Title: Take No Prisoners
Artist: Megadeth
Album: Rust In Peace
Bassist: David Ellefson
Difficulty: Advanced
Tuning: Standard Tuning
Key: D Major
Tempo: 156
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Bass Diary Entry
Rust in Peace is an all-time favourite album of mine, and this was one of those songs that instantly stood out the first time I heard it. It’s relentless, aggressive, and doesn’t let up for a second — a perfect example of everything that makes that album so special.
From the opening moments, the track just launches straight into chaos, with rapid-fire riffs, shifting sections and that unmistakable precision that Megadeth absolutely nailed during this era. It’s one of those songs that feels like it’s constantly on the edge of falling apart, but never actually does — everything is locked in just enough to keep it controlled.
There is, however, one thing that has forever stuck with me when listening to this song… I genuinely can’t not hear Dave singing “Take No Prisoners” as “Techno Prisoners”. Ever since that misheard lyric embedded itself in my brain, I’ve had this ridiculous mental image of Megadeth blasting this track at full volume to a prison full of techno fans, which definitely adds an unintended layer of entertainment every time I listen to it.
From a bass perspective, this track is an absolute workout. It’s fast, tight and demands serious precision to keep up with everything that’s going on. The bass is constantly driving things forward underneath all the chaos, and it’s a real test of stamina and control to keep it sounding clean at speed.
It’s one of those songs that perfectly sums up why Rust in Peace is held in such high regard — technical, aggressive, and just an absolute blast to play once you get it under your fingers (and once you’ve accepted you’ll never un-hear “Techno Prisoners”).
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