Category Archives: Megadeth
Megadeth – Thirteen
Megadeth – Thirteen (2011, Roadrunner Records)
1. “Sudden Death” … 5:09
2. “Public Enemy No. 1″ … 4:15
3. “Whose Life (Is It Anyways?)” … 3:50
4. “We the People” … 4:33
5. “Guns, Drugs, & Money” … 4:19
6. “Never Dead” … 4:32
7. “New World Order” … 3:56
8. “Fast Lane” … 4:04
9. “Black Swan” … 4:10
10. “Wrecker” … 3:51
11. “Millennium of the Blind” … 4:15
12. “Deadly Nightshade” … 4:55
13. “13″ … 5:53
Band:
Dave Mustaine – Lead Vocals, Guitar
Chris Broderick – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Dave Ellefson – Bass, Backing Vocals
Shawn Drover – Drums, Percussion
Producer: Johnny K
Thirteen is Megadeth’s 13th album. It’s become cliched to title your album based on its chronological order in your catalog just as much as its become lame to stylize an album title or song as something like Th1rt3en. It’s just unimaginative and lame (to me anyways) but I suppose I’m just nit-picking.
Of course, lack of imagination could be argued for this album because five of the thirteen tracks on this album have appeared elsewhere in various forms. “Sudden Death” was originally recorded in 2010 exclusively for the Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock video game. “Black Swan” was an exclusive to Megadeth fan club members who pre-ordered United Abominations. “Millennium of the Blind” was originally demoed for Youthanasia and in that form found its way onto the 2004 re-issue as a bonus track. “New World Order” is from the Countdown for Extinction era and was also included in demo form on the re-issue of Youthanasia (a completed version appeared on 1999′s Duke Nukem: Music to Score By soundtrack). Lastly, the main riff from “Deadly Nightshade” is something that’s “been around for a while” since the mid-90s according to returning original bassist David Ellefson (this is Ellefson’s first Megadeth studio since 2001′s The World Needs a Hero) . It should be noted though that all of these songs have been completed, reworked and/or re-recorded for this album so it’s not a total cut & paste job.
In comparison to Endgame, Thirteen is an improvement. Endgame had some good tracks but left me cold for the most part. It was thrash & speed just for the sake of it and I’m happy Andy Sneap wasn’t able to return to produce this album (scheduling conflicts) because otherwise we probably would’ve ended up with Endgame Part 2. In the quest for speed & aggression, it seemed like Mustaine forgot all about melody and hooks on the last album. Thankfully Thirteen does not suffer this problem as the nature of this album is more melodic and songs like “13″ and “Guns, Drugs & Money” prove the point.
There is still enough thrash & speed to go around though. “Sudden Death” (slightly different than the Guitar Hero version) is one of the best songs Dave has written in years and should be included on any future “best of” compilations. “Wrecker” is another track sure to have you headbanging. Much of the album finds a great middle ground between being heavy while still having the hooks that will dig into your brain and keep you coming back for me.
Personally, I prefer a melodically metal Megadeth over a thrashy Megadeth any day of the week so this album has worked out well for me and has restored my faith in the band (not that it ever really faltered). Those that were enamored with the audio assault of Endgame may be slightly disappointed with Thirteen but those that liked the melodic shift in sound the band took on starting with Countdown to Extinction should find plenty here that will entertain.
