Megadeth - The System Has Failed
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Free Music Notes for The System Has Failed
Free Music Review: Megadeth offers a latter-day masterpiece
Hit: 5 Stars
In 2002, Dave Mustaine disbanded Megadeth after suffering a nerve injury to his arm; at the time, he didn't know whether he would ever be able to play at full capacity again. Two years later, his arm has healed, and it's obvious from listening to the new album that he's found renewed passion for his craft.
Simply put, The System Has Failed is a great album. And if the rumors are true that this is the last Megadeth album, then what an album to go out with. It's definitely not Rust in Peace, so don't expect that -- Dave will never again write the kind of amazing riffs and crazy arrangements that permeated that album. But there's plenty of meat here, and it's signature Megadeth: tight, compact rhythms, awesome solos, and some melody interspersed here and there to make this a very eclectic, balanced and diverse album. Some songs sound like they could have been on Youthanasia or Cryptic Writings; some sound like they could have been on So Far So Good So What, or maybe Peace Sells. There's a little something for everyone here.
Here's a song by song breakdown:
1) Blackmail the Universe - 10/10. Fantastic song with some progressive influences. It took a while to grow on me, but that's only because it doesn't follow the typical verse/chorus/verse/chorus format in most rock. The arrangement is interesting, the musicianship is tight, and this is old-school Megadeth all the way -- heavy as hell, and Dave and lead player Chris Poland shred on this one.
2) Die Dead Enough - 8/10. This is the "radio song." The music isn't as complex or interesting as most on the album, but the melodies are catchy. You'll find yourself singing this one to yourself.
3) Kick the Chair - 10/10. Another old-school song; this one just shreds. Some off-kilter melodies at the beginning, and then Dave and Chris trade off solos at the end. Just like the good ol' days. Heavy thrash song here.
4) The Scorpion - 9/10. This one has some really nice melody, especially in the chorus, but it's also heavy and features some nice Poland solos. Has a borderline "epic" feel to it, and there's some crunchy, interesting palm-muting riffage behind the chorus.
5) Tears in a Vial - 8/10. Not the heaviest song, but again, the melody is addicting here, and the solos are great as always. Sounds like a song that could have been on Cryptic Writings.
6) I Know Jack - 9/10. The only reason this song doesn't get a 10 is because it's only 40 seconds long. It's kind of an instrumental; no Dave vocals here, just some clips from a famous political debate. See if you can hear it.
7) Back in the Day - 10/10. Another fantastic song. Very fast. There's less melody in this song, but that would appeal more to old-school fans. It also seems like there's a bit of an Iron Maiden influence in this song, especially with the galloping riffs at the end. Great riffs, solos, and flow. Great song.
8) Something That I'm Not - 9/10. Didn't like this one all that much at first, but then it grew on me. Not really fast, but it has some heavy riffs, and the lyrics are hilarious: they're quite obviously about Lars Ulrich of Metallica. A hidden gem here.
9) Truth Be Told - 6/10. Not one of the strongest offerings here. The end is cool, with some decent shredding and solos, but the beginning seems disjointed, and the first half melody doesn't quite catch. The second half of the song salvages it, though.
10) Of Mice and Men - 9/10. This is another one that had to grow on me. Has kind of a Crypic Writings feel, and at first I didn't like the main melody in the chorus, but it grew on me over time. This song actually has some personal lyrics from Dave that border on uplifting. Solid song.
11) Shadow of Deth - 9/10. Just like "I Know Jack," this one only gets a nine because it's so short. Awesome harmonizing guitars throughout. This one is another quasi-intrumental; there are clips of someone speaking (can't tell if it's Dave or not), but the music is the highlight here.
12) My Kingdom - 7/10. One of the weaker offerings here, but it's starting to grow on me. It has a talking-style verse that didn't sound quite right at first, but there's decent chug throughout.
If you're a Megadeth fan, new-school or old-school, I definitely recomment you give this album a shot. The lyrics range from personal to political, and the music draws on all eras of the band while introducing some new ideas and innovation. Terrific effort by Mustaine. Can't wait to see the new lineup on tour.
