In their glory days, Megadeth was always commercially #2 to Metallica – more technically proficient by far, structurally simpler, and literally #2 on the American Billboard 200 when they made their own dumbed down Black Album equivalent in Countdown to Extinction. Post-reformation Megadeth has been somewhat inconsistent about what part of their career they want to evoke, but if “Fatal Illusion” is any indication, Dystopia may very well be full of ’80s self-worship. There are some new aesthetic tweaks, like heavily processed, harmonized vocals from Dave Mustaine, but the overall structure of the song is an adequate facsimile of previous Megadeth and ’80s speed metal for commercial purposes. The current lineup of Megadeth notably features Kiko Loureiro (of Angra) and Chris Adler (from Lamb of God) in addition to its two founding Daves (Mustaine and Ellefson), although this track in isolation doesn’t really offer enough information on what their contributions to the band will sound like.
Tags: 2016, dystopia, mainstream metal, megadeth, promotional video, Speed Metal, upcoming releases
Rust in Peace is pretty much infinitely superior to any Metallica album. Yes it has dumb lyrics and the spoken word intro to “Rust in Peace… Polaris” is godawful but so what? If Slayer and Megadeth had both quit in 1990…
Rust In Peace is more structurally complex than any Metallica release.
I agree with the rest of the article, but I don’t understand what Gabe means with “structurally simpler” as well. Even comparing “Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good” with “Ride The Lightning” shows the opposite.
Metallica had more harmony, that is undeniable. But they escaped from the pop song structure mostly with power ballads (where the intensity buildup is part of the formula) and instrumentals. Exceptions to this rule are to be found in “…And Justice For All”, to which Megadeth replied with “Rust In Peace”.
Every song on “Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying”, cover included, doesn’t end the same way it started.
That said, Metallica’s output was more consistent in the eighties, as the third Megadeth album is clearly subpar.
Yet The Call of Ktulu is more «structurally complex» than any Megadeth song.
The call of cthulu was written by Dave mustaine. What made the first 2 metallica so good was because Dave mustaine wrote at least half the riffs. The only thing metallica surpassed megadeth in was record sales. Tremolo riff call of cthulu and you get hangar 18.
Hangar 18 and Call of Ktulu basically have nothing in common other than a chord progression. Considering this and the fact that Call of Ktulu really doesn’t sound like a Megadeth song, it seems like said chord progression might very well be Mustaine’s only noteworthy contribution to the song, although that’s mostly speculation on my part. The chord progression alone isn’t what makes the song good (and also vastly superior to Hangar 18), it,s how it is put together and if you take a listen to Megadeth’s early material then it quickly shines through that Mustaine isn’t all that good at putting things together.
Indeed, Mustaine used the same chords in Hangar 18 and he sure had a positive influence on Metallica’s early material, but you missed my point about Call of Ktulu which was the structure. The chords are used to develop various motives that progress with a sense of motion towards a significant conclusion, which probably makes it better structured than anything released under the name Megadeth (and maybe Metallica itself). I don’t know what Mustaine, the main (but not sole) composer, precisely contributed to the song, but it doesn’t change the fact that the song kind of stands alone compared to the rest of both band’s material. And btw my statement wasn’t meant to prove Metallica is overall better than Megadeth.
I still think “Rust in Peace” is the best speed metal album ever made and one of the finest metal albums in general.
This doesn’t sound awful. I would say that Dave’s voice is a bit too loud, though. He’s never had the most versatile range or the technical ability of other speed metal vocalists and this hasn’t exactly gotten better with time. But just based on this one song, it sounds better than anything Megadeth has put out since “Endgame” (which while not perfect was still tolerable). I don’t think I’ll ever be able to completely give up on Megadeth like I (and I’m guessing a whole lot of other people) did with Metallica.
I’ve always thought that Peace Sells was better than Rust in Peace and Peace Sells is already far from perfect. Rust in Peace has solid guitarmanship and Friedman on lead guitar is pretty cool but other than that it’s a rather bland record.
I always thought Peace Sells had the attitude and RIP had the technique. But even in those “classic” cases, Megadeth is always 70% bad, 15% adequate, and 15% cool as fuck. Horrible career batting average, but enough tape measure home-runs to keep them remembered for a long, long time.
The b-side of Peace Sells isn’t so hot. Megadeth’s popularity is pretty much based on how good Rust in Peace actually is. Yes Rust in Peace has wanky dueling solos and Mustaine stupidity (“DISCHARGE MY PAYLOAD!” “THEY KILLED MY WIFE AND MY BABY!”) but what speed metal LPs not by Mercyful Fate, Slayer, or Kreator can stand with it? None really.
Metallica’s first 2, Voivod, Coroner, Artillery. I don’t know a lot of speed metal but these immediately come to mind.
Agree on the first 3. Add Beneath the Remains and Rigor Mortis to these.
And Rust in Peace would be a lot less enjoyable without Friedman.
By Inheritance is very good. The last time I listened to it I just didn’t think it was a bit more repetitive than Rust in Peace but I’ll have to relisten. I forgot about Coroner and didn’t really count Voivod though Voivod are great.
*thought the riffs were chuggier and more repetitive than Rust in Peace.
I’d like to had Obliveon’s From This Day Forward but it might depart too much from the classic speed metal style discussed here.
At the very least, From This Day Forward got a good review in the old archives. https://www.deathmetal.org/bands/obliveon/obliveon-from_this_day_forward/
Agent Orange beats it I think…maybe not by much though.
I am always surprised to remember that RIP came out in 1990…did any other notable Speed Metal come out in the early 90s?
Beg to Differ and Coma of Souls are quite good.
Coma of Souls when Frank Blackfire joined a band non-alcoholics. Also that Aspid album is very good.
Forbidden
I’ve never really cared for Megadeth that much. I guess Killing Is My Business and Peace Sells are okay, but they’ll always be known as the band trying to outdo Metallica and failing each time.
It’s great that Megadeth is moving away from pop-music, but that complexity will account for nothing if it is done in an arbitrary manner.
So far so good so what has always been my favorite Megadeth album. Obviously nowhere near the technicality of rust in peace, but as we all know being technical doesn’t equate to being good. Rust in peace is still a fine effort and the last good Megadeth album. There is that nastiness and aggressiveness that is so prevalent on so far, I love it. P
New Megadeth song – Fatal Illusion sounds good to me. Not 100% into the drum sound but it’s heavy at least.