text: the world needs a hero the world needs a hero is the ninth studio album by american thrash metal band megadeth , released in may 2001 by sanctuary records . after the critical and commercial failure of the previous album risk ( 1999 ) , the world needs a hero represented a change back to a heavier musical direction . subsequently , the album charted at number 16 on the billboard 200 upon release . after parting with former label capitol records , the album was the first of two megadeth studio albums to be released by sanctuary . it was the last of two studio albums to feature drummer jimmy degrasso and the only one to feature al pitrelli on lead guitar . furthermore , the world needs a hero was the last album with original bassist david ellefson until his return to megadeth in 2010 . additionally , mascot vic rattlehead appears on the cover of a megadeth album for the first time since rust in peace ( 1990 ) . background and production in 1999 , megadeth released its eighth studio album , risk . the album was noteworthy for being a drastic musical departure for the band , and the culmination of the band 's increasing attempts for mainstream success throughout the 1990s , a trend starting with countdown to extinction ( 1992 ) . the world needs a hero marks a stylistic transition towards the band 's thrash metal roots . furthermore , the album had been touted by the band as an " antidote " to risk in a press release . however , the album has been noted by several music critics as still retaining some commercial feel from previous albums . according to frontman dave mustaine , the album title refers to stereotypical rock stars . when asked about the matter , and an earlier comment about axl rose having killed the traditional rock star image , mustaine explained that " people want heroes . most bands look like average joes , wearing gas - station shirts , have funky hair - dos and i think people wanna be able to go ' they may not be popular , but they 're my band . ' " mustaine went on to say that many of contemporary rock music groups looked and sounded the same , and that the music industry needed a hero . he then proceeded to contrast a perceived lack of image of then current music scenes with the image of 1980s metal bands like iron maiden and judas priest . in another interview , mustaine offered a more straightforward interpretation of the album title . commenting on negative stories in the news , such as wars and natural disasters , mustaine inferred that the world at that time was in need of a hero to solve various problems around the planet . the album cover by hugh syme shows mascot vic rattlehead breaking out of mustaine . songs the album 's lead single was " moto psycho " , and a video was also made for this song . the song is about people who commute every day to work , spending a lot of time on the road . " dread and the fugitive mind " was released on the capitol punishment compilation a year earlier , at the insistence of megadeth 's former label , capitol records . the album 's opener , " " , is explained by mustaine as being about living a double life and " the person i want you to think that i am and the person inside that i really know i am . " " coming home " was only available on the japanese pressing as a bonus track , but has since been released on the box set . mustaine has stated that concept for " promises " is " prejudiced relationships , " such as those between a catholic and a protestant in ireland , interracial and same - sex relationships , " it could be about a guy and a sheep for all i care . it just means that if we can 't be together in this life , maybe we 'll make it in the next . " when asked if " recipe for hate ... " was written about any particular person , mustaine said that there were " a whole bunch of people that 'd probably deserve that song , " but didn 't single out anyone in particular . " silent scorn " is an instrumental song which is often played over the sound system at concerts ; this can be heard on the band 's live album rude awakening ( 2002 ) right after the final song in the set , " holy wars ... the punishment due " . " return to hangar " is a sequel to " hangar 18 " from rust in peace ; the captive aliens from the first song escape and kill their captors . on the live albums rude awakening and that one night : live in buenos aires ( 2007 ) it is played back - to - back with " hangar 18 " . the main riff and structure of " when " , the album 's closing number , is reminiscent of " am i evil ? " by diamond head , which mustaine said was intentional . release and promotion the album was released on may 15 , 2001 in the united states and sold 61 , 000 copies in its first week of release , entering the billboard 200 at number 16 . the album sold another 25 , 000 copies in its second week , falling to number 59 . the album also charted in poland ( # 17 ) , germany ( # 36 ) , sweden ( # 38 ) , and switzerland ( # 55 ) as well . by december 2005 , the world needs a hero had sold about 219 , 000 copies in the united states . megadeth commenced a tour to promote the album on june 8 , 2001 at milton keynes national bowl in england , where they were featured alongside acts such as ac / dc , the offspring , and queens of the stone age . the appearance at the dynamo festival in the netherlands was canceled without explanation . a show scheduled for august 2 , 2001 in kuala lumpur , malaysia was banned because the band 's imagery was considered " unsuitable " by the country 's government . following the breakup of the band in 2002 , six of the album 's songs appeared on still alive ... and well ? , a 2002 compilation combining studio tracks from the world needs a hero , with six live tracks . critical reception the world needs a hero received generally mediocre reviews and was regarded as a " return to roots " by critics . writing for allmusic , reviewer steve huey opined that mustaine " tries to conjure memories " of rust in peace and countdown to extinction , but while comparing " dread and the fugitive mind " to " sweating bullets " ( from countdown to extinction ) said that much of the material " feels like rehashed megadeth " . huey critiqued the production as still being " radio - friendly " and said because of that , the group " never quite kicks up the fury or flash of past glories " . neil arnold of metal forces wrote that even though the album was " lacking the menace of the band ’ s earlier work " , it was still a more accomplished effort than the previous record . he concluded that megadeth were " clearly opting for melody over aggression " , albeit rarely breaking into " thrash mode " . meanwhile , reviewer greg pratt of brave words & bloody knuckles was more sympathetic towards the album . pratt , after briefly critiquing the lack of a thrashy sound , positively compared the record to youthanasia ( 1994 ) and countdown to extinction ( 1992 ) . additionally , he commented that even in the absence of longtime members nick menza and marty friedman , that the band still sounded good . pratt reacted positively to a number of the album 's songs , but cited " recipe for hate ... " as being the album 's " most intense moment " . mike stagno of sputnikmusic had mixed feelings about the music on the record . while stagno noted that the album was advertised as a return towards the band 's roots , he explained that those who were hoping for an album in the style of the band 's first four records would be disappointed . stagno ultimately defined the album as " more of an all - out metal record " . the rolling stone album guide described the album as " sluggish " and " retrograde " and called it a " step back for the band " . orlando weekly 's john engels felt that the void left by former guitarist marty friedman was successfully filled by al pitrelli . however , he noted that the album occasionally sounds repetitive , and criticized a number of songs for their " childish " lyrics . friedman stated he was " a little disappoint [ ed ] " by the album . friedman specifically singled out the album 's cover for criticism , though he also commented that he thought that the music was " very well done " . track listing all lyrics written by dave mustaine , all music composed by mustaine , except where noted . the track listing of the japanese edition features the bonus track , " coming home " , as track 3 ; " moto psycho " becomes track 4 and all subsequent songs are moved one track back . personnel production and performance credits are adapted from the album liner notes , except where otherwise noted . chart performance release history