Free Music Review: Best 'Deth album in over a decade
Hit: 5 Stars
You probably know by now that this is no ordinary Megadeth album. Dave Mustaine has got to win comeback of the year award for 2004. In 2002, Dave Mustaine injured a nerve in his arm when he slept on it weird. Doctors thought he'd never play the guitar again. Mustaine was also battling heroine addiction. Thus, Megadeth was broken up.
But now, two years later, Mustaine has made that break up into just a hiatus. He has beaten all of the odds and gone against fate to release a new Megadeth album, with drummer Vinnie Colaiuta and bassist Jimmy Slolas. Adding new members to the band is no surprise move, seeing as how no fewer than 15 people have been in Megadeth, but longtime bassist (and constant member, alongside Mustaine) Dave Ellefson is no longer on board. However former guitarist Chris Poland (who played with Megadeth in the `80's, for their first two albums) returns as a guest guitarist and lays down some serious shredding.
Some people think Mustaine tore his band down and rebuilt it from the ground up. He "recharged Megadeth's batteries" as it were. But I don't believe that. I believe that it might not have been evident with albums like "Risk," but Megadeth's batteries always had a little bit of juice left in them, and Mustaine was saving that juice for the end (for this album). (I hope this album isn't the end of Megadeth, but it may very well be.)
"The System Has Failed" is the thrashiest, aggressive, and all around strongest album Megadeth have made for 14 years.1990's "Rust in Peace" album sort of put a dividing line between the fans. Most thought that it wasn't as aggressive as Megadeth's first three discs, and therefore wasn't thrash. But I was a big fan of that album, I believe it was their best album ever. I also don't see how it was any less aggressive than 1986's "Peace Sells..." album.
As evidenced by such songs as "Blackmail the Universe," this album has sort of a "Countdown to Extinction" era feel to it. But "The System Has Failed" is faster than that album and has better vocals. So, I'd call it a mix of "Extinction" and "Peace Sells."
Highlights include:
"Blackmail the Universe" is so catchy, it's my personal favorite. It has a great give and take between the good riffs and the heavy, thumping drums. It has two mini solos, after the second one the beat speeds up.
Chris Poland makes his guest appearance on "Die Dead Enough." His riffing isn't anything spectacular, but the good, building guitar solo is nice. This song isn't as aggressive as track 1, but it's still catchy with a good chorus. The vocals are cleanly sung, as they are throughout most of this album (they aren't whiney, as was a problem in the past.)
"Kick the Chair" has good, cascading and running riffs throughout.
Part of the verses in "Scorpion" are slow galloping beats, and this song is a highlight because of the two good, shredding guitar solos.
"Tears in a Vial" has a good, winding guitar solo that goes up and down, and "Something I'm Not" has wah-wah guitars at the beginning and middle, with another great, mazey solo around the three minute mark.
"Back in the Day" sounds like something from, well, back in the day. It has a "Rust in Peace" feel to it.
"The System Has Failed" may or may not be better than Metallica's 2003 album "St. Anger." 90% of metal fans (me included) will tell you that it is. Whatever the case-which ever album is better- it's NOT up for debate that for old-school, 1980's era thrash nostalgia, "System" kicks "St. Anger"'s ass.
In conclusion, "The System Has Failed" is doubtlessly the nicest thing Dave Mustaine has done for his fans that haven't abandoned him (after albums like "Risk" and "World Needs a Hero") in over a decade. This album will make you remember why you ever liked Megadeth. And if you ever were a fan, I can guarantee you will like this album, so you owe it to yourself to pick this up.
Free Music Review: Long review but worth the 5 Stars
Man, if you gotta go....go out in style. This is a FANTASTIC album. I've read some reviews that were pretty negative and I've noticed a few things that seem consistant in them.One, it's almost ALWAYS their first listen that they hate it. I'm a huge metal fan with over 1500 cds. I love all of the different genres of metal. Death, Nu, Classic, Progressive, but my favorite is definately Thrash. One thing I've learned with all of those bands and styles: You usually will not know what you think about ANYTHING on the first listen. I've listened to TSHF many times and love it. The first time I listened to it, I liked it, but not as much as TWNAH (I really can not understand why a lot of people don't like that album.) This is because they were all new songs. You can't sing along to a brand new song nor can you get emersed in the music of one. Why? Because you've never heard it before! Of course you're going to like something you can sing along to and know every single time-change better than something that you don't know where it's going. As I said in the St. Anger review....people just jump the gun too much with music. They are not fair to the bands, songs, nor themselves half the time because they listen to 30 seconds and decide if they like it or not. If you are reading this review looking for the true purpose of a review...to help you decide if you will like the product or not....then I urge you to give this, and all albums, a chance before you make an opinion on it.
