Robert S. Bolger at SceneFour, Inc. has shared the following message through Menza Nation:
"I was going through more of Nick's archived audio files that I overlooked in the past and came across a folder titled Monstrous. Inside the folder, I found 10 unreleased demo tracks titled 'Last In Line', 'Hollow', 'Out Of Control', 'Down', 'Gleaming', 'Prove My Worth', 'Everything Is Fine', 'Naked All Over', 'Dreamers' and 'Big Shots'.
To the best of my knowledge, Monstrous was the name of the project and all the music for the songs were written, produced and recorded by Nick Menza and guitarist / singer-songwriter Erik Weber in 2005 at Menza's Disintegrator Studios in Studio City, California.
Nick also played bass on the song 'Last In Line'. These songs have never been released to the public, so this is the first time anyone is hearing them.
The two minute and ten second demo track, 'Down', features an old school alternative heavy rock sound with aggressive thunderous drums from Menza with catchy clean, edgy melodic vocals filled with harmonies and melodies from Weber, along with down-tuned crunchy guitars.
Weber was also the sound engineer on Menza's drums he recorded for theme song for 'TV War', which was said to be the longest-running metal TV show in Europe. It started airing in March 1999 on Mad TV, the biggest music channel in Greece, and was broadcast every Wednesday at 23:00 CET.
The 'TV War' theme song was composed by Memorain mainman Ilias Papadakis and featured David Ellefson, Jeff Waters and the late Nick Menza.
Menza had been writing, recording and producing constantly, but only releasing sporadic singles for years. That will all change when the floodgates open with the upcoming release of the late drummer's long awaited documentary film, This Was My Life: The Story Of Nick Menza."
This Was My Life: The Story of Nick Menza documentary soundtrack will deliver a very diverse posthumous album worth of heavy music. The LP will consist of 12 tracks from unearthed and previously unreleased drum riffs late Megadeth drummer recorded for a project he assembled in 2013 called "The Atomic Disintegrators" and is believed to be some of the final studio drum recordings of Menza before he tragically passed away 2016. Former Megadeth bassist David Ellefson played on a few of the tracks and is also served as executive producer for the project.
"One Of A Kind" was written and produced by guitarist Andy Martongelli and Dvaid Ellefson. The lyrics were written by vocalist Dino Jelusick and mixed by Richard Easterling / KRM Studios.
Collaborating musicians who participated in writing and recording process follow: David Ellefson (Dieth) Steve DiGiorgio (Testament) Rob Cavestany (Death Angel) Lars Frederiksen (Rancid) Andy Martongelli (Ellefson & Soto) Dino Jelusick (Solo Artist) Dave Linsk (Overkill) Michael Gilbert (Flotsam & Jetsam) John Howard (Threat Signal) James Mac Donough (Iced Earth) Ilias Papadakis (Memorain) Chris Valagao (Zimmers Hole) Davor Garasic (Sufosia) David Corral L.A. (Calling) Stephanie Jayne (Solo Artist) Marialena Trikoglou (Solo Artist).
12 songs have since been complete so far and will be available in the upcoming feature-length documentary film and to be later released under the "The Atomic Disintegrators" moniker.
Co-producer David Ellefson, has recently completed the narration for the film. Executive producer, director and editor Holly Mollohan from Screaming Butterfly Entertainment is currently in the studio editing the films official trailer.
As previously reported, West Virginia-based Screaming Butterfly Entertainment has announced a 2023 release for the upcoming feature-length documentary film.
"This Was My Life" will be the first-ever film to memorialize Menza's legacy and celebrate his life exactly how it was. It is described in a press release as "an unflinching exploration into the life of one of the most successful thrash-metal drummers of all time, authorized by the Menza family. From his childhood all the way through to the end of his life including a true blow-by-blow account of the repeated failed attempts of the classic Rust In Peace lineup."
"This Was My Life" will feature rare and never-before-seen photos and video footage from Nick's archived VHS tape collection, personally filmed by Menza himself from 1988 through 1991. Included will be exclusive content showcasing Nick working at the studio, personal home movies, casual time and party time with his fellow bandmembers, as well as other well-known artists of the era that Nick toured with.
"This Was My Life" will include interviews with the Menza family and close friends, and former Megadeth members Chris Poland, Jeff Young, former Lamb Of God/Megadeth drummer Chris Adler, former Megadeth tour manager Skip Rickert, Nick's drum tech Rob Corsie, legendary rock and roll photographer Gene Kirkland, film director, late metal historian, journalist and filmmaker Bob Nalbandian, James Rota and Emily Burton of Fireball Ministry, Terri Evans, Peter Flyn, John "Gumby" Goodwin, Bert Wolf, David Randi, Rob Schaefer, Juan "Nico" Alvarez, Robertino "Pag" Pagliari, Iki Levy of Soultone cymbals, and David Corral of L.A. Calling.
"We are excited for the fans to see the life Nick lived before, during and after Megadeth. It was quite the journey. Stay tuned for an epic documentary. As Nick would say, 'It's gonna be RAD!
Late in the evening on May 21, 2016, Nick collapsed behind his drum kit after suffering a heart attack during a concert with Chris Poland and Robertino "Pag" Pagliari in their band OHM: at The Baked Potato in Studio City, California and was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner said Menza died of hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Menza rightfully earned his place as heavy metal's fiercest drummer during Megadeth's 10-year peak at the top. The highlight of his career, Nick said, was playing Rock In Rio before more than 100,000 people.