Highlights: “Sudden Death”, “Public Enemy No. 1″, “Whose Life (Is It Anyways?)”, “Guns, Drugs & Money”, “Never Dead”, “Millennium of the Blind”, “13″
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MEGADETH – Rust In Peace Live
Megadeth – Rust In Peace Live (2010, Shout! Factory)
1. “Holy Wars… The Punishment Due” … 7:03
2. “Hangar 18″ … 5:06
3. “Take No Prisoners” … 3:25
4. “Five Magics” … 6:01
5. “Poison Was The Cure” … 3:36
6. “Lucretia” … 3:59
7. “Tornado of Souls” … 5:29
8. “Dawn Patrol” … 1:53
9. “Rust In Peace… Polaris” … 6:10
10. “Holy Wars – Reprise” … 4:16
11. “Skin O’ My Teeth” … 3:20
12. “In My Darkest Hour” … 6:12
13. “She-Wolf” … 3:37
14. “Trust” … 5:10
15. “Symphony of Destruction” … 4:01
16. “Peace Sells” … 4:47
Band:
Dave Mustaine – Vocals, Guitar
Chris Broderick – Guitar
David Ellefson – Bass
Shawn Drover – Drums
Producer: Bart Peters
Pretty odd that Shout! Factory would release this as I thought Megadeth still had a deal in place with Roadrunner Records, owing them one more album, but maybe that only applies to studio albums? Anyway, this show was recorded on March 31, 2010 at the historic Hollywood Palladium and is notable for being the first recording to feature David Ellefson back on bass after an 8 year absence from the band.
My feelings are mixed on Megadeth’s past live releases. I was totally unimpressed initially by 2001′s Rude Awakening. Looking back, it was an okay live album but it’s inferior compared to 2007′s That One Night: Live in Buenos Aires. Due to me liking That One Night so much, I wanted to pick this album up. I’m actually surprised very little marketing has been done for it, I only knew it existed because I was browsing through Amazon.com a few weeks ago and it popped up as a recommendation.
As you can tell by the title of the album, the band plays the entire Rust In Peace album. This was being done on the entire tour to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the album. The “encore” is a number of Megadeth’s biggest hits and crowd favorites and every song on this album sounds fantastic. Megadeth has never had a problem performing in a live setting, Dave always has the cream of the crop in his band. It’s absolutely amazing the number of extremely talented co-guitarists he’s had over the years.
Though I’ve always thought Rust In Peace was overrated (very good, but still overrated), fans who are absolutely in love with that album should be absolutely in love with this live disc. The packaging is kinda low-budget though. You’d think there’d be some liner notes from Dave about the original album, or this tour or this one particular show, but nope, just some album credits and photos from this concert. Maybe such extra content is being saved for a special edition of Rust In Peace.
Still, Megadeth fans should be just as pleased with this release as the crowd was that night!
Highlights: “Holy Wars… The Punishment Due”, “Hangar 18″, “Take No Prisoners”, “Rust In Peace… Polaris”, “In My Darkest Hour”, “Trust”, “Symphony of Destruction”, “Peace Sells”
MEGADETH – Rust In Peace
Megadeth – Rust In Peace (1990, Capitol Records)
1.”Holy Wars…The Punishment Due” … 6:34
2.”Hangar 18″ … 5:12
3.”Take No Prisoners” … 3:27
4.”Five Magics” … 5:41
5.”Poison Was the Cure” … 2:57
6.”Lucretia” … 3:57
7.”Tornado of Souls” … 5:21
8.”Dawn Patrol” … 1:49
9.”Rust In Peace…Polaris” … 5:37
Band:
Dave Mustaine – Lead Vocals, Guitar
Marty Friedman – Guitar
David Ellefson – Bass, Backing Vocals
Nick Menza – Drums
Producer: Dave Mustaine and Mike Clink
I figure it’s time I finally comment on Megadeth’s “greatest” album and the beginning of what is acknowledged to be the classic Megadeth line-up. At least, this is the album most people consider to be their greatest. I’m not one of those people. I see it more as a connecting piece for their 1980s and 1990s works but I personally feel it is extremely overrated. When the time comes, I’d take a Youthansia 20th anniversary set list/tour over a Rust In Peace show any day!
It’s definitely a good album, I just think they have done better. I remember being less than impressed with this album when I first heard it but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. It wasn’t until later when I read another review talking about the progressive elements of this album that it clicked. I’m not a big fan of progressive rock & metal which would explain why I don’t believe the hype about this album.
