The Megadeth Reissues - All 8 Albums Reviewed
Published August 08, 2004
You better calm the hell down, man, is what you might be thinking, but no, they go ahead and lunge into Vortex what has a strained, guttural vocal and a stuttering riff, all of which go some way to ensuring that Cryptic Writings can be described as a record what starts well and ends well but has nothing but the most wretched of shit for the duration of the in-between.
Final track FFF, a speedy punk affair, is the best of the lot, and one what only causes a fella to wish the record had featured more of the same.
The bonus tracks consist of two previously unreleased or rare numbers, and two alternate takes of album tracks, one of which is a version of Trust with the chorus sung in Spanish. It sounds like someone has played the vocals backwards, but is at least more interesting than most of the alternate takes on offer throughout the series. Of the unreleased duo, Evil That's Within could probably have sat on the record with greater ease than much of what actually made it, and the same applies to Bullprick, a thrash effort what was at one time supposed to appear on Hidden Treasures, the 1997 odds n' sods collection.
Risk (1999)
What in the hell to make of Risk? The most recent of the batch, it's also the most experimental. Does this commendable attempt at trying something a little removed from the norm mean the record is any good? Not especially, is the disheartening truth of the matter.
Some experiments just suck, man. Like when they stuck that ear onto the mouse. What the hell good did that do?
It's easy to fool oneself into thinking more of the first four tracks than they deserve. Crush 'Em, for instance, is nothing if not a purpose-built stadium anthem, but it's also shamefully clichéd, a world away from the likes of Skin O My Teeth or even Train Of Consequences.
How come Andrew W.K can do this exact same nonsense and make it sound like some sort of profound transcendental message plucked by God's own plectrum?
Breadline is a radio ballad, pure and simple, complete with cheesy guitar licks plastered about the place.
How can it be that this material, released in 1999, sounds more embarrassing, more dated than the stuff from 86?
The Doctor Is Calling is the first memorable song on the record, and considering it's the sixth track, that right there is a fairly poor hit-rate. The Duke has no problem with the branching out and all, but when it's in the direction of shit like Prince Of Darkness, you have to question the thinking behind it.
Much-maligned ballad I'll Be There is actually among the more pleasing numbers, if one can for a second forget that the producers of this cheesy, incredibly conservative tomfoolery once crafted the likes of Hangar 18.
The record plays around with cod-industrial effects for the duration, flinging in a load of the distorted vocals and repeating the same synth-line for what seems like every other song.
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.