MEGADETH Drummer Checks In From Studio

MEGADETH drummer Shawn Drover has issued the following update:

"So here I am back at the new MEGADETH recording studio/warehouse, and I must say that progress is really being made here. [Producer] Andy Sneap (NEVERMORE, ARCH ENEMY, EXODUS) is down here with us, getting his 'realm' ready, and of course, helping out with everything else. In one week, we have become a great tag-team in terms of getting a daily game plan, and getting it done (like there is another way, right?!!) The control room was the mission yesterday, and it looks so killer now. We are both really jacked up about it. I would estimate that within two weeks or so, this entire operation will be 100%.

"Good times here, folks.

"A little side note here. My son Ryan's band (ORACLE'S END) is playing their first proper show in Atlanta at The Masquerade tonight. I cannot make the show and that completely sucks out loud, but I will be thinking of him all day today and wish him and his band the best of luck!!!! It wasn't that long ago (small lie here — it was 25 years ago) that Glen [Drover; ex-MEGADETH guitarist and Shawn's brother] and I played out first club show in Toronto. Man, was that exciting back then — I hope Ryan is feeling the same way."

According to a posting on MEGADETH's official web site, the band's forthcoming DVD will contain a complete concert recorded on May 20, 2008 at the Cox Arena in San Diego during this year's Gigantour. The other acts on the bill — IN FLAMES, CHILDREN OF BODOM, JOB FOR A COWBOY and HIGH ON FIRE — were apparently offered a chance to be part of the DVD but declined.

MEGADETH will embark on the "Priest Feast" European tour with headliners JUDAS PRIEST and openers TESTAMENT in February 2009.

Andy Sneap produced MEGADETH's last album, "United Abominations", which came out in May 2007 via Roadrunner Records.

MEGADETH's forthcoming CD will be the group's first with guitarist Chris Broderick (NEVERMORE, JAG PANZER),who replaced Glen Drover at the end of last year.

MEGADETH's "Anthology: Set The World Afire" (Capitol/EMI) career-spanning 2-CD and digital collection sold around 2,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

"Anthology: Set The World Afire" features MEGADETH's top hits and fan favorites, a previously unreleased demo and two rare concert recordings. It is loaded with 35 electrifying tracks, among them MEGADETH's top hits, including "Trust", "A Tout Le Monde", "Insomnia" and "Train of Consequences". Also included are rare 1992 concert recordings of "Peace Sells" and "Symphony of Destruction", previously available only in limited release, the latter having never been released in the U.S. "High Speed Dirt" is a demo version, previously unreleased.