MEGADETH „Endgame”

Genre: Thrash Metal
Country: USA
Band Website: www.megadeth.com
Duration: 45:20


Killer Songs: This Day We Fight!” “Endgame,” “The Hardest Part of Letting Go…”

Holy pyjamas! While everyone received the last two Megadeth albums with polite nods of approval, this year’s “Endgame” will leave jaws hanging slack. Blame Mustaine’s ever cunning mind, but he has just knocked the world on its ass with the sheer virtuosity and speed he brings to the songs here. The instrumental opener “Dialectical Chaos” has Dave and his new recruits delivering the trademark Megadeth sound—complexity and finger-twisting guitar play straight jacketed in coherent song structure. The decibels race for “This Day We Fight!” whose lyrics are the interior monologue of an assasin contemplating his trade. By two songs deep, you’re either totally worshipping these reincarnated metal titans or the album has failed.

A bit more storytelling occurs on the blow-by-blow account of a deadly Los Angeles gun battle involving AK 47 armed bank robbers titled “44 Minutes.” Then the music takes a turn for the ridiculous as the race car ode “1,320” zips by with Megadeth’s patented speed metal. At this point it’s clear how the current batch of musicians behind Dave really shine; that is, if to ‘shine’ on a Megadeth album means sounding like the classic lineup. (That’s your Menza-Ellefson-Friedman) Today’s Shawn Drover, James Lomenzo, and former Jag Panzer axemen Chris Broderick are on cue throughout “Endgame” and weave the necessary music that makes Dave’s less than vitriolic (he’s getting old, after all) songwriting work its magic.

The drug fueled menace that always lent Megadeth an air of ‘cool’ in their heyday comes returns for the brooding “The Bodies Left Behind” and “The Right To Go Insane”; both are songs that wouldn’t do too badly on “Countdown to Extinction.” Dave’s paranoia over big government crops up for the title track outlining the late President Bush’s radical plan to secure America from terrorists. It’s strange how he takes pot shots at the previous administration when, barely five years ago, he publicly stated he was voting for Dubya. Moving on now, “The Hardest Part of Letting Go…” is a watershed of sorts for Megadeth, because this time they’re doing an honest to goodness love song, albeit with a murderous bent. The last few tracks are just as appealing but far from pee-in-your-pants excellent, meaning “Endgame” could finish early for the discriminating listener. Without a doubt Dave Mustaine’s strongest work since the early 90’s, “Endgame” will count among 2009’s best releases.

note: 8/10

Tracklist

1.Dialectical Chaos
2.This Day We Fight!
3.44 Minutes
4.1,320
5.Bite The Hand That Feeds
6.The Bodies Left Behind
7.Endgame
8.The Hardest Part of Letting Go…Sealed With A Kiss
9.Headcrusher
10.How The Story Ends
11.The Right To Go Insane

Line-up

Dave Mustaine-Vocals,Guitar
Chris Broderick-Guitar
James Lomenzo-Bass
Shawn Drover-Drums