Billboard.com recently caught up with Metal Allegiance members David Ellefson (Megadeth), Alex Skolnick (Testament), Mike Portnoy (The Winery Dogs) and Mark Menghi (founder) to discuss the formation of the project and the recordings for the band's debut album. 

While multiple cooks were bustling in the songwriting kitchen, no one tried to dominate the flavor of the soup in the musical pot. 

“We all come from a very high pedigree of our histories and very blessed in our careers with the success we have,” says Ellefson, “and lots of times you get into a room with people like us, and it becomes like this swingin’ contest, if you know what I mean. ‘Well, I’ve done this, and I’ve sold more than you.’ There was none of that here. It was really a cool thing.”

The album’s vast list of talent represents a variety of musical styles. “We’re a very unlikely consortium here, because we come from very different backgrounds,” observes Ellefson. “Alex and I have certainly toured a lot together with Megadeth and Testament but had never musically done anything together. Mike (Portnoy) is pretty much known for coming from a very progressive world.”

Although the quartet was enthusiastic about recording original material, there was some trepidation about whether it could create a truly cohesive album, given said backgrounds. Portnoy, however, had no doubt it would fly. 

“I’ve done dozens of albums where you get all of these different people together, and I had a lot of faith,” he says. “I think I had to like kind of convince you guys half the time: ‘No, this will work, trust me. I know. We can work fast, we can do this.’ I’ve done a million albums like this, and I think everybody now sees, just trust your instinct.”

Check out the video interview at this location.

Metal Allegiance recently issued a video for "Gift Of Pain".

Metal Allegiance tracklisting:

“Gift Of Pain”
Vocals: D. Randall Blythe
Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick
Bass: David Ellefson
Drums: Mike Portnoy Additional
Lead Guitar: Gary Holt

“Let Darkness Fall”
Vocals: Troy Sanders
Lead, Rhythm & Acoustic Guitars: Alex Skolnick
Bass: David Ellefson
Drums & Percussion: Mike Portnoy
Additional Bass: Mark Menghi & Rex Brown
Additional Screams: D. Randall Blythe

“Can’t Kill The Devil”
Vocals: Chuck Billy
Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick
Bass: David Ellefson
Drums: Mike Portnoy
Additional Lead Guitar: Phil Demmel & Andreas Kisser

“Dying Song”
Vocals: Philip H. Anselmo
Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick
Bass: Mark Menghi
Drums: Mike Portnoy

“Scars”
Vocals: Mark Osegueda & Cristina Scabbia
Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick
Bass: David Ellefson
Drums: Mike Portnoy

“Destination: Nowhere”
Vocals: Matthew K. Heafy
Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick
Bass: David Ellefson
Drums: Mike Portnoy
Additional Lead Guitar: Matthew K. Heafy

“Wait Until Tomorrow”
Vocals: dUg Pinnick & Jamey Jasta
Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick
Bass: David Ellefson
Drums, Percussion & Additional Vocals: Mike Portnoy

“Triangulum”
I. Creation
II. Evolution
III. Destruction
Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick
Bass: David Ellefson
Drums: Mike Portnoy
Additional Lead Guitar: Misha Mansoor, Ben Weinman, Charlie Benante, Phil Demmel, Matthew K. Heafy& Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal

“Pledge Of Allegiance”
Vocals: Mark Osegueda
Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick
Bass: David Ellefson
Drums: Mike Portnoy
Additional Lead Guitar: Charlie Benante, Gary Holt & Andreas Kisser

“We Rock” (Deluxe Edition Only)
Vocals: Mark Osegueda, Chris Jericho, Tim "Ripper" Owens, Alissa White-Gluz, Chuck Billy & Steve “Zetro” Souza
Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick
Bass: David Ellefson
Drums: Mike Portnoy
Additional Lead Guitar: Andreas Kisser, Phil Demmel & Gary Holt