Megadeth - The System Has Failed
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Free Music Notes for The System Has Failed
Free Music Review: Mustaine's...err...Megadeth's Most Solid Contribution
Hit: 5 Stars
It's hard to anticipate something for so long and not have it be disappointing. Well, not in this case. The System Has Failed is a fantastic album. Originally supposed to be a Mustaine solo album but made Megadeth to fulfill a contract with publishers, this is the album that metal fans have been salivating for since the start of the new century. Not only is hard, heavy, and quite often very fast, it's also very catchy and well written. The lyrics are intelligent and entertaining. Even the freaking artwork kicks ass. RIP may be faster, but I think more songs on this are going to keep the not quite so speed metal fans coming back for more. I've been in anticipation of this album since January, which makes it's september release almost like the birth of a baby. And for the fans who partake in Megadeth's website forums, that's just what this feels like. We've been invited and welcomed into the Megadeth family by iconic frontman Dave Mustaine. Not only did Dave make an amazing album, but he kept fans up to date every step of the way by personally posting on the site, and not simply in once a week generic posts, but by actually answering fans directly, often with the wit that we've come to associate with him. I could go on forever about the man and the band, but I will move onto the album itself.
Blackmail the Universe: Took me a few listens to like it. Now I absolutely love it. It's hard and heavy and full of Dave's charm.
Die Dead Enough: More radio friendly but with enough guitar solo and awsome chorus chanting to make it great.
Kick the Chair: Reminiscent of RIP, with some fantastic palm muting and fabulous soloing.
The Scorpion: My favorite song on the album. Best chorus I think I've ever heard with some awsome harmony going on.
Tear in a Vial: A little reminscent of Risk, but in a really good way. Picks up in the middle and delivers you to a satisfying end.
I Know Jack: Nice little solo filler. Transitions nicely into the next track.
Back in the Day: Tied for my favorite song on the album. This is an awsome metal tribute to the good ole days. Ends in a Iron Maiden type chant that should get the live crowds really involved.
Something I'm Not: Dave's tyrade against Lars Ulrich of Metallica. Excellent lyrics in which Dave makes it very clear that the two are not friends and most likely never will be again. Great line about Lar's fear of criticism causing him to change his style. Great stuff.
Truth Be Told: One of the best. Moves nicely from the slower more melodic into the fast, agressive and angry. Again, more fantastic lyrics.
Of Mice and Men: Some of the best vocal performances on the album. Great chorus. An interesting autobiographical look back on a metal legends career.
Shadow Of Death: The voice reading the psalm is a little cheesy, but the guitar soloing in the end more than makes up for it.
My Kingdom Come: I didn't like this one at first. Now it is one of my favorites to sing along with. It's just so passionate. The lyrics are phenominal. The last line is very fitting to be ending the name of the band Megadeth for Dave to continue his career:
"I hope in the hereafter, when I owe no more to the future that I can be just a man."
RIP Megadeth. Live on Mustaine!!
Free Music Review: Fresh Thrash, A Stand Alone Album.
Hit: 5 Stars
I have to admit, I didnt give this album much attention when i first listened to it... until friend forgot it at my place. Then I got re-addicted to all of Megadeth's chaos.
This album is a summary from their very first "Killing is my bussines..." to their mediocre "The world needs a hero"... Here's the catch: they left "mediocre" part and whatever comes below out. Whereas thrash metal crumples at the hands of the late Nu-Metal, Punk, slide-metal and even more dissapointingly, Metallica... Megadeth is proud to have released the very first, original thrash metal album of the 21st century.
For a guy that has recovered from radial neuropathy (nervous disease in arm), Dave Mustaine gets back on his feet with "Blackmail the Universe," the very first track. If you play guitar you would actually know how difficult it is to play such a long array of triplets with exact percision. Next in the song comes the main ingredients of thrash, and more importantly Megadeth itself.
As for songs such as "Die Dead Enough" and "The Scorpion," I was actually surprised to see Mustaine re-implant some of his early melodic elements to use (very comparable to intro's in "So far so good", and "Peace sells" albums, the rest of the songs are comparable to "Countdown to Extinction")... keeping in mind that the thrash metal dish is still on the table.
Still to come is "Back In the Day," "Kick The Chair," and "Tears in a Vial"... the techniques and thrash live up to the "Rust in Peace" stanards. If you were to listen to Megadeth the very first time and I gave you a mix from Rust in Peace and these three songs, I am 100% positive that you would think that they would belong to the same album.
We're left with "Of Mice and Men", and "Something I'm Not." These song takes the best out of "Youthanasia," "The World...," and "Cryptic Writings." Carful now, only the best out of these albums to make it complete. (If you are familiar with songs such as "The killing road" from Youthanasia, I guess you understand the context of the word "best").
The lyrics of this album will blow you out of the cold war era, and leaves you updated with the issues of today. Politics and War is one of the main topics the real Megadeth confronts, and it is clearly addressed in this album.
Keep in mind that I only reffered to different albums and songs released by Megadeth to give you a better understanding of this album's structure. Although this is the best album since "Countdown...," "The System Has Failed" is a stand alone album with a different kind of perfection. It truly does stand alone.
When I checked out the equipment Megadeth uses now, I was impressed to find out that it was only just your average guitar equipment: distortion, wah, flange, and tremolo effects giving the album a different kind of craze. The guitar itself is the ESP AXXION with Mustaine's signature Duncans. So what I'm trying to say is that Mustaine didn't use anything more than your average guitar and effects set...I believe it is amazing amazing that he didn't use loop circuits, synthesizers after recovering from radial neuropathy. So technichally speaking, Megadeth never changed.
To be honest, I can't see how this album can be rated anything other than a 5/5.
Free Music Review: A Surprising Comeback
Hit: 5 Stars
Against all odds, Dave and Megadeth are back. I don't mean just that they have released another album, but true Megadeth is back, none of the watered-down riffs and solos of their last few albums. I would describe the sound of this album to be a mix of "Peace Sells" and "countdown to Extinction." Chris Poland is back, although as a guest guitarist, and there are many parts that bring me back to "The Conjuring" of Peace Sells.
1. Blackmail the Universe 9/10- A powerful way to start the album, will bring a smile to any fan of old-school or "Countdown" era Megadeth.
2. Die Dead Enough 10/10- Chris Poland makes his presence known right at the beginning of this song. An excellent riff and a three part guitar solo make this the best song on the album.
3. Kick the Chair 9/10- The verses aren't that great, but the highlight of this song is the four part, 1:25 long guitar solo at the end.
4. The Scorpion 9/10- Is introduced with a riff that will grow more haunting each time it reappears in the song. Dave Mustaine uses his vocals effectively throughout the song, which is nice for a change.
5. Tears in a Vial 7/10- Decent, less heavy song, not as good as the ones before it, but isn't bad enough to be considered filler quality either.
6. I Know Jack N/A- ??? I'm not sure what this is about. It's less than two minutes and the only lyrics were "I Knew Jack Kennedy."
7. Back In the Day 10/10- Somewhat brutal song calls out Metallica for screwing their fans over the past ten years with two mediocre albums and one that was mostly noise. In the second half, Dave gives the best vocals performance that I have ever heard from him.
8. Something That I'm Not 8/10- I think this one is about Metallica as well. Seems that Dave still has not forgiven Metallica for kicking him out 22 years ago. Good guitar solo in the middle.
9. Truth Be Told 10/10- Lyrics are about how even though the world seems evil now, it was no worse than it was back in Adam and Eve's time. Dave brings back memories of the "Rust in Peace" days with two lightning fast solos in the middle. This song will make anyone who says that Dave is washed up eat their words.
10. Mice and Men 4/10- The only song that I consider filler, really just does absolutely nothing for me.
11. Shadow of Deth N/A- Basically someone, I guess Dave, reading Psalm 23. I love the Lord, but I still see no point in this song.
12. My Kingdom 6/10- Similar in fashion to "My Last Words" and "Rust in Peace...Polaris" in that the focus is mostly on the vocals and lyrics with only one short guitar solo in the middle. Fans of those songs should enjoy this.
I have also noticed that Dave's lyrics have improved since his earlier stuff about serial killers and evil. Now they are deeply personal (Of Mice and Men) and shamelessly politcal (Kick the Chair). The political part may turn some off, but he makes some good points in his songs (Truth be Told). Unfortunately for me, I never liked Chris Poland because I found his guitar to be thin and sometimes even whiny. I can't imagine how great this would have been if Marty Friedman was still with the band. Although this is an excellent comeback, they will not reach the level of Rust in Peace and Countdown until they bring back Friedman.
Free Music Review: Adam Bielawski for UnRated Magazine
Hit: 5 Stars
"Die Dead Enough", heard every day on radio stations as the new release by Megadeth after a long wait of uncertainty for the band and Dave Mustaine who suffered nerve damage a few years to his hand. We are glad you are back Dave and that Metal is alive in your blood. The excitement among Megadeth fans is voice on radio requests. The line up and long time bassist Dave Ellefson is MIA, we wish you well, and the music lives on. "The System Has Failed" is RAW! Megadeth and Mustaine stick to the roots with his lyrics, music and political thought only expressed by his rhythm and his weapon that he releases. The crunch we know so well as Megadeth from track to track is what I and so many have been waiting and glad that Dave Mustaine is Back in Business. Over the years, Megadeth grew lyrically belting out complex sounds like no others in metal today, yesterday or in the future to come. Dave Mustaine is one of the fathers that planned the metal we listen.
Politics always played strong in Megadeth history and why should it change for "The System Has Failed". From the opening track "Blackmail the Universe" as the unforeseeable occurs, where no imagination could even bring to happen in such a world that terror thrives at our back door and must be countered each day. Dave Mustaine has always voiced of what is happening in our current news from no difference in "The System Has Failed" a new release that brings our current situation of war, politics, and judicial system to our face. The tracks are hard on this CD as we expect to see from Megadeth and owning "The System Has Failed" will not be a disappointment. If you are not a fan give it a LISTEN and you might just be converted. Because Megadeth will be hitting the streets live!
"The Scorpion," one of the more melodic songs, however don't let that make you believe its nothing but hard because the lyrics are of a man whose in control of his situation of people and surroundings and knows how to manipulate to his advantage. Megadeth is that band that took its own and still does today. "The System Has Failed" is most likely the last release for Megadeth under the Sanctuary label. Mustaine did not hold back and made a great new Megadeth full-length release that is great lyrically and musically and bringing back Chris Poland on guitar takes control of lead and compliments Megadeth as guitar as days in the past.
"Back In The Day", reminded me right away of Frank Sinatra's "It Was A Very Good Year" a different version to a different generation reminiscent of life from youth. A line from the song "In Denim and Leather" was what we all lived for in the infancy of the metal thrash scene in the 1980's, last the lyrics state "Metal's King back then, And still is to this day". This can only be visualized because Dave Mustaine and many as him lived a live that was what we all imaged the road live of metal is!
"The System Has Failed" is pure Megadeth re-invented once again as Dave Mustaine always has done over the past 2 decades. This disc is a keeper, Metal Roar, welcome back to Dave and Megadeth.
[...]
Free Music Review: Eh, 4 1/2 stars...
Hit: 5 Stars
I was pumped the day this came out, yet sad at the same time as on an interview Dave Mustaine stated that this is the last Megadeth album ever...but its better than no comeback at all though! Dave Mustaine recruited original guitarist Chris Poland to do some guest soloing, Jimmie Lee Sloas on bass, and Vinnie Colaiuta. Unfortuantely Marty Friedman, Nick Menza, nor Dave Ellefson were on the able, but Nick Menza is playing drums the tour. Now for the songs...
1. Blackmail The Universe: This was our very first glimpse of new Megadeth with riff being up for download oh so long ago. This is a killer song, reminding me of Countdown to Extinction days, except a lot heavier. A must listen.
Rating: A
2. Die Dead Enough: This sounds like a true 'James Bond' theme song, definitely. Its quite commercial, but still kinda catchy and not boring unlike failed attempts to gain some media attention around the Risk area. Overall a solid track.
Rating: B+
3. Kick The Chair: Definitely Megadeth's heaviest song in a very long, quite fast, and some killer solos by Dave and Chris to perfectly complement this song.
Rating : B+
4. The Scorpion: Another somewhat commercial song, but still an awesome one. Great intro, and an absolutely phenomenal chorus. Diehard old-school Megadeth fans probably won't like this song...
Rating: A-
5. Tears In a Vial: One of the best songs on the album with an excellently strong opening riff, and Dave sings excellently on this song as well. Maybe the best song on the entire album, a completely great song.
Rating : A
6. I Know Jack: Definitely a filler, but still kinda cool...for the 40 seconds that it is.
Rating: C
7. Back In The Day: VERY reminiscent of 'Chosen Ones' off of 'Killing Is My Business...And Business Is Good!'. Definitely the only song with maybe the exception of 'Kick The Chair' that could fit on classic Megadeth albums like 'Rust In Peace' and 'Peace Sells...But Who's Buying?'.
Rating: A
8. Something I'm Not: In my opinion the weakest real song on the album. Even though it is rumored to be about Lars Ulrich and such, which could provide a hook, this one is just a bore fest.
Rating: C
9. Truth Be Told: Another 'The World Needs a Hero' style song, but much much better. Excellent chorus and KILLER second half, reminds me of some Countdown To Extinction stuff.
Rating: B+
10. Of Mice and Men: Two words. Catchy chorus.
Rating: B+
11. Shadow of Deth: A very triumpant song, definitely Megadeth's most uplifting song, and a good solo, too.
Rating: B
12. My Kingdom: I expected much more out of Megadeth's last studio song ever, as far as we know. A definite letdown, one of the weaker tracks.
Rating: C