For the next review I thought I’d review one of my favorite thrash bands Megadeth. This is a band that has had a revolving door of musicians but really it’s Dave Mustaine’s band. No I’m not focusing on his history with Metallica or his drug abuse problems. So here goes……
Killing is My Business and Business is Good- wow I had forgotten how fast this album is. I mean it’s the fastest debut album and puts Kill Em All and Show No Mercy to shame. I know everyone was on drugs while this album was made. The thing is is that it’s fast but it’s technical too and not fast for the sake of it. I also wish they’d play more songs from this album live. I give this album 10/10
Standouts: The Skull Beneath Then Skin, Last Rites/Loved to Deth, Mechanix
Peace Sells But Who’s Buying- well what can I say it’s either this one or Rust in Peace that everyone says is their favorite. Me personally I prefer the latter but this is definitely a great record. Here, the songs are still fast and technical, but they seem more focused. Yes they slow it down but really not much. I give this 10/10
Standouts: Devil’s Island, Wake Up Dead, Bad Omen
So Far So Good….So What!- well this is the first without founding guitarist Chris Poland and drummer Gar Samuelson. They’ve been replaced with Chuck Beihler on drums and Jeff Young on guitar. As far as the album is concerned, I actually appreciate it more now than when I first heard it. It’s not bad and I find it really underrated. There’s a couple misses on here but not much. A great album and I give it 8/10
Standouts: Set The World Afire, Hook In Mouth, Liar
Rust in Peace- this album is a masterpiece. It’s an instant classic and this is the first to feature the classic lineup of Dave Mustaine, Marty Friedman, Dave Ellefson, and Nick Menza. I love the guitar tone on this album. It’s so crunchy and distorted. Every song is a classic. I was lucky to see them play this entire album live 4 times including one time in Italy. Another perfect 10/10
Standouts: Tornado of Souls, Five Magics, Lucretia
Countdown to Extinction- another very worthy follow up. This one supposedly their highest selling album but I prefer Rust. Anyway it’s not quite as strong as the previous album but a great follow up nonetheless. Another classic album but here they kind of start to slow things down a bit. I give it 9.5/10
Standouts: Skin O’ My Teeth, Foreclosure of a Dream, High Speed Dirt
Youthanasia- here’s where we kind of see them depart from their speed metal sound. Still this album is not bad but it’s just not up as the same caliber as their older material. It’s softer but contains great riffs and the solos from Dave and Marty are awesome as always. I give this 8/10
Standouts: Reckoning Day, The Killing Road, Addicted To Chaos
Hidden Treasures- I don’t usually rate EP’s but this is an exception. This contains songs that have been featured on various soundtracks. There are songs from Last Action Hero, Shocker, Demon Knight, Bill and Ted’s, and more. I love this EP and think it’s well worth a listen if you haven’t done so. I give it 10/10
Standouts: 99 Ways To Die, Angry Again, Problems
Cryptic Writings- so here we continue in the same vein as Youth. In fact, this and the last one you could listen to back to back. The thrash metal sound isn’t t dominant like other albums but the songs on here are more mature and focused. Regardless if you like the last album or even Rust in Peace, this is well worth a listen and yet still feels like a Megadeth record. I give it 7/10
Standouts: Mastermind, Almost Honest, Vortex
Risk- almost every band has that one album where they want to forget about. This is that album. Metallica had St. Anger Megadeth has Risk. This is first not to have drummer Nick Menza who’s now been replaced with Jimmy Degrasso from Alice Cooper’s band and lots of others. It’s also Marty Friedman’s last album as well. Well the album is different and I think they were trying to go for radio friendly songs on here. Unfortunately it just doesn’t work and the songs don’t even sound like Megadeth songs. I give it 0/10
Standouts: Prince of Darkness
The World Needs a Hero- well it’s the first without Marty Friedman and the first with Trans Siberian Orchestra guitarist Al Pitrelli. Is it a return to form? No not really. Is it better than Risk? Yes. Now while I get the album is everything that Risk wasn’t, something here seems off a little. Not sure what but it just does. Anyway, it’s definitely worth a listen just to get the taste of Risk out of your mouth. It’s not a bad album but just ok. I give it 5/10
Standouts: Dread and the Fugitive Mind, 1000 Times Goodbye, Return to Hangar
So after this album, original bass player and founding member David Ellefson tried to sue Mustaine for royalties which was thrown out. Add to this that Mustaine slept weird on his arm and couldn’t use his fretting hand. A few years went by and in 2004, he reformed the band with original second guitarist Chris Poland, Jimmy Lee Sloas on bass, and Vinny Colaiuta on drums. With the new studio musicians we now get…..
