1

all music written and arranged by:

Ellefson/menghi/portnoy/skolnick,
except where indicated.

2
 GIFT OF PAIN
lyrics by: D. R andall Blythe & Mark Menghi
vocals: D. R andall Blythe
lead & rhythm guitars: Alex Skolnick
bass: David Ellefson
drums: Mike Portnoy
additional lead guitar: Gary Holt

Down on the dark streets below You gave solo: Skolnick

Reject the phoenix and regain control You gave me a gift
A million memories that you never had You gave You keep on coming back
A pathetic attempt to erase the past You gave me a gift of pain to drag me down
I’ll keep on fighting
My truth will burn your lies away You gave until they put me in the ground
You gave me a gift
You gave You gave solo: Holt
You gave me a gift You gave me a gift of pain
You gave You gave
You gave me a gift of pain Gift of pain You gave me a gift
You gave me a gift of pain You gave
You gave You gave me a gift of pain
You gave me a gift I’ve sat alone for so long
You gave Burning with anger, solo: Skolnick
You gave me a gift staring through the walls
I will rebuild I’ll give
For blessed years A stronger design I’ll give you a gift
I never saw your face Regain my will I’ll give
You disappeared And leave you behind I’ll give you a gift of pain
but you never changed Bitch
I’ve come to understand Gift of pain
your weakness again solos: Skolnick, Holt Gift of pain
Dragged my name through Gift of pain
the mud in punishment for your sins You run away as far as you can
You took the best of me
My truth will burn your lies away and left behind a broken man

3
let darkness faLL
lyrics by: David Ellefson & Mark Menghi
vocals: Troy Sanders
lead, rhythm & acoustic guitars: Alex Skolnick
bass: David Ellefson
drums & percussion: Mike Portnoy
additional bass: Mark Menghi & Rex Brown
additional screams: D. R andall Blythe

A symphony of agony I will rebuke you

You lay your head to rest Accuse you to your face
Foam from the mouth No sacrifices
Like a ritual you possess You fall in your disgrace

Testify against you solos: Skolnick

Words become deceit
Stuck in here forever Can you hear?
You I shall defeat Can you hear?
To hell on this Earth
No way out Let darkness fall
No one cares Demystified at birth
Another empty soul Engulf us all
Another faceless stare
A symphony of agony
Lose the chains that bind you You lay your head to rest
To free the once condemned Foam from the mouth
Control your creation Like a ritual you possess
Leaves you all but dead
No way out
No way out No one cares
No one cares Another empty soul
Another empty soul Another faceless stare
Another faceless stare
No way out
Speak against your lover No one even cares
Slander has begun No way out
Silence all around you No way out
Despising what you’ve done

4
 I hear them asking This dying song
Will I play the caretaker This dying song
to your little grave? This dying song
There’s no longer reasons This dying song
why, you’d be denied
The things that you’ve History tells us
requested bravely It’s always the same
And you’d be treated When fire rages
with the honor On that little grave
Due a conquered long-timer No longer reasons
In the midst To be denied
They got it wrong
Sight… A dying song
Is a very precious sense
For those who’ve endured This dying song
the blind A dying song

dying song
Life…
A different form of life solo: Skolnick
lyrics by: Philip H. Anselmo Has a different form of
death not withstanding She needs a doctor
vocals: Philip H. Anselmo Or an undertaker
lead & rhythm guitars: Alex Skolnick This dying song Believe the mocker
bass: Mark Menghi This dying song Death-tripped forsaker
drums: Mike Portnoy
They say he had no heart Death-tripper
Just (a big) hole in his chest Forsaker
They got it wrong in part Death-tripper
Trust me, we knew the Forsaker
blighted test Death-tripper
The test of tests Forsaker
Death-tripper
(It was) Fate... A dying song sadly mistaken
The ilk have died like flies
And that fever moves with This dying song
the swiftness This dying song
(Out of) Date...
When the face does leave
the face...
It’s death’s clutching fingers
upon...

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6
 can’t KILL the devil
lyrics by: David Ellefson & Mark Menghi
vocals: chuck billy
lead & rhythm guitars: Alex Skolnick
bass: David Ellefson
drums & percussion: Mike Portnoy
additional lead guitar: Phil Demmel & andreas kisser
A prison cell is now my home Fight and struggle, search for truth
Trapped inside a concrete hole Through my disconnected youth
No more freedom left to roam Conflicted lies are what you speak
Endless time that haunts my soul Your serpent tongue still cursing me?
Take the struggle day by day You can’t kill the devil
Victimized by endless shame Once evil is alive
All that’s left is to hope and pray You can’t kill the devil
There’s nothing left for you to say Cause evil never dies
You can’t kill the devil You can’t kill the devil
Once evil is alive Staring me in the eyes
You can’t kill the devil You can’t kill the devil
Cause evil never dies Cause evil always lies
Pushing down can’t rise above solos: Skolnick, Demmel, Kisser
My heart turns to stone, no love
Every lie now takes its toll Money, greed, stories you make
Bleed me of my truth and soul Every dime for a selfish take
Creating myths to hide your tracks
As you stab me in my back
New lies told, old lies dead
Thought of you stuck in my head
As I mourn, you laugh at me
You evil bitch just set me free
You can’t kill the devil
Once evil is alive
You can’t kill the devil
Cause evil never dies
You can’t kill the devil
Staring me in the eyes
You can’t kill the devil
Cause evil always lies
Strength, determination
Finding freedom in my children’s soul
My time has come, my time is now
Justice served on fictitious vows
solo: Kisser
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8
 scarS
lyrics by: Alex Skolnick
vocals: Cristina Scabbia & Mark Osegueda
lead & rhythm guitars: Alex Skolnick
bass: David Ellefson
drums: Mike Portnoy

Scars from all my lessons learned Hounds, they won’t leave me alone solo: Skolnick
Theft of my possessions earned
 Gnaw my spirit of flesh to the bone
Cautionary tales of woe
 Howling away as they go The world spins on
You reap what you sew And the blood starts to flow Mother Earth has cried
All hope is gone
Fallen in the land I call home No pacification The innocence has died
I look into a future unknown
 From this indignation
Lost is the race we’ve become
 You’ll stand, you’ll fall
There’s nowhere left to run The world spins on Only the strong survive

Mother Earth has cried Convicted prisoner
From massive repression
 Our hope is gone Sentenced to this life
And passive aggression The innocence has died
Massive repression
The world spins on You’ll stand, you’ll fall (spoken): The world spins on
Mother Earth has cried Only the strong survive 

Our hope is gone Convicted prisoner Passive aggression
The innocence has died Sentenced to this life (spoken): When Mother Earth
has cried
You’ll stand, you’ll fall Consolation is a bitter
Only the strong survive
 pill to swallow No pacification
Convicted prisoner Pearls of wisdom fall (spoken): All hope is gone
Sentenced to this life with nothing left to lose
You’ve got to listen to From this indignation
Winter of my discontent 
 the voices deep inside you (spoken): The innocence has died
Broken promise never meant Your path is written by
Once was blind but now I see the methods that you choose
I’ve got to be free

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10
 destination: nowhere
lyrics by: David Ellefson & Alex Skolnick
vocals: Matthew K. Heafy
lead & rhythm guitars: Alex Skolnick
bass: David Ellefson
drums: Mike Portnoy
additional lead guitar: Matthew K. Heafy

Trapped in a world of hypocrisy
Follow my own philosophy
Another day and the memories fade
I’ll walk for miles just to drift away
Too little fortune
Too many lies
Trying to get over to the other side
So here I travel on the road that leads to nowhere
Familiar places are the ones I’ll never know
Life’s river passing by, deep and wide, a stitch in time
Forever searching for the one to bring me home
Hopeless, I wander eternally
Under cloak of anonymity
Suspicious faces wherever I go
This is the only life I know
So here I travel on the road that leads to nowhere
Familiar places are the ones I’ll never know
Life’s river passing by, deep and wide, a stitch in time
Forever searching for the one to bring me home
Destination Nowhere
solo: Skolnick
So here I travel on the road that leads to nowhere
Familiar places are the ones I’ll never know
Life’s river passes by, deep and wide, a stitch in time
Forever searching for the one to bring me home
So here I travel on the road that leads to nowhere
Familiar faces are the ones I long to know
Life’s river passes by, deep and wide, a stitch in time
Forever searching for the one to bring me home
Destination: Nowhere

Footsteps approaching dual solo: Skolnick & Heafy

Within my eye
The final moment to say my last goodbye

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12
I feel the heat shine down on me
I feel it burn inside of me

Wait untiL
I need your help to show the way
I know I must leave here today

No time to beg or borrow

No time for sorrow
tomorrow
lyrics by: David Ellefson & Mike Portnoy
Gonna seize the moment of the day now
Never say that I betray vocals: dUg Pinnick & Jamey Jasta
lead, slide & rhythm guitars: Alex Skolnick
Been down so long you won’t even know bass: David Ellefson
Life at the bottom drums, percussion & additional vocals:
Mike Portnoy
Gonna seize the moment of the day now
And never ever walk away

I can’t wait, wait until tomorrow

I can’t put off what can be done today Losing my direction
I can’t stay, stay until tomorrow Drowning in despair
I must say all the things I need to say No one here to save me
I drift to nowhere
I feel betrayed and beat again
I know this feeling and the pain Never will surrender
To voices from above
No time to beg or borrow Losing all my senses
No time for sorrow I’m all out of love
Gonna seize the moment of the day now
Never say that I betray Selling out my soul
Changing all the rules
Been down so long you won’t even know Lonely, angry, tired
Life at the bottom But still nobody’s fool
Gonna seize the moment of the day now
And never ever walk away solo: Skolnick

I can’t wait, wait until tomorrow I can’t wait, wait until tomorrow
I can’t put off what can be done today I can’t put off what can be done today
I can’t stay, stay until tomorrow I can’t stay, stay until tomorrow
I must say all the things I need to say I must say all the things I need to say

13
triangulum
I. Creation
II. Evolution
III. Destruction
lead & rhythm guitars: Alex Skolnick
bass: David Ellefson
drums: Mike Portnoy
additional lead guitars:
Misha Mansoor,
Ben Weinman,
Charlie Benante,
Phil Demmel,
Matthew K. Heafy &
Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal

I. Creation
solo: Skolnick

II. Evolution
solos: Skolnick, Mansoor, Weinman

III. destruction
solos: Benante, Demmel, Heafy, Bumblefoot

14
 pledge of allegiance
lyrics by: David Ellefson & Mark Menghi
vocals: Mark Osegueda
lead & rhythm guitars: Alex Skolnick
bass: David Ellefson
drums: Mike Portnoy
additional lead guitar: Charlie Benante, Gary Holt & Andreas Kisser

All eyes watching you solo: Benante Hiding is all you Falling down on your own
See your every move Say your pledge No one left, all alone
The good and the bad Believe your deception Nothing you can see
And everything you do Watch the falling reign Pledge your allegiance solo: Kisser
Defaming supreme lies Running sets you free
Sell another fib Driving me insane Crumbling house of cards
Another bill of goods Broken state of mind, Life caves in -
Nothing ever changes Crucify your motion demons all around twisted shards
And nothing ever should Running from your life No one - left on your own Praying now, full of sin
Hiding your false hope as you’re falling down To a god, you’ll never win
Nothing ever should Searching for the knife Crumbling house of cards,
life is caving in solo: Holt
Guilty of humanity Searching for the knife Praying now to a god,
Watching what you do you will never win Say your pledge:
More than your fair share Pledging your allegiance “Allegiance”
Life has given you Look me in the face solo: Skolnick Say your pledge:
Walking through flooded gates “Pledge of Allegiance”
You take what isn’t yours Show your true disgrace Say your pledge
‘Cause never is enough Nothing you can do solo: Kisser, Holt
Fill the empty void Flash a tearless smile Pledge your allegiance
I call your sinful bluff Going to great lengths Hiding is all you Say your pledge:
Covering that broken fear “Allegiance”
Call your sinful bluff I keep gaining strength Say your pledge Say your pledge:
Nothing you can see “Pledge of Allegiance”
Drowning in your fear I keep gaining strength Pledge your allegiance
Running sets you free solo: Holt
Say your pledge Drowning in your fear
Nothing you can do solo: Holt Pledge of Allegiance
Pledge your allegiance Say your pledge
Hiding is all you Nothing you can do Broken state of your mind
Pledge your allegiance Emptiness all you find

15
 we rock
music & lyrics by: ronnie james dio
vocals: Mark Osegueda, chris jericho,
tim “ripper” owens, alissa white-gluz,
chuck billy & steve “zetro” souza
lead & rhythm guitars: Alex Skolnick
bass: David Ellefson
drums: Mike Portnoy
additional lead guitar: Andreas Kisser,
phil demmel & gary holt

16
17
18
produced by:
Alex Skolnick, Mark Menghi,
David Ellefson & Mike Portnoy
executive producer:
Mark Menghi
recorded at: Sabell a Studios. Ros-
lyn Heights, NY
engineers: Matt Murphy and
Jim Sabell a
mike portnoy’s drums recorded at:
Casa de Portnoy, PA
engineer: Jerry Guidroz
additional engineering:
R andy Walker, Stephen Berrigan,
Thomas Cuce, Tom Tapely, Scott
Proctor. Asim Ali, Marco Coti
Zel ati and Juan Urteaga (Trident
Studios, CA)
mixed by: Josh Wilbur
mastered by: Ted Jensen
at Sterling Sound, NYC
a&r: Monte Conner
management: Steve Davis for
Davis Entertainment Group
legal: Nichol as C. Ferrara, Esq.
booking: Mike Monterulo and
Dan DeVita for TKO Agency
album art, layout and design:
mark menghi & Josh Bernstein
artist photography:
Igor Vidyashev, Rick Triana, Jimmy
Fuson, Stephanie Cabral, Tim Tronck-
oe, Ira Chernova, K atarina Benzova,
Sherry Keith, Marta Coratella,
Henning Gulli, Clay Patrick McBride,
Puro Photography, Oscar Gil Photo,
Tom Couture and Jeremy Saffer
bonus dvd: building the beast:
the making of metal allegiance
directed by: R andy Walker,
David Ellefson, Mark Menghi,
Mike Portnoy and Alex Skolnick
edited by: R andy Walker at
22Media Productions
authored by: Thomas Fröhlich
running time: 44:12
All songs published by:
Edition NB Publishing /
BMG Rights Management GmbH.
D. Randall Blythe published by:
Subtle Arts of Publishing / Sony/
ATV LLC.
Philip H. Anselmo published by:
Housecore Music (BMI).
“We ROck” Music and Lyrics by:
Ronnie James Dio; Published by:
Niji Music. (BMI); © Niji Music 1984;
All Rights Reserved.
D. Randall Blythe appears courtesy
of Epic Records (North America).
Troy Sanders appears courtesy of
Reprise Records. Philip H. Anselmo
appears courtesy of Housecore
Records. Cristina Scabbia appears
courtesy of Century Media
Records Ltd. Matthew K. Heafy
appears courtesy of Roadrunner
Records. Charlie Benante appears
courtesy of Megaforce Records
(North America).
ma thanks:
DE: The Ellefson Family, Jeff Cary,
Jon Romanowski, Mike Tempesta and
all at Jackson Guitars, Ira Blanco
and Evan Hay at Hartke, Tim Pfouts
and Eddie Speedy at SIT Strings,
Planet Waves, Peterson Tuners, Jim
Dunlop, Masaki Murashita and
Providence, Joseph Fortmuller
and Sinister Picks, Ilias Papadakis,
Melissa Gluck and The Rockin’ Edge
Clothing. Finally, a special thanks
to Mark Menghi, Mike Portnoy, Alex
Skolnick and the entire MA collec-
tive for forging the mightiest Alle-
giance of Metal worldwide!
MM: My two amazing boys; Alex &
Anthony Menghi for inspiring me
to never give up and never give in.
Without your love and inspira-
tion, MA, let alone this record,
wouldn’t be possible. The Menghi
family, Christina Canino, Mike Ar-
tale, Dan Muthafuckin’ Leo, Dawn
Durso Zacharakis, Thomas Ostuni,
John Babbino and Neil Zlozower.
MP: Marlene, Melody and Max for
