Dystopia

BY Megadeth

(Customer Reviews)

$11.00

SKU: 602547604156

Label:

Universal

: Category:
Thrash Metal

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"Sure, we weren’t exactly charitable toward the last two Megadeth albums, but who among us hasn’t been rooting for Dave Mustaine to get his shit together and give us another Rust in Peace or at least another Endgame. For my part, I’d pretty much given up on seeing that day, especially after the dumpster fire that was Super Collider. With major line up changes (Kiko Loureiro in for guitar god Chris Broderick and Chris Adler in for Shawn Drover), blood was in the water and it seemed Dystopia might end up an ironic statement on the state of Megadeth‘s health. But something funny happened on the way to burying Mustaine and his band; they simply refused to go quietly into that good night. Instead they hit back with their best album in years, leaning heavily on the sound of their Youthanasia era fortified with the maniacal fret-board pyrotechnics of Endgame. Dystopia isn’t as good as either of those albums, but it’s close and definitely the best thing Dave and Co. have managed in a long time. They say the hardest punch is the one you didn’t see coming and yeah, this one hit at least one long-suffering fan extra hard.

The seriousness of this album is immediately apparent on the scorching opener “The Threat is Real” which harkens back to those salad days of Rust in Peace killers like “Holy Wars…the Punishment Due.” It’s fast, furious, acerbic and ugly, like we all want Megadeth to be, and the guitar exchanges between Dave and Kiko are nothing short of amazing. If you were ever a fan of the band, this will put a big smile on your face and it ends at exactly the right moment leaving you wanting more (take note, Metallica). The title track is even better and easily one of the best songs Dave’s ever written. The superb riffing sucks you in immediately and the sheer hookiness of the whole song is shocking. You’ll love it immediately and wonder where the fuck this kind of quality has been hiding the past 10 years.

The cynic in me feared the rest of the album would undercut this stellar beginning, but to my surprise, the quality kept running along on throwback tracks like the nasty “Fatal Illusion” and the Countdown to Extinction escapee “Death From Within.” There is a minor dip at the album’s midpoint with tunes like “Bullet to the Brain” and “Post American World” feeling more tame, but both feature enough guitar heroics and proggy twists to keep the average listener on board (especially the Symphony X-like fireworks during the former). “Poisonous Shadows” benefits from Kiko’s power metal background and feels like a bit of a departure for the band, featuring a slight Middle Eastern flair and nods to Euro-power conventions in the female chanting. It’s still a Deth song through and through though and a nifty one.

Things close out strong with the aggressively heavy “Lying in State” and the rocking “The Emperor.” Toss in a decent instrumental number, a throwaway cover of Fear‘s “Foreign Policy” and a few respectable bonus tracks and there you have it, a highly respectable Megadeth album, just when you didn’t expect it! And at a tight 46 minutes it’s exactly the right length and isn’t burdened by B-grade cuts (get that, Metallica?). The production is better than the DR5 might suggest, but yes, it’s on the loud side. Luckily the wild and wooly guitar wizardry is clear and easy to follow.

Dave-MustaineAnd speaking of that wizardry, wow, Dave and Kiko really lower the noodle boom this time out. Every song features wicked guitar duels and catchy harmonies that’ll make long-time fans and air guitar aficionados sit up and salivate. Kiko is the real deal and dare I say it, plays with more feeling than Chris Broderick ever did. His solos are slippery and fluid and don’t feel as showy and he has a real ear for what fits the song. He even drops a few nods to the days of Chris Poland and Marty Friedman. Vocally Dave sounds a bit rejuvenated here and his sneer feels particularly potent at times. Dave Ellefson is rock solid as always on bass and Chris Adler puts in a powerful performance behind the kit, even if it sometimes feels less dynamic and innovative than past Deth drummers. All in all, the band sounds great and tight as a cast iron chastity belt made 2 sizes too small.

Maybe those group therapy sessions with Lars are paying dividends after all. Dave’s clearly not ready for the glue factory just yet and if like me, you’ve gotten into the habit of writing off Megadeth, it’s time to admit you were wrong. The man and the band are back to kick your ass like it’s 1986 all over again. Color me stunned, pummeled and pleased." - Angry Metal Guy

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