"Addicted to Chaos" by Megadeth (Youthanasia, 1994)

"Addicted to Chaos" by Megadeth (Youthanasia, 1994)

Key: Eb Minor (relative to Eb tuning)
Tuning: Eb Standard (Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb, half-step down, as Megadeth used for Youthanasia)
Power Chords Used: Ebm5, Gb5, Ab5, Bb5, B5
Note: Power chords are placed above lyrics to align with vocal phrasing. Use a mid-tempo thrash strumming pattern (downstrokes on eighth notes, ~97 BPM per Chordify). The intro riff is key; Guitar 1 plays it while Guitar 2 plays power chords. If in standard tuning, transpose up a half-step (Em5, G5, A5, B5, C5). Listen to the album for timing and dynamics

• Ebm5: 0-2-2-x-x-x (open) or x-7-9-x-x-x
• Gb5: 3-5-5-x-x-x or x-10-12-x-x-x
• Ab5: 5-7-7-x-x-x or x-12-14-x-x-x
• Bb5: x-2-4-x-x-x or 7-9-9-x-x-x
• B5: x-3-5-x-x-x or 8-10-10-x-x-x

Intro
Ebm5 Gb5 Ab5 Ebm5 (x4, with riff)
(Guitar 1 plays riff, Guitar 2 plays power chords, palm-muted)

Intro Riff (Guitar 1, Eb tuning, simplified from Songsterr):

Eb|-------------------------|-------------------------|
Bb|-------------------------|-------------------------|
Gb|-------------------------|-------------------------|
Db|-------------------------|-------------------------|
Ab|-2-2-2-2-5-2-2-2-2-5-2-2-|-2-2-2-2-5-2-2-2-2-5-2-2-|
Eb|-0-0-0-0-3-0-0-0-0-3-0-0-|-0-0-0-0-3-0-0-0-0-3-0-0-|
  PM---------------------|   PM---------------------|

Verse 1
Ebm5 Gb5
Only yesterday they told me you were gone
Ab5 Ebm5
All these normal people, will I find another one?
Ebm5 Gb5
Monkey on my back, aching in my bones
Ab5 Ebm5
I forgot you said, “One day you’ll walk alone”
Ebm5 Gb5
I said I need you, does that make me wrong?
Ab5 Ebm5
Am I a weak man, are you feeling strong?
Ebm5 Gb5
My heart was blackened, it’s bloody red
Ab5 Ebm5
A hole in my heart, a hole in my head

Pre-Chorus
Bb5 B5
Who will help me up? Where’s the helping hand?
Ab5 Gb5
Will you turn on me? Is this my final stand?

Chorus
Ebm5 Gb5
In a dream I cannot see
Ab5 Ebm5
Tangled abstract fallacy
Ebm5 Gb5
Random turmoil builds in me
Ab5 Ebm5
I’m addicted, addicted to chaos

Instrumental Break
Ebm5 Gb5 Ab5 Ebm5 (x2)

Solo 1 (Dave Mustaine/Marty Friedman)
Ebm5 Gb5 Ab5 Ebm5 (x2)
(E minor pentatonic, per Songsterr)

Verse 2
Ebm5 Gb5
Lights shined on my path, turned bad days into good
Ab5 Ebm5
Turned breakdowns into blocks, I smashed ’em ‘cause I could
Ebm5 Gb5
My brain was labored, my head would spin
Ab5 Ebm5
Don’t let me down, don’t give up, don’t give in
Ebm5 Gb5
The rain comes down, cold wind blows
Ab5 Ebm5
The plans we made are back up on the road
Ebm5 Gb5
Turn up my collar, welcome the unknown
Ab5 Ebm5
Remember that you said, “One day you’ll walk alone”

Pre-Chorus
Bb5 B5
Who will help me up? Where’s the helping hand?
Ab5 Gb5
Will you turn on me? Is this my final stand?

Chorus
Ebm5 Gb5
In a dream I cannot see
Ab5 Ebm5
Tangled abstract fallacy
Ebm5 Gb5
Random turmoil builds in me
Ab5 Ebm5
I’m addicted to chaos

Pre-Chorus
Bb5 B5
Who will help me up? Where’s the helping hand?
Ab5 Gb5
Will you turn on me? Is this my final stand?

Chorus
Ebm5 Gb5
In a dream I cannot see
Ab5 Ebm5
Tangled abstract fallacy
Ebm5 Gb5
Random turmoil builds in me
Ab5 Ebm5
Builds, builds, builds
Ebm5 Gb5
In a dream I cannot see
Ab5 Ebm5
Tangled abstract fallacy
Ebm5 Gb5
Random turmoil builds in me
Ab5 Ebm5
I’m addicted, I’m addicted to chaos

Outro
Ebm5 Gb5
Addicted, addicted to chaos
Ab5 Ebm5
To chaos, to chaos
Ebm5 Gb5
Addicted to chaos
Ab5 Ebm5
Chaos, chaos
(Repeat Ebm5, Gb5, Ab5, Ebm5 with intro riff, fade out)

Notes

• Power Chords: The Ebm5, Gb5, Ab5, Ebm5 progression for verses and chorus, and Bb5, B5, Ab5, Gb5 for the pre-chorus, are adapted from Songsterr and Chordify, optimized for power chords in Eb minor (~97 BPM). Cifra Club suggests B major for open chords, but Eb minor fits the thrash style in Eb tuning. In standard tuning, use Em5, G5, A5, B5, C5.
• Playing Tips: The intro riff (Guitar 1) is palm-muted, alternating Ebm5 and Gb5 notes; Guitar 2 plays Ebm5, Gb5, Ab5, Ebm5 power chords with downstrokes. Keep strumming tight for the verse and chorus. The solo uses E minor pentatonic; Songsterr has a detailed tab. Use a high-gain tone (e.g., Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+) for Mustaine/Friedman’s sound.
• Tuning: Eb standard is used for Youthanasia. In standard tuning, transpose up a half-step or use a capo on the 1st fret and play Dm5, F5, G5, A5, Bb5. Cifra Club’s transposer can assist.
• Context: "Addicted to Chaos" is a standout track from Youthanasia, praised for Mustaine’s vocal performance but never played live due to its vocal demands, per Reddit discussions. It reflects the album’s melodic thrash shift, as noted in a 2025 X post.