Brandon Sun has posted an interview with MEGADETH leader Dave Mustaine, conducted by Michael Oliveira for The Canadian Press. A few excerpts follow:

On being a big band: "We're not as big as I'd hoped to be right now, but there were some decisions I'd made while I was growing up, not only in my own personal life but as a band leader and as a businessman, there were some decisions I made that would've probably been better if I decided to make the opposite choice of what I did. But I'm absolutely 100 per cent content with who and what I am right now. I don't want to come off like a sour grape, dude. I'm not discontent with anything right now, I'm so happy I can't even imagine what life was like before this. I don't wish I was in a bigger band right now, I'm totally happy with who I am."

On radio play: "The average (person) doesn't want to hear about killing or savagery or brutality or most of the things people in metal bands sing about — AC/DC gets played on the radio because they're a rock 'n' roll band. So the potential to play to a new audience is just really interesting for me, to be able to get exposure in different genres. The intent of both DISTURBED and GODSMACK is to be popular and heavy at the same time, and those are two things we are."

On the music business: "I think the record business is just like anything else, it's going to regulate itself, it's going to correct itself, the problem is that all the pigs were in there with their hands on the steering wheel and they got what they deserved. Musicians that say they don't care, that they'd give it away for free are stupid, they've never been hungry. If you're just going out there and being reckless and careless and just letting your songs be downloaded for free and not caring it's probably going to be reflected in your longevity."

Read more at this location.

Megadeth's David Ellefson and Shawn Drover have checked in from the band's photo shoot for their new album at their personal studio Vic's Garage in San Marcos, CA. Check out the clip below:

Mustaine recently confirmed via Twitter that the band has once again enlisted artist John Lorenzi to create the artwork for their forthcoming album, due this fall via Roadrunner Records. Lorenzi created the artwork on Megadeth's United Abominations (2007) and Endgame (2009), as well as the band's 2007 box set Warchest.

Megadeth are putting the finishing touches to their 13th album at Vic's Garage with Johnny K, who has worked with the likes of DISTURBED, 3 DOORS DOWN and FINGER ELEVEN.

When asked about the new material, Mustaine told BraveWords.com: "I’ve never set out to do a record and wanted it to be like, ‘it needs to be fast’ or ‘it needs to be faster than the last record’ or ‘it can’t be fast. It needs to be slow and heavy’ or ‘you’ve never done a concept record – what the hell is wrong with you? Why not do that?’ For me, music is music. It’s like when you put seeds into the ground. You never really know what’s going to break the surface. I still love the serendipity of making a song and not knowing what’s going to happen. You know Shawn Drover, a fellow countryman of yours and amazing drummer who is mind-blowingly good, just left today. We just finished the last track.”

Read the entire interview here.

A snippet of the new Megadeth song, 'Never Dead', is featured in the trailer below for the new NeverDead fantasy action game: