Discovering Metal: Megadeth

Megadeth was my introduction to Thrash Metal in a similar way that Iron Maiden was my introduction to Heavy Metal music.  My experience listening to Megadeth felt like an abrupt transition from the more traditional style of Heavy Metal music performed by Iron Maiden. I believe that Megadeth was an excellent choice for a Thrash Metal band for me to adjust my music listening experience from Heavy Metal into Thrash Metal.  Megadeth served as my gateway band into the world of Thrash Metal and they continue to hold the top spot on my list of favorite Thrash Metal Bands. Due to their quality of songwriting, I consider them my 2^nd overall favorite band just behind Iron Maiden.

When I reflect on my introduction to Megadeth, I was listening to a lot, and I mean a lot, of Iron Maiden. I was ripping into albums like “A Matter of Life and Death”, “The Final Frontier”, and “Somewhere in Time”. Then my friend, the same friend who got me into Maiden, asked if I had heard of Megadeth. Of course my response to his question was no. I was binging on Iron Maiden. He recommended them to me, so I decided to do a little research and check them out. The first Megadeth song I listened to was “Holy Wars… the Punishment Due” and man that was an awesome song! Going from Iron Maiden to Megadeth is like going from driving down the highway at top speed and then going into a jet traveling at supersonic speed.

After listening to Holy Wars a few more times, I reconnected with my friend periodically over a course of several months during which he recommended I listen to songs including “Peace Sells”, “My Last Words”,  “Hangar 18”, and “Skin O’ My Teeth”. I enjoyed this band’s music so much that I decided to examine their entire catalogue of albums which included their earlier records like “Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying” to more recent albums like ”United Abominations”. Before I knew it, Megadeth became the second band that I was enthralled by.

I also had the pleasure of seeing them live twice, the first time on their Gigantour in 2013 and in 2014 at a local venue. Both shows were great! I loved their performances and actually one of my friends went up to the front row and got his hand stomped on by someone in the crowd when he reached for one of the guitar picks on the ground that the band threw out into the audience when the show ended. At least my friend managed to get the guitar pick.

I consider Megadeth to be a successful band due to the fact that they have received many accolades throughout their career. The band’s songs have great instrumentals and powerful lyrics. Dave Mustaine, the band leader, principal songwriter, lead vocalist and guitarist has no real range in his voice, but that hasn’t stopped him from writing and singing the messages within Megadeth’s songs.

There are many metal fans who would not give Megadeth a chance. I think what it comes down to is they are opposition to Mustaine’s political views which he expresses in his music. In concert, he discusses his views when he is introducing the next song. I think you can only come to truly appreciate this band by attending a live performance to experience their talent. Some people just don’t like what Mustaine says, and that’s a shame because they are judging the band solely on Mustaine’s opinions.

Megadeth for me was the introduction to faster more aggressive metal. With their blistering solos and intricate riffs, Megadeth’s music blew me away. I’ve listed below my favorite Megadeth albums. Additionally, I’d suggest you check out their live DVDs such as “That One Night - Live In Buenos Aires” and “Rust in Peace Live”. Also, I recommend you check out my review of their latest album Dystopia here.

Top Favorite Albums:

1) Rust In Peace

2) Countdown To Extinction

3) Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?

4) Youthansia

5) The System Has Failed

“The military Intelligence two words combined that can't make sense”

Album Review: Dystopia

With a new lineup and reinvigorated heavy sound, Megadeth unleashes their new album Dystopia!

Impressions/Thoughts:

With a new guitarist and drummer, the new line up of Megadeth head towards the heavier side of their music. To fans that have longed for an album like their masterpiece Rust in Peace, they should be satisfied with Dystopia. The key word is satisfied, while the album is good it’s nowhere near the masterpiece of their former albums. But that’s not to say that they took a step in the wrong direction. To the contrary I believe they are going where they need to be.

Dystopia is not the kind of album where you can take only one listen and get the whole understanding of the album. It’s a grower, as in the album grows on you upon each listen. It took me till about the fourth listen to get the real greatness of the record. And that is okay. Because I would rather have an album that grows on me than an album full lifelessness.

