PEACE SELLS.... Bill Tuomala writes: Lately, friends have recommended songs like U2's "Peace on Earth" and Elvis Costello's "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding?" But for me those songs were like reading Hallmark cards. I'd listen and smile, but once the song was over my stomach would continue doing flip-flops. And all it takes is a passing ambulance or a loud plane overhead and I'm ready to jump out of my skin.

Once I realized that it wasn't enough to think nice thoughts and that my body needed catharsis, I turned to Metallica and Megadeth. Their music soothes because it involves the whole body. When you have "Creeping Death" (an angry God kills those who stand in his way betcha Falwell digs it) cranked up on headphones, you feel the riffs, leads, and chants down your whole spine. So when I need relaxation, I head for the gym with my Discman and my copy of Ride the Lightning. Forty minutes later, I'm loose and smiling. It's more important to me to feel good than to listen to feel-good music.

The other night, Megadeth played a show at a club here. When they played "Peace Sells," they paused before the "peace sells but who's buying" finale and went into a 110mph version of Black Sabbath's "Paranoid." Dave Mustaine asked the crowd to sing the final verse. Of course, everyone knew the words. It was chilling to hear a large room full of people shout: "I tell you to enjoy life, I wish I could but it's too late." But when the band went back into "Peace Sells," everyone also blew their lungs out screaming "peace sells-but who's buying?" over and over during the ride-out of the song. That moment alone was worth the price of admission.

- Rock & Rap Confidential; October 2001

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