I know I’m committing heresy by not saying this is a five-star album but it’s the way I’ve always felt. “Holy Wars”, “Take No Prisoners” and “Hangar 18″ (one of my favorite Megadeth tunes) are certainly classics but “Five Magics”, “Poison Was the Cure” and “Tornado of Souls” are filler to me. Short as it is, I think “Dawn Patrol” is pretty cool but couldn’t exactly call it an album highlight. So basically I like six of the nine songs from this album which definitely shows I don’t think this album is garbage but there are other Megadeth albums I reach for before even thinking about spinning this one.
Highlights: “Holy Wars… The Punishment Due”, “Hangar 18″, “Take No Prisoners”, “Lucretia”, “Rust In Peace…Polaris”
MEGADETH – Killing Is My Business… And Business Is Good!
Megadeth – Killing Is My Business… And Business Is Good! [Remastered] (2002, Loud Records)
Original Release: 1985, Combat Records
1. “Last Rites/Loved to Deth” … 4:40
2. “Killing Is My Business… And Business Is Good!” … 3:06
3. “The Skull Beneath the Skin” … 3:47
4. “Rattlehead” … 3:43
5. “Chosen Ones” … 2:55
6. “Looking Down the Cross” … 5:04
7. “Mechanix” … 4:22
8. “These Boots” … 4:42
BONUS TRACKS
9. “Last Rites/Loved to Deth” (demo) … 4:18
10. “Mechanix” (demo) …. 4:01
11. “The Skull Beneath the Skin” (demo) … 3:11
Band:
Dave Mustaine – Lead Vocals, Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Piano
Chris Poland – Rhythm Guitar, Lead Guitar
David Ellefson – Bass, Backing Vocals
Gar Samuelson – Drums, Timpani
Producer: Dave Mustaine & Karat Faye
Ah, now my Megadeth collection is complete! I had been wanting this one since the reissue… It only took me 7 years to finally pick it up! This is Megadeth’s debut and the album was known for having an incredibly bad production (Dave says he blew half the album budget on drugs & food). To right a wrong, for this reissue Mustaine himself remixed and remastered every song. We also get a few bonus track demos from 1984 along with a reshuffled track listing.
The album is a lot better than I was expecting it to be. I’m not the biggest fan of Megadeth’s early years but this probably my favorite of their three ’80s releases. Just seems more consistent and interesting overall even if there’s nothing here that can stand up to “Wake Up Dead”, “Peace Sells” or “In My Darkest Hour”.
What really surprised me was the beginning of the opening track. A PIANO ?!?!? Wow, I was not expecting that. It’s a pretty brave way to start off a debut in the macho world of ’80s thrash/speed metal.
“These Boots” is the band’s cover of Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots Are Made For Walkin’” with altered lyrics. After 1995, it was left off any future pressings of the album due to complaints by the author of the original song over the lyrics (who I should point out had been accepting the royalties for 10 years by this point). The song was included for the reissue because the altered lyrics are now beeped out. Kinda stupid and annoying. And by that, I’m talking about the song’s original writer and all the beeps in this new censored version.
The original version of this album features one of the ugliest covers known to man. Combat had lost the original artwork and they substituted the thrown-together plastic skull ‘n’ hooks photo that looks extremely low-budget and cheesy. Luckily, this was another wrong Dave sought to make right and the reissue cover is basically an updated version of the lost artwork.
Strangely, Loud Records was a hip hop label. As far as I know, this was their only rock/metal release. I guess they were considering branching out before they went out of business in 2002.
Highlights: “Last Rites/Loved to Deth”, “Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good!”, “The Skull Beneath the Skin”, “Rattlehead”, “Looking Down the Cross”
MEGADETH – Endgame
Megadeth – Endgame (2009, Roadrunner Records)
1. “Dialectic Chaos” … 2:26
2. “This Day We Fight!” … 3:27
3. “44 Minutes” … 4:37
4. “1,320″ … 3:50
5. “Bite The Hand” … 4:01
6. “Bodies” … 3:34
7. “Endgame” … 5:57
8. “The Hardest Part of Letting Go… Sealed With a Kiss” … 4:42
9. “Head Crusher” … 3:26
10. “How The Story Ends” … 4:29
11. “The Right To Go Insane” .. 4:18
Band:
Dave Mustaine – Lead Vocals, Lead & Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Piano
Chris Broderick – Lead & Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
James Lomenzo – Bass
Shawn Drover – Drums, Percussion
Produced by: Andy Sneap and Dave Mustaine
Another Megadeth album, another line-up change! It’s pretty comical — “who’s going to play on this album,” but at least Dave always brings in top notch musicians. This time, its another new guitarist — Chris Broderick (Jag Panzer, Nevermore) has stepped in for the departing Glen Drover, who apparently was homesick and just wasn’t enjoying touring all that much.
My first impression of this album was that there’s really nothing that jumps out and grabs you. I thought there was some filler on United Abominations, but at least that album had the instant standouts “Play for Blood” and “Gears of War” (which had a “Symphony of Destruction” vibe).
To be honest, the very first song that eventually caught my attention was the opening track “Dialectic Chaos”… which is an instrumental! After that, “44 Minutes” began getting stuck in my head and I knew I had found my groove with this album.It’s a grower, for sure, but the more I listen to it, the more I’m enjoying it. I think it’s even better than United Abominations because melody seems to be employed better here, UA was a bit too thrashy for me at times.
I’ve seen many reviews going as far as to say this album is “great”. I wouldn’t go that far, but it is very good and one of the year’s best releases. I mean, how can you complain about Megadeth (well, besides the lame cover)? Mustaine has seemed to have found his proper place with the music — the last few records seem to emcompass all albums from Rust In Peace to Cryptic Writings. As long as Dave keeps makin’ ‘em, I’ll keep buyin’ ‘em.
Highlights: “Dialectic Chaos”, “44 Minutes”, “Bodies”, “Endgame”, “The Hardest Part of Letting Go… Sealed With a Kiss”, “Head Crusher”, “How The Story Ends”
MEGADETH – The World Needs a Hero
Megadeth – The World Needs a Hero (2001, Sanctuary Records)
1. “Disconnect” … 5:20
2. “The World Needs a Hero” … 3:52
3. “Moto Psycho” … 3:06
4. “1000 Times Goodbye” … 6:25
5. “Burning Bridges” … 5:20
6. “Promises” … 4:28
7. “Recipe for Hate…. Warhorse” … 5:18
8. “Losing My Senses” … 4:40
9. “Dread and the Fugitive Mind” … 4:25
10. “Silent Scorn” … 1:42
11. “Return to Hangar” … 3:59
12. “When” … 9:14
Band:
Dave Mustaine – Lead Vocals, Guitar
Al Pitrelli – Guitar, Backing Vocals
David Ellefson – Bass
Jimmy DeGrasso – Drums
Produced by: Bill Kennedy & Dave Mustaine
I became a Megadeth fan with the Capitol Punishment compilation from 2000, so I was really excited to hear about The World Needs a Hero, because it would be the first new release having been a fan. For whatever reason, I picked the album up at Target and I didn’t realize it until I bought and opened the packaging that I had bought the censored cover version! It’s an absolutely awful censor job, just looks like someone took an ugly brown paintbrush and slapped it across the cover. Why not just make up a whole new and “safe” cover as so many other bands and labels have done?
Censored!? BOO!
Anyway, this album marked Dave’s move BACK to his metal roots after Countdown to Extinction started the shift towards a more mainstream (and later, alternative) sound. It’s a good release that seems to encompass basically all of Megadeth’s ’90s albums except for Rust In Peace… the one album everybody was hoping Dave would be able to replicate. I liked the album, but at the same time, I was a bit disappointed by it. I think that’s the general consensus is regards to this release.
“Dread and the Fugitive Mind” originally appeared on Capitol Punishment. That compilation also featured another new song, “Kill the King”, which was really good. Too bad it didn’t appear here as well. I think I remember something about it pretty much being a casualty in Capitol Records’ bitter split with the band.
Al Pitrelli (Savatage, Trans-Siberian Orchestra) took over lead guitar duties from Marty Friedman, who left after 10 years of service in Megadeth. Marty wanted to branch out beyond heavy metal.