One of the great things that I liked after the release of this album is that they have a short video series where Dave Mustaine would go track by track talking about the lyrical themes and the interesting instrumental elements present in each song.

The Music:

Because I have the iTunes version, I will list that track listing.

1) The Threat Is Real is the opening track and the second single of the album. As far as the song goes it’s the strongest on the record.

2) Dystopia The title track and it stands out from the previous track with a sound I find more like something from their album The System Has Failed. But with the soloing, it is a standout track allowing lead guitarist Kiko Loureiro to shine.

3) Fatal Illusion is the first single from the album. As a single and a first taste of the album, I was skeptical but overall it’s a very strong track and emphasizes the heaviness of the album overall.

4) Death From Within segues from the previous track and continues with the heaviness theme. I really like the chorus and the musical bridges right before the chorus. It really hooks you in to re-listen to this song.

5) Bullet to the Brain From the start of this song, it starts slowly which is a change up from the previous songs. The melody of the lyrics flows so well with the riff, it’s just one of those songs that becomes really memorable with the chorus and riff.

6) Post-American World I felt this song fits well ensnaring our senses to a very straightforward and heavy song. While some may think that would be a bad thing, this song has all the solos and lyrical content that can keep you captivated.

7) Poisonous Shadows Besides the first three tracks which I find to be the best of the whole album, this is a gem and one of my favorite songs on the album. It continues with more Arabic singing that was in The Threat is Real and comes into its own.

8) Look Who’s Talking (Bonus Track) It’s another good song and even though it’s a bonus track, I find it’s a really good fit for the album. My favorite lyric from the song is “The dogs who bark the loudest, are the dogs who have no teeth.”

9) Conquer… or Die! Is an instrumental that reminds me of their song “Good Morning / Black Friday”, in the sense that there are two parts to the song. It starts with an acoustic part which isn’t warm but has a tense eeriness to it. Then it shifts into the second part which is very thrashy. Again I draw parallels to the other song Black Friday.

10) Lying In State is what the previous song leads into. Lyrically it has two meanings: 1) The tradition in which the body of a respected person is laid to rest in an official state building, either in open casket or closed casket, to allow the public at large to pay their respects. 2) That politicians and others in positions of power tell lies. Lying In State has a great crunching riff that just really leads itself off for the previous track.

11) The Emperor is where the album starts to show some cracks in the album. The song itself is okay but compared to the previous song, it just isn’t as good.

12) Last Dying Wish (Bonus Track) is a song that reminds me of the songwriting from their album Endgame. If you like the song Endgame like myself, then this is a treat. But after this song is where I find the album starts dipping down.

13) Foreign Policy a cover song of the band Fear. While I can’t really testify as to whether it’s a good cover, the merits of the song itself really show. The song fits in lyrically and thematically on Dystopia but I find it to be lackluster.

Verdict:

I feel as if they put out the standout tracks of the album as the singles: The Threat is Real, Dystopia and Fatal Illusion. Which also happen to be the first three tracks. The soloing and overall songwriting is superb.

But nearing the end of the album it starts to grow pretty weak. I find that the cover of Foreign Policy, lyrically fits with the rest of the album, but as far as the song is, it is the weakest of the bunch.

Now there was a cover of the Bungie song “Melt the Ice Away”, that I find much better than Foreign Policy. But even though you can find it on YouTube, it was released exclusively for Spotify. I hate it when they put tracks on a specific platform or in exclusive editions, because I want it all. I don’t want to have to look it up on YouTube or have to buy a specific edition from another country just to get some more bonus tracks. But this issue is for another time.

Ultimately, I believe that Dystopia is this a good album. But how does it compare to the rest of their albums? I say that it’s their best in years and I am proud to have it in my collection.

My Favorite Songs:

1) The Threat Is Real

2) Fatal Illusion

3) Poisonous Shadows

4) Dystopia

5) Bullet to the Brain

Overall a good album but with some flaws. Here’s hoping that in their next effort, whenever that happens, that they do even better. If I had to rate it I’d give it a solid 8/10, which to me is a must buy.