"Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!" was released in 1985. Many people who listened to metal liked the album. Bigger record labels noticed Megadeth because the album sold a lot of copies. Vic Rattlehead, the band's mascot, was on the front cover of the album. This was the first time he was shown. Music writer Joel McIver, who liked "Killing is My Business", said the album put pressure on other bands. It "raised the bar for the whole thrash metal scene".