Though Dave had pointed Megadeth in the right direction with this album, it was originally thought to go down as the “last” studio album from the band after Dave disbanded the group in 2002 thanks to his arm injury (the disbandment lasted all of 2 years).
Highlights: “Disconnect”, “Moto Psycho”, “1000 Times Goodbye”, “Promises”, “Dread and the Fugitive Mind”, “Return to Hangar”
MEGADETH – Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?
Megadeth – Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying? (1986, Capitol Records)
1. “Wake Up Dead” … 3:39
2. “The Conjuring” … 5:02
3. “Peace Sells” … 4:02
4. “Devil’s Island” … 5:04
5. “Good Mourning/Black Friday” … 6:39
6. “Bad Omen” … 4:03
7. “I Ain’t Superstitious” … 2:44
8. “My Last Words” … 4:48
Band:
Dave Mustaine – Lead Vocals, Guitar
Chris Poland – Guitar
Dave Ellefson – Bass, Backing Vocals
Gar Samuelson – Drums
Produced by: Dave Mustaine, Randy Burns, Andy Somers
Really strong album that is pointed to as one of the supreme thrash classics and is often mentioned as being better than perhaps Rust In Peace. That’s a debate I don’t care to get into because I’ve always enjoyed the more melodic side of Megadeth best (1992-onward) and for my money, Youthanasia is their best release.
Still, this is early angry Dave talking about politics, death and evil things all while and snarling and growling. You can’t go wrong with that, but it’s not an album I pull out to listen to much.
The album has a great closer with “My Last Words”, it’s definitely metal, but isn’t quite a heavy as the rest of the album. Given my Megadeth preferences, that’s probably why I like it so much.
I have the original CD pressing, but the album was remixed & remastered in 2004 by Dave himself and included remixed bonus tracks of “Wake Up Dead”, “The Conjuring”, “Peace Sells” and “Good Mourning/Black Friday”.
Highlights: “Wake Up Dead”, “Peace Sells”, “Good Mourning/Black Friday”, “I Ain’t Superstitious”, “My Last Words”
MEGADETH – Rude Awakening
Megadeth – Rude Awakening (2002, Sanctuary Records)
DISC 1
1. “Dread and the Fugitive Mind” … 4:12
2. “Kill the King” … 3:50
3. “Wake up Dead” … 3:26
4. “In My Darkest Hour” … 5:28
5. “Angry Again” … 3:22
6. “She Wolf” … 8:17
7. “Reckoning Day” … 4:24
8. “Devil’s Island” … 5:06
9. “Train of Consequences” … 4:30
10. “A Tout le Monde” … 4:49
11. “Burning Bridges” … 4:56
12. “Hangar 18″ … 4:45
13. “Return to Hangar” … 3:54
14. “Hook in Mouth” … 4:40
DISC 2
1. “Almost Honest” … 3:57
2. “1000 Times Goodbye” … 6:14
3. “Mechanix” … 4:36
4. “Tornado of Souls” … 5:47
5. “Ashes in Your Mouth” … 6:04
6. “Sweating Bullets” … 4:38
7. “Trust” … 6:46
8. “Symphony of Destruction” … 4:50
9. “Peace Sells” … 5:22
10. “Holy Wars” … 8:51
Band:
Dave Mustaine – Vocals, Guitar
Al Pitrelli – Guitar, Backing Vocals
David Ellefson – Bass, Backing Vocals
Jimmy DeGrasso – Drums
Produced by: Bill Kennedy and Dave Mustaine
The final release from Megadeth before that whole weird arm injury/break up they had in 2002. Luckily, Megadeth would return in 2004.
Not only is this a live album, but it also doubles as a great career retrospective in my opinion, and it would’ve been a nice final release from the band had their unexpected exit stuck. All but Risk is represented here. Heck, even “Angry Again” from the Hidden Treasures EP/Last Action Hero soundtrack is included.
