The World Needs a Hero

The World Needs a Hero is the ninth studio album by American heavy metal band Megadeth released on May 15, 2001 in the United States, May 12 in Japan and May 14 in Europe. After the failure of Megadeth's previous album, Risk, 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 a break with former label Capitol Records, the album was the first of two Megadeth studio albums to be released by Sanctuary Records. It was the last of two studio albums to feature drummer Jimmy DeGrasso as well as the only one to feature Al Pitrelli on lead guitar. Furthermore, The World Needs a Hero was the last album to feature original bassist Dave Ellefson until his return to Megadeth in 2010 and the following album, Thirteen. Additionally, band mascot Vic Rattlehead appears on the cover of a Megadeth album for the first time since Rust in Peace was released, in 1990.