Second, and lord is this a big one....everyone seems to compare everything to something else. I'm aware of it and still I do it. But, after a few listens, I try to ignore the past albums and let the new one stand on it's own legs. Don't say in your head "Well, this just isn't like....." That is simply saying you refuse to listen to it any other way than what you EXPECTED it to be. Don't put this in, thinking "Okay.....Is this gonna be what I expected?" Listen to what it IS. Hell no it's not what you expected. Why? Cuz Dave Mustaine didn't call you up on the phone and ask you for your input.
I'm putting it on the record: Rust In Peace is the greatest thrash metal album of all time (in my opinion.) No, this is not Rust In Peace 2. No, this is not Countdown to Extinction 2. Stop comparing it to them. I think another reviewer on here said it better than anyone. If you compare everything recorded to Rust In Peace, you will be disappointed. So why would you do that? Nothing can top that album or even equal it as far as i'm concerned. If you want Rust In Peace 2, then put Return to Hangar on repeat all day. Dave finally answered everyone's request and gave the fans a return to that form. It has similar lyrics (obviously) and a near exact music structure. It was nice to re-visit that album with something new but there's no way I'd want him to record another album just like RIP. You know why? Not only would it just be stagnant and not let him move forward as a song writer and musician, but it would begin to take some of what I love about RIP away. I don't want to split the love I have for that album over 2 or even more albums just like it. I have it to listen to forever and that's all I need.
I know this is long and seems like i'm just ranting and raving about my opinions. Yes, this is a way of expressing my opinions about this album. But...I've just read so many reviews by people that are just ignorant. If you don't like the album, fine. But how can someone respect that opinion if you do it with such a closed mind? Pry that sucker open and stop living in Hanger 18. You won't find something better so move on.
I know some of you want to move right on down to that pretty little button that says no, my review wasn't helpful to you. Go ahead. It won't hurt me any. But I've read over this several times and believe this is very helpful....to someone willing to give something a chance.
Free Music Review: Fast.
Hit: 5 Stars
Definatly a return to roots.
Blackmail the Universe(4:33):Starts with a fast picking session with a new reproter talking untill the song enters overdrive when the actual vocals by Dave come flying in and with the 5 second solo ever time their is no singing with insane picking and headbanging vocals and drums throughout the whole song.Also ends with another news reporter and a solo.9/10
Die Dead Enough(4:10):This is the first hit of the album and has a great solo at the beginning and then enters picking and vocals but the vocals are not extremely perfect untill the chorus comes screeching in which could be the best chorus within this album and has a great solo and heavy guitar with some ripping vocals untill the song ends.235/10
Kick the Chair(6:02):In other words the title track sort of because it tells the story of the cover.Beginning with a fast running guitar riff then leads into some amazing shredding with great vocals of anti war and lead to "KICK THE CHAIR" and "THE SYSTEM IS FOR SALE" and in a chanting way "THE SYSTEM HAS FAIled" and has some great riffs and by the 2nd solo the song just explodes into insanity riffs and crushes down the competitors untill the song ends with a beat.15/10
The Scorpian(5:32):A great way to bring on this album a fast beat song with effected vocals and some bangs on the vocals and guitar with 3 solos and insane shreds on the guitar by Dave Mustaine and Chris Poland when they enter overdrive and crush and pound with powerful guitar,bass,vocals and drums and ends with a newscaster and immediatly enters the next song.10/10
Tears in a vial(4:43):This song begins oddly
but leads to some great screams and guitar with some nice solos and the chorus is awsome and has a 50 second end of awsomness.9/10
I Know Jack(0:49):This is just weird that starts with talking and then a quick 37 second solo of picking and shredding.8/10
Back In the Day(3:53):This is a great but a little different a fast beginning and opening vocals with some awsome solos(Their are 6 of them held in the shortest song yet not including I know jack) some fast guitar and screams with fast picking and guitar work with awsome drums and double bass.9/10
Something that I am not(6:36):Not entirely insane with ripping and shreds on guitar it is more of a fast paced song without all of that and vocals that dont entirely match the fast guitar the 3 solos are awsome though.8/10
Truth be told(5:49):This is very different on how it works as in it is very mellow at the beginning but fast with great vocals later and repeats twice before by 2:10 the song goes on 3 solos in a row which takes 2:24 so by 4:34 the song enters the chorus and runs for the rest of the song until 5:48 when the song does a quick pick and ends.10/10
Of Mice and Men(4:30):This is the 2nd hit off this album and starts with the chorus without instruments and then comes the fast guitar and the vocals are not the strongest but also not the weakest and is more of a ballad of dave's life and it is quickly done.9/10
Shadow of Deth(3:01):This is really wierd with just talking and marching sounds in the backround for 1:15 and then a solo that lasts untill 2:56 and then 5 seconds of marching and so immediatly jumps into the next song.
