The Boston Phoenix recently conducted an interview with MEGADETH frontman Dave Mustaine. Excerpts from the interview are below:

The Boston Phoenix: Where do you see the state of metal today?

Dave Mustaine: “The state of metal today is kind of relative. If you're part of the Big Four, you're doing safe; if you're not, you're pretty much going to be scratching and clawing to be successful nowadays. You know, there are a lot of really great bands that are out, but there is also a glut of talentless bands that have appealed to a younger generation at a time when guitar solos weren't important and times where singing with a melodic voice and more importantly, words that you can understand, those things aren't really important anymore to bands and I think that's probably why they have a born on date.”

The Boston Phoenix: What's it mean for you to finally bring the Big Four to the states?

Dave Mustaine: “Well, I wish that there were more than just the two shows that are on the history books for now. I would love for us to do some more dates next summer. But you gotta take into consideration it's such a big outfit to be moving from place to place.”

The Boston Phoenix: METALLICA just announced that they were doing an album with LOU REED and were in the studio with THE KINKS' Ray Davies. Could you ever see yourself doing a similar project with them?

Dave Mustaine: “Well, I already did a project with Metallica a long time ago. You mean another project with Metallica? I dunno. . . . If they're digging up old guys to rock with, those guys are a little bit older than I am, I may have to have my AARP card to do it [laughs]. No, of course I would do it — that was my band. Megadeth was what the next logical step was in my musical career. It was a natural progression, but if an opportunity came for us to play again — I think that would be ideal, and I've talked to James about this before. And he didn't say "No," that he and I and Lars and [Megadeth bassist] David Ellefson should do a record together and see what happens. Not as a band or anything like that, but something to donate the money to charity. We're all getting a lot older now and just the fact that we're talking was a great start. Playing together is even better, and the idea of us doing something together could be just too much for my little brain to handle and it might just explode.

Read the entire interview here.

Mustaine is also featured in a new video interview where he talks about the track ‘Never Dead’ for which the band recorded specifically for the soundtrack to the Konami game of the same name. The song will also appear on the band's new album TH1RT3EN. Watch the video below:

Megadeth's thirteenth album, titled TH1RT3EN, will be released November 1st via Roadrunner Records in North America. TH1RT3EN will be released in Japan on October 26th with a bonus track (to be revealed). Release dates for other territories will be announced soon.

Megadeth's next show is September 14th alongside METALLICA, SLAYER and ANTHRAX as part of The Big 4 at Yankee Stadium in New York, NY.