by Former Megadeth drummer Chris Adler has revealed that he played a significant role in writing the band’s 2016 album Dystopia. He claims he wasn’t properly credited for his contributions. The statement was shared during an interview on The Classic Metal Show via Ultimate Guitar.
Adler discussed his creative partnership with Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine. He explained how he pushed the band to return to its thrash metal roots.
“But basically, Dave and I wrote that entire record,” Adler said. “And there were parts of it where I was like, ‘This should be heavier! This should be heavier!’ I was really pushy about it, but I think he appreciated that at the time. And the songs are awesome, clearly. It went on to do great things.”
Adler’s claims add a new perspective to the history of Dystopia. The album marked a significant comeback for Megadeth and earned critical acclaim.
Wikipedia reported that the album won the Best Metal Performance Grammy Award at the 59th Grammy Awards in 2017. This cemented its place as one of Megadeth’s most successful releases. However, Adler’s tenure with the band was brief and complicated. He joined Megadeth primarily as a studio and touring drummer for the Dystopia album cycle, not as a full-time permanent member. He maintained his commitment to his original band Lamb of God throughout this period.
MetalSucks noted that Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson explained Adler was “brought in just to cut the record” because of his busy schedule with Lamb of God. Adler played just one live show with Megadeth in July 2015 at a festival in Canada before departing. His role was focused more on performing and recording drum parts rather than being positioned as a permanent creative member of the band.
Adler’s departure from both Megadeth and later from Lamb of God was influenced by health challenges. Loudwire revealed that Adler was diagnosed with musician’s focal dystonia, a neurological condition affecting muscle control. This condition impacted his drumming career. He was eventually fired from Lamb of God in 2019 partly due to illness and tension from working with other bands, including Megadeth.
Ellefson’s previous statements suggested that Adler’s involvement was primarily as a session drummer rather than a full writing contributor. However, Adler’s recent comments paint a different picture of his creative input on Dystopia. The drummer’s claims raise questions about the extent of his contributions and whether his role in shaping the album’s heavier direction has been adequately recognized in the official credits.