My Kingdom(9:06):Starts with picking and guitar which lasts very long and this long song is very fast and heavy which has you headbanging and rocking out for the next 9 minutes and 6 seconds which blasts forward and finishes.35/10
overall is a great album and a return to the original 1985-1997 sound and is overall a great 63:29 album from 2004.
Free Music Review: Megadeth's best album in years ... maybe ever
Hit: 5 Stars
Both Megadeth and Metallica have been getting kind of irrelevant in recent years. Their last few albums have been ignored by hardcore metal fans, and mainstream fans as well in some cases. Most old-school metal fans stopped listening to Metallica when they made the "Black Album," and stopped listening to Megadeth after they made "Countdown to Extinction." Both bands went into the mid-nineties embracing a toned-down, more radio friendly version of themselves.
I never had a problem with it. Personally, I think the "Black Album" is Metallica's best album, and "Youthanasia" and "Cryptic Writings" by Megadeth are both fantastic. But as for Megadeth, "Risk" sounded like a different band, and "The World Needs a Hero" was simply terrible.
I bought "The System has Failed" expecting it to suck. The only reason I really got it was cause I was joining Columbia House again and needed a twelfth free CD. But I had no high hopes, considering their downhill plummet as of late.
But "The System has Failed" is their best album in years, and might be their best ever. It sounds like they recorded it right after "Rust in Peace" and are just releasing it now. It blew me out of the water the moment I heard it and amazes me each time I listen to it again.
After listening to it, I realized why it rocked so hard. It was because Dave Mustaine finally got control of the band back in his hands and made the music he truly wanted to make. The band really isn't the same band anymore, since Dave is the only original member left standing.
I bought the remastered versions of both "Rust in Peace" and "Youthanasia" and Dave talks about how the band evolved into a democracy and changed their style to suit the wants of the band as a whole. He says "more and more, the band meetings were about forcing me to release creative control over to a successful formula." The studio executives pressured them to change their image and style to fit the marketplace, and the other band members wanted more say in the music they made.
This is a shame for many reasons, but I think that the intensity of this album shows how the executives and other members of the band were wrong to doubt Dave Mustaine's creative genius. Unfettered and free to make the music he wanted, he made the most blistering metal album in years. It's like the past ten years or so never happened. "The System has Failed" is the rightful sequel to "Rust in Peace," and improves on it in every way.
The lyrics are tight and powerful, full of the distrust and suspicion of the government and politics that Megadeth was known for before the nineties implosion. Songs like "Blackmail the Universe" and "Kick the Chair" are simply awe-inspiring rants against the corrupt government, military, and judicial systems. Meanwhile, "Something That I'm Not" and "Of Mice and Men" are more personal songs, revealing Dave's feelings for those who have helped or hurt him over the years.
The only song that does not live up to the others is "I Know Jack," and that is only because it has no real lyrics. Not to disrespect instrumentals, but I want to know what Dave Mustaine has to say. I'll let Metallica play instrumentals, cause I could care less about what James Hetfield is thinking.
From beginning to end, the music is blazing and unforgiving. Dave growls and roars, and the guitars make your head spin. The only thing that could make the album better is if it could be twice as long.
And that's all there is to say. The album is just incredible.