METAL ALLEGIANCE founder Mark Menghi describes his relationship with David Ellefson, Mike Portnoy and Alex Skolnick in terms of brotherhood, and it was those four who buckled down to write the first batch or original, all new material for the METAL ALLEGIANCE album. As principal architects, Ellefson (MEGADETH), Portnoy (THE WINERY DOGS), Skolnick (TESTAMENT), and Menghi (a bassist and musical instruments industry exec beloved by metal musicians) built a foundation of sonic steel.