Megadeth’s final album is on fire!
Megadeth bows out with a masterpiece of an album. “Megadeth” is the band’s 17th and final studio album. It is smoking hot!
Dave Mustaine has announced that the end is near for Megadeth, the legendary thrash metal band he founded in 1983. The band’s self-titled final studio album is about to be unleashed on the world. It will be backed up by a multi-year farewell world tour. Talking about going out on top! The cover art features Vic Rattlehead on fire. The album itself features a band on fire!
Dave Mustaine delivers the best performance of his career. His songs, guitar playing and vocals are untouchable. He is supported by one of the best-ever versions of Megadeth. The splendid rhythm section – Dirk Verbeuren on drums and James LoMenzo on bass – is tighter than a diver’s watch. The band’s newest member, Finnish guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari, is a terrific lead guitarist who fits the band like a glove. His predecessor, Kiko Loureiro, apparently suggested Teemu as his replacement. Boy, Kiko was not wrong there and we are grateful that Mustaine listened to Kiko.
The songs! Highlights? There are many, but personal favourites include “I Don’t Care” (I love Dirk’s drumming here!), “Puppet Parade” and “Hey, God!”. We get full-on thrash metal on tracks such as “Tipping Point” and “Made to Kill”. But there is plenty of variety on this album. It is always unmistakably Megadeth, but in different styles. There are plenty of tips of the hat to the legacy, but it still sounds fresh. “Let There Be Shred” is a fantastic call to arms for Megadeth’s fans, while, for me, the melancholic yet catchy track “I Am War” is the album’s zenith. This fantastic song must be included in the live show from now on.
Lyrically, this is an album full of reflections, which is quite fitting for a final album by an iconic band. The lyrics to the song “The Last Note” sum it up nicely: “One last night before the silence falls/…/The final curtain falls, a quiet end to it all/…/Let this last note never die”. The notes of Megadeth will live on long after the final show has taken place. Mustaine may sing “I Don’t Care”. In reality, he cares a lot. He knew that he needed to go out with a bang to preserve his and the band’s legacy. Mission accomplished!
To include a Megadeth version of “Ride the Lightning”, a song which Mustaine co-wrote while he was a member of Metallica in the early ‘80s, is genius. It reminds people of Mustaine’s history with Metallica. It also shows that today’s Megadeth doesn’t shy away from anything. Megadeth grabs the song by the balls and gives it the Megadeth treatment.
This is a thrash metal album with attitude. It’s punky and spunky. And it is bloody brilliant! This album feels like a musical autobiography by an elder statesman. A Lord of Thrash summing up his achievements. Lucky us that this final album will be supported by several years of touring. Long may this band keep on playing! When they eventually retire, we have a terrific and vast catalogue of recorded music to cherish.
At the end of “The Last Note”, Mustaine says, “I came. I ruled. Now, I disappear.” Thankfully, not just yet.
Megadeth’s self-titled final studio album will be released on 23rd January via BLKIIBLK. Do yourself a favour and buy it.
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