Overall, the band sounds great. Many of the songs come close to sounding like the studio versions, but the more interesting tracks are the ones that differ slightly. Variety is the spice of life! Dave’s voice holds up well enough, but sounds very weak on “Train of Consequences” and “A Tout le Monde”.
My biggest gripe is the crowd. I love to have my live albums with a roaring crowd and this one just seemed dead and lazy for the part. The album was originally to be recorded at a show in Argentina (which surely would have provided the roar I was looking for), but terrorist attacks of 9/11 changed those plans and it ended up being recorded at shows in Tuscon and Phoenix in November 2001.
Dave would eventually get that live Argentina performance he was looking for with the superior That One Night: Live in Buenos Aires, released in 2007.
Highlights: “Dread and the Fugitive Mind”, “In My Darkest Hour”, “Reckoning Day”, “A Tout le Monde”, “Hangar 18″, “Almost Honest”, “Trust”, “Symphony of Destruction”, “Peace Sells”, “Holy Wars”
MEGADETH – So Far, So Good… So What!
Megadeth – So Far, So Good… So What! (1988, Capitol Records/Combat Records)
1. “Into the Lungs of Hell” … 3:29
2. “Set the World Afire” … 5:47
3. “Anarchy in the U.K.” … 3:00
4. “Mary Jane” … 4:24
5. “502″ … 3:27
6. “In My Darkest Hour” … 6:16
7. “Liar” … 3:20
8. “Hook in Mouth” … 4:40
Band:
Dave Mustaine – Lead Vocals, Guitar
Jeff Young – Guitar
David Ellefson – Bass, Backing Vocals
Chuck Behler – Drums
Additional Musicians:
Steve Jones – Guitar (“Anarchy in the U.K.”)
Produced by: Dave Mustaine and Paul Lani
I’ve been on record for a long time that I prefer 90s & current Megadeth over 80s Megadeth. Dave always came up with some great songs for EACH of the albums, but he didn’t deliver a great album until 1992′s Countdown to Extinction, in my opinion.
I’ve always appreciated the anger, violence, cynicism and pessimistic views all Megadeth albums have brought to the CD player, but everything up to 1990′s Rust In Peace has been really hard for me to get into as whole.
I will say this though, the instrumental opener “Into the Lungs of Hell” is awesome and so is “In My Darkest Hour”, which is one of my favorite ‘deth songs. It’s actually the song that got me into the band because I heard it on ‘Decline of the Westerin Civilization Part II: The Metal Years’ and the song was quickly Napster’d (this was 1998 afterall) and eventually it let me to a Megadeth album hunt.
Anyway, the only other song that sticks out is “Set the World Afire”. The rest just seems very unfocused, especially “Hook in Mouth” and “502″. Pieces of “Liar” remind me of “Skin O’ My Teeth” from Countdown to Extinction.
MEGADETH – Hidden Treasures
Megadeth – Hidden Treasures (1995, Capitol Records)
Track Listing:
1. “No More Mr. Nice Guy” … 3:02 [from the Shocker soundtrack]
2. “Breakpoint” … 3:29 [from the Super Mario Bros. soundtrack]
3. “Go to Hell” … 4:36 [from Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey soundtrack]
4. “Angry Again” … 3:47 [from the Last Action Hero soundtrack]
5. “99 Ways to Die” … 3:58 [from The Beavis and Butt-head Experience compilation]
6. “Paranoid” … 2:32 [from Nativity in Black: A Tribute to Black Sabbath compilation]
7. “Diadems” … 3:56 [from Tales from the Crypt Presents Demon Knight soundtrack]
8. “Problems” … 3:57 [from the "A Tout le Monde" promo]
Band:
Dave Mustaine – Lead Vocals, Guitar
Marty Friedman – Guitar, Backing vocals
David Ellefson – Bass, Backing vocals
Nick Menza – Drums
Produced by: Max Norman, Dave Mustaine, and Desmond Child (“No More Mr. Nice Guy”)
Highlights: “No More Mr. Nice Guy”, “Breakpoint”, “Go to Hell”, “Angry Again”, “99 Ways to Die”, “Diadems”
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