Prior to the Metal Allegiance show on January 9th at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, CA, Natalia Britt at California Rock News caught up with Megadeth bassist David Ellefson. In the clip below he discusses Lemmy Kilmister and the legend's influence, the Metal Allegiance debut album, Megadeth, and more.

In a new interview with Vice's Noisey, Megadeth frontman/founder Dave Mustaine discussed the band's new album, Dystopia. An excerpt from the in-depth interview, which covers everything from music politics to religion, follows:

Noisey: I know you’re coming from that more conservative viewpoint, which is more common in heavy metal than people may assume; it’s a genre that places an emphasis on tradition and individual freedoms—views that are themselves often interpreted as conservative.

Mustaine: "I'm not really that conservative, by the way. I'm loyal to what my viewpoints are. My mom was first-generation American, she was born in Germany, so I have a lot of European influence in my upbringing, and I don't really think that I'm conservative as much as some of the other people, but I do know I'm loyal to the bands and the people that I like. People have made a big deal about my faith, but for god's sake, the bass player of Megadeth is a pastor, why doesn't anybody bring that up?"

Noisey: Because you’re the lightning rod.

Mustaine: "Yeah! It has nothing to do with Christianity, it has to do with me and what I believe in. I could be a Presbyterian, and say that when you die you get thrown up onto the roof of your house or something like that. It’s because of what I believe. No one goes up against David Ellefson and says, 'So you believe in God, huh?' Dave is kind one of those dudes that he's not the lightning rod."

Go to this location for the complete interview.

Megadeth’s anxiously-awaited fifteenth studio album, Dystopia, is due out on January 22nd via Univeral Music Enterprises. The album’s title track is now streaming below:

Megadeth has announced that they will give their fans the ultimate cutting edge experience in Virtual Reality. The band will head into a special Virtual Reality set-up with director Blair Underwood where they will perform and film five songs from Dystopia - "Fatal Illusion," "Dystopia," The Threat Is Real," "Poisonous Shadows," and "Post American World."

As a director, DGA member Underwood directed the 2009 independent feature The Bridge To Nowhere, as well as several music videos, short films and commercials. He is currently recurring on ABC's hit series, Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. The band's performance will appear within the fallen city of a dystopian world modelled after the world created in Megadeth's new music video for "The Threat Is Real”.

Next Galaxy Corp., a leading developer of innovative content solutions and immersive consumer virtual reality technology will create a dystopian universe surrounding the band, and allow fans to virtually enter, engage and explore this parallel world. Released on January 22nd, fans will be able to purchase the new album, a CEEK Virtual Reality cardbox headset with instructions, and a download code to access and unlock exclusive content, which will also be simultaneously launched with the release of Dystopia to begin their VR Experience. This special CD package will be available at all physical and online retailers.

Exclusive hand-signed bundles for the upcoming Dystopia album are now available for pre-order in the official Megadeth store.

Place your order at this location.

Dystopia was produced by Mustaine and Toby Wright (Alice In Chains, Korn). Megadeth’s new lineup features founding members Dave Mustaine (guitar, vocals) and David Ellefson (bass) along with Lamb Of God drummer Chris Adler and Brazilian-born Angra guitarist Kiko Loureiro.

Dystopia tracklisting:

“Death From Within”
“Fatal Illusion”
“Conquer... Or Die!”
“Lying In State"
“Me Hate You"
“The Emperor's New Clothes”
“Dystopia”
“Bullet To The Brain”
“Last Dying Wish”
“Post American World”
“Look Who's Talking”
“The Threat Is Real”
“Poisonous Shadows”
“Melt The Ice Away” (Budgie cover)
“Foreign Policy” (Fear cover)

“The Threat Is Real” video:

“Fatal Illusion”:

Photo by Jeremy Saffer