The System Has Failed- well it’s a return to form and more so than the last 3 or four albums. This is the album that should’ve happened after Cryptic. It’s not Rust In Peace part 2 but it’s a killer record. Now when they went on tour for this, the lineup consisted of Shawn Drover (of Eidolon ) on drums, Glenn Drover (of King Diamond and Eidolon) on second guitar, and James MacDonough (of Iced Earth) on bass. The songs on here are a little bit of everything from the last few albums mixed together. The tone on this is fast, heavy, and crunchy and Mustaine’s voice is in top form. There is some filler but overall a great record. I give it 8/10
Standouts: Blackmail The Universe, The Scorpion, Something That I’m Not
United Abominations- another record that pretty much picks up right where System left off. This one however feels more like a Megadeth record. The songs are a bit more cohesive and the album flows slightly better. This also the first record to feature new bassist James Lomenzo from Black Label Society. I personally didn’t want to like this one but it’s actually pretty good. The only thing I will say is that I’m not a big fan of the re recording of the song A Toute Le Monde as I do not like the song and find it to be overplayed. Other than that, it’s a solid album. I give it 8/10
Standouts: Sleepwalker, Never Walk Alone A Call To Arms, Gears of War
Endgame- so I actually remember driving down to Amoeba and buying this the day it came out. This was around the time I really wanted to start seeing Megadeth live and had done so at the first Revolver Golden God Awards. So during the touring cycle of United, Glenn Drover left and was replaced by Chris Broderick (Nevermore) on guitar. Then when this came out shortly after, bassist James Lomenzo left and was replaced with original bassist Dave Ellefson. This was around the time the 20th anniversary of Rust in Peace came out so when they toured, it was like we were getting to see two records being toured with. This particular record is awesome. The songs really start to sound like Megadeth is going back to their roots a little while mixing the sound of albums like The System Has Failed. It’s a great overall record and I give it 9/10
Standouts: Dialectic Chaos, This Day We Fight, Bite the Hand
Th1rt3en- so this is an album I hadn’t really heard much of. I must say though that it’s not as strong as Endgame. That’s not to,say that this isn’t a good record and it’s definitely worth listening to it’s just not as memorable as previous albums and I feel like when this was out, it sort of just came and went. I give it 7/10
Standouts: Guns, Drugs, & Money, Never Dead, Fast Lane
Super Collider- I went into this expecting it to be another Risk but was pleasantly surprised that it is not Risk part 2. Not sure what or why people are comparing them like that but whatever. Yes it’s not as strong as past albums and the sound seems like it’s very commercialized and the lyrics are cheesy but this is not as bad as people say it is. I will say though that I did find myself getting bored listening to this album. It’s nothing special but it’s not terrible. I give it 5/10
Standouts: Kingmaker
Dystopia- finally I’m just now listening to this album. Not sure why I put off listening to it for so long but I’m sorry I didn’t listen sooner or even see them tour for this record more. I think I saw them tour for this record at Ozzfest meets Knotfest and the songs off this live were amazing. This is also the first record to feature new guitarist Kiko Loureiro (from the band Angra) and this also features Chris Adler from Lamb of God on drums and his input really shows here. I remember hearing Dave Ellefson on a podcast talking about his contributions and he said that Chris would always say “that’s not what my Megadeth would do” meaning that he is a huge fan of records like Peace Sells. And thank god he is and said that because this is an amazing record. The album has elements of Rust in Peace mixed with their modern sound. Now Chris is not a member of this band so instead they got Dirk Verbeuren from Soilwork as their drummer and that’s another great choice. The songs on this album are amazing with some filler. I’m also noticing a trend where they’ll make one or two badass records, then go the way of say Cryptic Writings then back again. I give this 9.5/10
Standouts: The Threat Is Real, Dystopia, Death From Within
At the end of the day, this band is Dave Mustaine. It’s been pretty well known that he wanted to out do Metallica and I think that contributed to the sound of the first couple albums but I say that we now have two great bands. Anyway, I just hope that they continue the trend of Dystopia and continue to make badass records. Yes there are multiple lineup changes but the musicians he gets are great musicians which is why he’s able to put out great albums.
Album Rankings:
- Rust in Peace
- Killing is My Business and Business Is Good
- Peace Sells But Who’s Buying
- Countdown To Extinction
- So Far So Good….So What
- Hidden Treasures
- Dystopia
- Endgame
- United Abominations
- Youthanasia
- The System Has Failed
- Cryptic Writings
- Th1rt3en
- The World Needs A Hero
- Super Collider
- Risk
Sinister Reviews 