| "Fatal Illusion" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Megadeth | ||||
| from the album Dystopia | ||||
| Released | October 1, 2015[1][2] | |||
| Recorded | April-July, 2015 | |||
| Studio | Lattitude Studio South, Leiper's Fork, Tennessee | |||
| Genre | Thrash metal | |||
| Length | 4:16 | |||
| Label | Tradecraft/Universal | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Dave Mustaine | |||
| Producer(s) | 
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| Megadeth singles chronology | ||||
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"Fatal Illusion" is a song by American thrash metal band Megadeth. It was released as the lead single from their fifteenth studio album, Dystopia on October 1, 2015,[3] and as a CD release on October 9 of the same year.[4]
Music and lyrics
According to the bands website, "the lyrics are about a person who is a misfit in society and ends up getting taken before the judicial system…"[5]
Performances
The song debuted live in Perth, Australia, on October 16, 2015.[6][7] Megadeth guitarists Dave Mustaine and Kiko Loureiro did a playthrough of the song for Guitar World magazine.[8]
Critical reception
Loudwire ranked "Fatal Illusion" as the thirteenth best metal song of 2015.[9] The song was ranked the fourth greatest from the album by Return Of Rock.[10]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Dave Mustaine
| No. | Title | Length | 
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Fatal Illusion" | 4:17 | 
| 2. | "Symphony of Destruction" (live) | 3:46 | 
| 3. | "Peace Sells" (live) | 4:18 | 
| Total length: | 12:21 | |
- Tracks 2 & 3 recorded live at The Cow Palace, San Francisco, CA 12/4/1992.
 
Charts
| Chart (2015) | Peak position  | 
|---|---|
| Billboard Japan Hot 100[11] | 133 | 
Personnel
Credits adapted from Dystopia liner notes.[12]
Megadeth
- Dave Mustaine – lead and rhythm guitars, lead vocals
 - Kiko Loureiro – lead guitars, backing vocals
 - David Ellefson – bass, backing vocals
 - Chris Adler – drums
 
Additional musicians
- Chris Rodriguez – backing vocals
 - Eric Darken – percussion
 - Blair Masters – keyboards & programming
 
Production and design
- Produced by Dave Mustaine and Chris Rakestraw
 - Engineering by Chris Rakestraw
 - Mixed by Josh Wilbur
 - Pre-production by Cameron Webb
 - Additional production by Jeff Balding
 - Mastering by Ted Jensen
 - Brent Elliott White – cover artwork
 
References
- ↑ Rosenburg, Axl. "Listen the New Megadeth Single "Fatal Illusion" Right Now!". Metal Sucks. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
 - ↑ Bienstock, Richard (October 1, 2015). "Megadeth Premiere New Song, "Fatal Illusion"". Revolver. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
 - ↑ "NEW SINGLE 'FATAL ILLUSION' WORLD PREMIERE!". Megadeth.com. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
 - ↑ "Megadeth – Fatal Illusion". discogs. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
 - ↑ Monomyth. "Megadeth 'Dystopia' Track-By-Track: 'Fatal Illusion'". Megadeth. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
 - ↑ "Megadeth Setlist". Setlist.FM. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
 - ↑ "CHRIS ADLER'S SECOND SHOW + 'FATAL ILLUSION' LIVE PREMIERE". Megadeth.com. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
 - ↑ "Megadeth's Dave Mustaine and Kiko Loureiro Play "Fatal Illusion"". Guitar World. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
 - ↑ "20 Best Metal Songs of 2015 20 Best Metal Songs of 2015 20 Best Metal Songs of 2015". Loudwire. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
 - ↑ "Dystopia Songs Ranked". Return Of Rock. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
 - ↑ "メガデスのシングル作品" [Megadeth Singles] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on October 4, 2021. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
 - ↑ Dystopia Liner notes. Universal Music Enterprises. 2016. p. 12.
 