their love, inspiration, patience
and understanding. MP exclu-
sively beats the hell out of Tama
Starclassic Drums, Melody Master
Snares, Iron/Speed Cobra Pedals,
Sabian and Sabian Max Cymbals, Pro
Mark 420 Sticks, Remo Heads, Latin
Percussion and Gator Cases.
AS: The Skolnick family and Maddy
Samaddar for unyielding love and
support. Chris Canella, Jeff Moore
and all at ESP Guitars, Marco Soc-
coli, Hugh Gilmartin and D’addario
Strings, Chris Kelly, Brandon Mar-
lon and Budda/Peavey Amps, Craig
Costigan and Seymour Duncan
Pickups, Scott Marceau, Ken Dupon
and Yamaha Acoutics, Seraphim
Marcopoulos and ToneConcepts,
A aron Fornier and ThinkSound,
Kyle Sabel and Sharon Richardson.
Special thanks to Dave, Mike and
Mark for recruiting me into the
Allegiance (been a blast
so far, great times ahead)!
ma collectively thanks:
Mike Artale for additional singing
on “Let Darkness Fall,” Joey Bella-
donna, Frank Bello, Josh Bernstein,
Darryl Boyd (Rock-n-Roll GangStar
Apparel), James Tamarazzo Brady,
Chris Broderick, Stephanie Cabral,
Monte Conner and all at Nuclear
Blast worldwide, Kevin Chiarmonte,
Phil Ciulo, jon donais, AJ Fratto,
Danny Hill, DJ Will howell, Scott
Ian, Jackson Guitars, Stephen and
Sylvia Jensen (Wornstar Clothing),
Alan Koenig, melanie licausi, Erik
Luftglass, jose mangin, Gerardo
Martinez, Roy Mayorga, Mike Mon-
terulo, Matt Murphy, Marlene Port-
noy for the amazing hospitality at
the Portnoy ranch, Mineola (LI, NY)
train station, Munsey Ricci, John
Rupp, Jim Sabella, Darren “Bubbers”
Sanders, Kyle Sanders, Adam Sewell,
John Tempesta, Steve Ternai, Stephen
Thompson, Bryan Tomczak, Igor
Vidyashev, Randy Walker, Bob Wargo,
Josh Wilbur, Mark Zavon and all the
fans around the world for inspiring
us to create this album.
special thanks:
Philip H. Anselmo, Charlie Benante,
Chuck Billy, Randy Blythe, Rex
Brown, Bumblefoot, Phil Demmel,
Alissa White-Gluz, Matt Heafy, Gary
Fucking Holt, Jamey Jasta, Chris
Jericho, Andreas Kisser, Misha Man-
soor, Mark Osegueda, dUg Pinnick,
Ripper, Troy Sanders, Cristina Scab-
bia, Ben Weinman and Zetro FOR
MAKING THIS ALBUM POSSIBLE.
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20
 1. Gift Of Pain
featuring D. R ANDALL BLYTHE
2. Let Darkness Fall
featuring TROY SANDERS
3. Dying Song
featuring PHILIP H. ANSELMO
4. Can’t Kill The Devil
featuring CHUCK BILLY
5. Scars
featuring CRISTINA SCABBIA & MARK OSEGUEDA
6. Destination: Nowhere
featuring MATTHEW K. HEAFY
7. Wait Until Tomorrow
featuring DUG PINNICK & JAMEY JASTA
8. Triangulum
I. Creation II. Evolution III. Destruction
9. Pledge Of Allegiance
featuring MARK OSEGUEDA

– BONUS TR ACK –
10. we rock
FEATURING: MARK OSEGUEDA, CHRIS JERICHO, TIM “RIPPER” OWENS,
ALISSA WHITE-GLUZ, CHUCK BILLY & STEVE “ZETRO” SOUZA

PRODUCED BY
Alex Skolnick, Mark Menghi, David Ellefson and Mike Portnoy

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
mark menghi

 & © 2015 Nuclear Bl ast Entertainment. Issued under license from Metal A llegiance Music LLC.
Metal A llegiance is a registered tr ademark of M ark Menghi Enterprises LLC.

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