Also, the over all production sound is too bright for an album that would have benefited from a darker sound. The lead guitar work is excellent, although it doesnвЂ™t compare well to some of their previous efforts. The arrangements, however, donвЂ™t work as well, and despite some wonderful vocal melodies, some of the lyrics are a bit on the cheesy side. Not to say that there arenвЂ™t a few excellent hooks, some clever lyrics, and good riffage, at least as much of that as youвЂ™d expect off of a Megadeth record. The rest of the album, unfortunately, is mostly lackluster. This is an album that contains a possible modern Megadeth classic: вЂњWashington is NextвЂќ. A few of the tracks have a stadium rock feel to them, as there is a glam flavor to the recording. One cool thing about this album is the really fun and completely rocking Megadeth folk song, вЂњThe Blackest CrowвЂќ (no, thatвЂ™s not a Game of Thrones reference). Disappointingly, the songs are overly emotional and can be quite forgettable Dave explains that as an artist, he was expressing his emotions from that time period, and I believe him, Dave has always been honest in his lyrics. There was a lot of anticipation leading up to this release the band was following up a couple of hot albums, the line-up was holding 3rd time coming, and the first single вЂњKingmakerвЂќ had all the right elements. Additionally, super talented guitarist Al Pitrelli ( Trans-SiberianВ Orchestra) was the guy replacing one of the great legends (how it must have irked him when drunk unaware fans called him Marty!), further contributed towards a contrived sounding album. Also, RISK was so terrible, that it camouflaged just how much of a rigid drummer Jimmy DeGrasso is, at least in Megadeth В he is a legend, touring with Alice Cooper and Suicidal Tendencies, though compared to the light footed Nick Menza or the demon elf playing of Gar Samuelson, his sticks sound too heavy, and a song like вЂњDisconnectвЂќ, for example, could have benefited form a more dynamic drummer. The album is alright, though solid songs like the addictive вЂњDread and the Fugitive MindвЂќ, and the call back to arms вЂњReturn to HangerвЂќ, donвЂ™t make up for the sappy вЂњPromisesвЂќ or the cringe worthy title track.

The World Needs A Hero (2001)ДЄfter the backlash from RISK, it was obvious the band went into panic mode, and was ready to make a statement again. At least they were upfront about it, calling it RISK. If you were following the band at the time, RISK was a surprise only by how much of a sell-out record it actually was, the sheer scope of its pop for a band thatвЂ™s supposed to be an angry voice for its fans (вЂњPeace SellsвЂ¦but WhoвЂ™s BuyingвЂќ, am I right?), a song like вЂњEcstasyвЂќ, as nifty as those chords and progressions are, is not meant to be part of MegadethвЂs arsenal. The album sold over half a million copies, and does have well written pop rock/hard rock (barely) songs this is supposedly guitar master Marty FriedmanвЂs influence, and everything else. Megadeth went radio pop trying to be Hanson, and it sucked. RISK (1999)ДЄn obvious choice for last place, this 1999 release was when the band cut their hair (minus the red manedВ front-man) and went disco! According to Dave Mustaine, in his autobiography, he puked upon hearing вЂњCrush вЂ™emвЂќ I believe him, for as a Megadeth fan, I also puked. Ranking their discography, excluded are Hidden Treasures and their other live and compilation releases.

Over the course of 35 years, Megadeth has earned the moniker вЂiconicвЂ™ third generation originators (first two generations being born in Birmingham and the UK, then came American Thrash), they managed to stay relevant, influencing the 15 to 25 year old metal heads of the mid-80вЂ™s, the mid 90вЂ™s, and now, with songs like вЂњWashington is NextвЂќ and an album such as Dystopia, they continue to exert their influence in 2010вЂ™s.

The record will mark the second for guitarist Kiko Loureiro (Angra) and the first for new drummer, Dirk VerBeuren (Soilwork, Bent Sea). This winter, Dave Mustaine and Dave Ellefson are back in the studio recording Megadeth album number 16.

Megadeth supercollider demo