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The release of 2009's Endgame brings with it a startling realization: if first-generation thrash metal fans had been polled about which of the genre's "Big Four" -- Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, and Megadeth -- would prove to be the most resilient and consistently prolific over the next quarter century, the only sure-fire consensus would probably have been "well, anyone but Megadeth!" And yet, 12 studio albums and 150-plus songs later -- more than any of the other three have managed -- that's exactly what's come to pass. It hasn't been easy, and it's rarely been pretty along the way, but despite a few weak efforts, mostly self-inflicted controversy, and no end to verbal diarrhea, none of those other platinum-busting thrash titans have been as productive as Dave Mustaine's bunch -- all of which stands as a testament to the man's stubborn drive to prolong Megadeth's career against all odds, including drug abuse, his unfulfilled vengeance against Metallica, and even a religious reawakening! Of course, one shouldn't overlook the fact that Megadeth have always been a band in name only, thus allowing their leader to cope with voices of dissent by simply showing them the door. The "group" was also broken up for a short spell in the early 2000s while Mustaine recovered from nerve damage to his hands, after which he struggled with inspiration, creative direction, and a never-ending parade of henchmen before finally recovering much of that old Megadeth "mojo" (sonically, lyrically, and even where the cover art was concerned) on 2007's effective return to form, United Abominations. Best of all, this momentum carries on into Mustaine and company's second release for Roadrunner, Endgame, whose title apparently refers to "coming full circle" rather than any sort of goodbye, and finds the latest iteration of Megadeth -- debuting new guitarist Chris Broderick(ex-Nevermore, Jag Panzer) -- working primarily within their technical thrash comfort zone (think Peace Sells through Rust in Peace), with only a few latter-day elements and rare experimental diversions.
As such, deceptively simple guitar-shredding master classes like "This Day We Fight!," "1,320" (surprisingly, written about "funny car" racing), and first single "Headcrusher" are cut from the same bloody cloth as "Wake Up Dead" and "Set the World Afire," while politicized rants such as "44 Minutes," "Bite the Hand That Feeds," and the title cut recall old stalwarts like "Peace Sells" and "Holy Wars." And for those who enjoyed Megadeth's early-'90s shift away from incessant thrashing toward the more "civilized" (but pre-sellout) Countdown to Extinction and Youthanasia albums, there are more methodical and melodically sweetened cuts like "Bodies Left Behind," "How the Story Ends," and "The Right to Go Insane." Indeed, the only song here that breaks entirely from vintage Megadeth templates is the elaborately named "The Hardest Part of Letting Go...Sealed with a Kiss," which surely owes its orchestrated string backdrops to the European metal perspective afforded by producer Andy Sneap, and tells a "love story" about entombing one's beloved behind a brick wall à la Edgar Allan Poe's The Cask of Amontillado. This one anomaly notwithstanding, however, Endgame is arguably the least commercially concerned Megadeth album since Rust in Peace some 20 years earlier, and by touching on so many of the favored songwriting styles of those early years, it should not only give their typically opinionated fan base very little to kvetch and moan about, but also throw new fuel upon the flames of Megadeth's unlikely longevity. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia, All Music Guide
As such, deceptively simple guitar-shredding master classes like "This Day We Fight!," "1,320" (surprisingly, written about "funny car" racing), and first single "Headcrusher" are cut from the same bloody cloth as "Wake Up Dead" and "Set the World Afire," while politicized rants such as "44 Minutes," "Bite the Hand That Feeds," and the title cut recall old stalwarts like "Peace Sells" and "Holy Wars." And for those who enjoyed Megadeth's early-'90s shift away from incessant thrashing toward the more "civilized" (but pre-sellout) Countdown to Extinction and Youthanasia albums, there are more methodical and melodically sweetened cuts like "Bodies Left Behind," "How the Story Ends," and "The Right to Go Insane." Indeed, the only song here that breaks entirely from vintage Megadeth templates is the elaborately named "The Hardest Part of Letting Go...Sealed with a Kiss," which surely owes its orchestrated string backdrops to the European metal perspective afforded by producer Andy Sneap, and tells a "love story" about entombing one's beloved behind a brick wall à la Edgar Allan Poe's The Cask of Amontillado. This one anomaly notwithstanding, however, Endgame is arguably the least commercially concerned Megadeth album since Rust in Peace some 20 years earlier, and by touching on so many of the favored songwriting styles of those early years, it should not only give their typically opinionated fan base very little to kvetch and moan about, but also throw new fuel upon the flames of Megadeth's unlikely longevity. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia, All Music Guide
more albums by this artist
See all-
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- Greatest Hits: Back To The Start
- Released 2005
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- Countdown to Extinction
- Released 1992
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- United Abominations
- Released 2007
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- Rust In Peace
- Released 1990
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listener reviews
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Rifftastic!
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- By csi2448
- 10/3/2009 06:56:24
- Engame will surely make you want to go out and smash a few things, beat
up a few people, and punch some holes in the wall. The album has plenty
of fast solos brought to you by both Dave Mustaine and Chris Broderick
for those guitar nuts out there. Oh and Dave Mustaine, aka the riff
god, doesn't disappoint. But of course Dave Mustaine never disappoints.
Pick this album up, you won't regret it!!
Oh and make sure you have full control over your car while listening to
this CD. I've found myself driving WAY too fast while this CD is on.
Just saying haha! - 1 out of 1 people
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One of their best yet!
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- By earlcapps
- 10/2/2009 18:41:22
- This is album is definitely one of their best albums yet, continuing the great performances in their last two albums: The System has Failed and United Abominations. While there's a lot of good stuff on this album, the song that most impressed me was 44 minutes, which told the story of the infamous 1997 Bank of America robbery and shootout in North Hollywood, California.
The video for the song Headcrusher is inspired by the Arnold Schwarezenegger movie The Running Man. The video brings up a growing concern (including with yours truly) about how so-called "reality" television programming has helped fuel a mindset similar to the days of Roman gladiators, where spectators' desire to be entertained trumped any ethical or moral considerations about the privacy or human rights of the participants: . The video brings up a growing concern (including with yours truly) about how so-called "reality" television programming has helped fuel a mindset similar to the days of Roman gladiators, where spectators' desire to be entertained trumped any ethical or moral considerations about the privacy or human rights of the participants: - Be the first person to rate this review!
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Disappointing & Forgettable
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- By xiphumbra
- 9/30/2009 05:14:32
- Despite a good intro, the rest of the album falls flat and becomes a blur. It's disappointing that he just can't seem to produce memorable metal riffs like he used to. Dave tries too hard to follow in the shadows of some other band. Get a grip, Dave, and put out songs like you used to.
- 0 out of 3 people
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Eargasm
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- By xyberNick
- 9/20/2009 16:52:22
- This Whole album is pure awesome! Each song is very awesome, I especially like the intro instrumental, "Dialect Chaos", that runs into the next song. Its just like I'm instantly overwhelmed with how awesome this album is!!!!
- 3 out of 3 people
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1 brutal i your face thrash...
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- By JOSECAOS
- 9/17/2009 12:40:40
- this is what we have been waiting for! I knew Chris was a great addition to Megadeth
- 4 out of 4 people
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Instant Classic
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- By baphomet651
- 9/16/2009 16:15:44
- Another solid effort from Thrash legend Dave Mustaine.
- 3 out of 3 people
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