There has been much doubt surrounding Megadeth and more so with its founder, Dave Mustaine, in recent years. With the release of their twelfth studio album a lot of people, fans and journos alike, wondered if Mustaine and co still had it. Then a fortunate few who had heard advanced copies of this new album started to spread the word that it was a “return to form”. Something that you always take with a pinch of salt whenever you hear that but it was only when I managed to snatch a copy of ‘Endgame’ for myself that I realized that, for once, it was true. Megadeth were back!
With only the one ballad-y track for self indulgent purposes, the majority of ‘Endgame’ is classic Megadeth from furious start to brutal finish. Opening up with ‘Dialectic Chaos’, a blistering instrumental intro, then ‘This Day We Fight!’ we is goose bump material. Classic thrash fucking metal! Thanks Christ for that. Only two tracks in and the strawberry blonde, curled lip-ed one has fully reassured me this record is not a dud!
Dave Mustaine, at whatever stage in his life, has always had a major gripe with one thing or another and it’s this, like all classic Megadeth albums, that really drives the record home. The Lyrics sound like they are being spat at you through gritted teeth and ooze passion. All the albums themes are what you’d come to expect from a Megadeth album. Control, oppression, rebellion, suffering. Check, check, check and check!
With only the one ballad-y track for self indulgent purposes, the majority of ‘Endgame’ is classic Megadeth from furious start to brutal finish. Opening up with ‘Dialectic Chaos’, a blistering instrumental intro, then ‘This Day We Fight!’ we is goose bump material. Classic thrash fucking metal! Thanks Christ for that. Only two tracks in and the strawberry blonde, curled lip-ed one has fully reassured me this record is not a dud!
Dave Mustaine, at whatever stage in his life, has always had a major gripe with one thing or another and it’s this, like all classic Megadeth albums, that really drives the record home. The Lyrics sound like they are being spat at you through gritted teeth and ooze passion. All the albums themes are what you’d come to expect from a Megadeth album. Control, oppression, rebellion, suffering. Check, check, check and check!
Megadeth wouldn’t be able to function with just Dave Mustaine and a tip of the cap has to go to the rest of the band. Shawn Drover’s drumming is breathtaking and only added to James Lomenzo’s bass work as heard on ’44 Mins’. ‘Endgame’ and ‘Bodies’ are both outstanding thrash jams and Mustaine’s fret skills are just as furious as they were twenty years ago as demonstrated on the savage single ‘Headcrusher’ and ‘1,320’. This is the classic Megadeth sound with stand out axework from both Mustaine and the incredible Chris Broderick.
Despite it’s comparisons to past glories, it’s no ‘Rust In Peace’ or ‘Peace Sells...’ but it beats seven shades of shit out of ‘Death Magnetic’ along with most heavy metal releases this year. ‘End Game’ is Mustaine at the best he has been for years. This is vintage Megadeth that is ready to slay the music world once again. Welcome back Dave. We’ve missed you.
No comments:
Post a Comment