The Megadeth Reissues - All 8 Albums Reviewed
Published August 08, 2004
Folks laugh at this kind of stuff, and to be honest, The Duke has been as guilty as anyone at times, but In My Darkest Hour, like much of this whole damn record, is nothing if not a work of musical genius. It's just shy of the seven-minute mark, and yet it feels half the length, being so consistently inventive that The Duke hadn't a chance for to get fed the fuck up, since you never get a moments peace before some other melodic device arrives for to shake you out of such lethargy, melodic devices what are ever-more pertinent in this digitally cleansed version.
The shockingly foul-mouthed Liar flies along at a fair old pelt, ranting about fuck and then fuck you and a bit about fucking liar, before the breathless Hook In Mouth brings the album proper to a close. It's as relentless as most anything else, with only the opening instrumental Into The Lungs Of Hell (what even flaunts a horn or two on occasion) or the aforementioned In My Darkest Hour offering even the slightest of breathers.
Thankfully, there are a few seconds of silence for to separate the climax of Hook In Mouth with the bonus material, material consisting of alternate mixes of a couple tracks. These Paul Lani mixes are no-doubt a valuable addition for folks what haven't got the album already, but if you do, in fact, own the record, then unless you feel like upgrading on account of improved sound, the bonus stuff doesn't hold much incentive. Bar the fact that these alternate mixes sound a little more spacious than the album versions, there isn't much to set them apart, aside from the occasional moment when the guitar is lower in the mix than you might be accustomed to. Still, it's hardly earth shattering, is what The Duke would suggest.
Rust In Peace (1990)
Rust In Peace is a more rounded, professional affair than So Far, So Good…, and a more conventional one also, being fond of the old extended guitar workouts and what not, Dave Mustaine and Marty Freedman getting all indulgent with the solos. It may have been ridiculously good fun to play, but it's not always so captivating on the ears of the listener, especially if the listener is The Duke, who was thinking about shit, man, hurry the hell up.
Lyrically, the record is as disturbingly schizophrenic, as paranoid in its worldview as ever.
Most uncomfortable is the dark, claustrophobic Poison Was The Cure. "Serpents swim free in my blood", spits Mustaine, "Dragons sleeping in my veins". This kind of yacking coming from a heroin addict is all the unpleasant in the world, more so when one notes how decidedly unconvincing the claim about "Never knowing if I'd wake up in a whirlpool got redundant" really sounds.
Rust In Peace is hailed by most fans as the pinnacle of the Megadeth canon, but for The Duke, it lacks the urgency of Peace Sells or the melodic invention of Countdown To Extinction. It's certainly astounding so far as the technical malarkey is concerned, but following an incredible opening trio, it adopts a patience-testing more-is-more stance, meaning fans of fret-gymnastics will be all the happy in the world, but for folks what care about stuff like genuine invention, surprise, all that jazz, then it's a little frustrating.
The Duke (Aaron McMullan to his parents and the clergy) is a Northern Irish writer, performer and insomniac currently residing in London. He is the creator of Mondo Irlando, wherein his scribblings and hollerings can be found. He is currently working towards the completion of his first novel, and his debut "punk / country / folk / whatever" album has recently been released by Ex Libris Records . You can also pop by His MySpace Page and maybe have a coffee and a biscuit.
- The Megadeth Reissues - All 8 Albums Reviewed
- Published: August 08, 2004
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- Section: Music
- Writer: Duke De Mondo
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Tom, thanks loads for the info!
I tried to talk as much as possible about the remastering, but you now how it is when you've got 8 records for to write about! Your input is really, really appreciated.
I've been hearing good things about the later record you mention, The World Needs A Hero, and apparently the upcoming The System Has Failed is great too. Who knows? I'll seek out the original MD 45, based purely on your reccomendation, and also, obviously, the fact that i loved this version.
Again, thank you.
Duke, the little teasers of The System Has Failed that I've heard (via mp3s posted by Mustaine at Megadeth.com - you can also hear "Die Dead Enough" as an e-card at the site now) indicate it's going to be a great album, covering pretty much everything the band has done so far, but with a lot more fast Rust In Peace-era riffing.
2004's been an incredible year for metal . . . and it's only a little over half-finished!
I saw a set of all eight albums (pre-release) for sale for $45 at the local, monthly record show. I was tempted, but didn't have the cash on me. If thats there next month, I'm totally picking it up.
theory, i'd say thats quite the bargain. I could live without the last three megadeth releases, but still, 45 quid is a fine price. The others are all fantastic, and sound great.
yo u all dont like criptic ritings u can suk mi dik bcuz its da shit just like all their other albums
by the way probly 1 of the most crucial Megadeth songs eveer is RATTLEHEAD i looooooooove killing is my business it kicks so much ass!!!!!!peace n anal grease
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Cool, Duke! I was hoping to see your take on these sometime soon. One big thing that needs to be addressed is that these are not simple remasters - they are remixes from the ground up. Each album was mixed as if it was brand new, with Mustaine going back to the originally recorded master takes of each instrument and mixing it to remove the really sadly dated effects the producers back in the day added to make it sound so "modern." What we get to hear now is about as close to the natural sounds of the instruments and vocals as you'll ever hear coming out of a major label studio effort. It's also interesting to note that Mustaine re-recorded the vocals for Rust In Peace's "Take No Prisoners," which has had some fans up in arms over on the Megadeth fan forums. Me? I don't care - it sounds amazing and if you'd never heard the original, you'd never know the difference (and might not know the difference, period.)
I picked these all up the week of release and each one has had quite a bit of rotation since then, but like you suggest, it's those later ones that just don't call me back as often. I have to say, however, that when I put Cryptic Writings on, I was STUNNED at how much better that album was than I'd remembered it being, It's been a while since I'd heard it, actually, having sacrificed it to the used-CD gods for other "necessary" stuff that I probably also sacrificed someday later on, but I immediately noticed, and thanked Mustaine in my thoughts, for removing the really cheesy vibrato-guitar from the chorus of "Almost Honest," like the live version found on Rude Awakening. (Yes, I'm not ashamed, I actually do love that song, and actually much of the whole album.)
Even Risk has turned out to be pretty fun listening - as long as I don't expect it to sound like Megadeth. Mustaine's liner notes about the time really go along way to excusing the changes - afterall, having the label, the producer, AND rest of the band leaning on you to produce a commercial hit can likely lead to a little loss of dignity. Happily, the follow up, on Sanctuary records, The World Needs A Hero is a return to the post-Countdown, pre-Risk era, with a little of the frantic power of the earlier four thrown in for good measure (except "Moto-Psycho" - seriously, was this a Risk leftover?)
The original MD.45 is worth seeking out - the differences are not just in the vocals. But Ving's vocals are also kind of fun, kind of choked and deeper than Mustaine's, giving the album a more punk feel than the new remix. I think you can likely track down a copy in a used shop - I see them all the time - or on something like half.com or Amazon. It's worth owning if you enjoy the new one so much.