lack of thrash metal ferocity.
Opting for a more experimental sound, songs like 'FFF' explode off the CD at a blink-and-you'll-miss-it pace. Lyrically, the track balances the positives and negatives of freedom vs. security. Ultimately, Mustaine favours freedom first, embracing the danger of an autonomous life.
With a lean, mean, no nonsense composition, 'FFF' is not one of Megadeth's more grand scale epics. However, the blend of speed metal tempos and rebellious spirit lyrics make it an energising headbanger. In what became his final outing as a band member, drummer Nick Menza furiously rocks the house here. His lightning quick stick work keeps the song chugging along with gusto.
The title is a nod to an actual gang in southern California who were connected to multiple political demonstrations as well as the devastating 1992 LA riots. It remains one of Megadeth's most politically charged anthems.