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ROCK AND ROLL! => All Them Other Guys => Topic started by: Zzzptm on April 02, 2021, 01:07:49 PM
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Megadeth was already a force in metal prior to their 1990 studio release, Rust in Peace, but it was with this album that they delivered something more than a good album. Rust in Peace is a milestone in thrash metal, cited frequently as a major influence by bands and hailed as one of the best hard rock/metal albums, ever. It's the first album of a lineup that would prove to be Megadeth's most stable and which is also considered to be the "classic" Megadeth lineup.
The album kicks off with the epic "Holy Wars: The Punishment Due", which is also my favorite track on the album. The opening aggressive chords power a furious, violent section that gives way to a slower, determined middle section. But with the conclusion of the middle section's solo, we return to an even more staccato and enraged coda of the original section, and it gives me goosebumps to listen to to this day.
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As with Metallica I didn't pay any attention to Megadeth for a few years, indeed it was only when this album came out and the singles charted and got some airplay that I started to notice them. It should be said that I only really like this album and the follow-up Countdown to Extinction... I have a few others but never play them.
Holy Wars... The Punishment Due
I really like this song, not too thrashy, indeed it has tempo changes! Good vocals from Mustaine and I like the lyrics (even though I'm entirely sure whhat they're about!). Great start to the album.
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Rust In Peace isn't my favourite Megadeth album (that'd be Cryptic Writings) but I can most certainly understand why it is considered a stone cold classic and one of the finest albums in thrash metal of all time. After struggling a bit with line-up changes Dave and David finally found a more stable line up on this album with Marty Friedman and Nick Menza both of which were more than capable players as well...even if Chris Poland was/is the better guitarist by far.
There was some kind of magical element that brought this album together...and it was in a time when thrash metal was already on the decline...here comes Megadeth with a massive thrash onslaught that elevated them to another level publically. Dave perfected his songwriting and playing and at this point was hands down not only the best guitarist in thrash but most likely the best song writer as well.
I can't fully remember when I got this album...I know CW was my first Megadeth album...I bought it new...then I think I got Peace Sells and my second cousin brought me his copy of RIP...I think....yes...and I burned a copy of it for myself. (late 90s. it must have been since I remember playing Carmageddon and blasting CW and RIP) I don't think I bought it until the 2004 remasters came out...I bought the entire set of the earlier albums. Regardless Megadeth was my first contact with Thrash, eventhough they were more of a traditional Metal band at that point.
Holy Wars...Punishment Due kicks the album off with a fierce thrash beat that brilliantly shifts gears midway for a middle eastern short guitar solo bit. The song itself is about the Israel/Palestine situation and it tells the story without really taking any sides other than the obvious: killing for religion is the dumbest thing to kill for in history.
The guitar riffs on this are monsterous and Dave's vocals are still bit trying to find their style, somewhere between the higher register of the earlier albums and the grittier more earthly delivery of the following albums but his vocal delivery in top notch. The other thing that stands out on this track in Nick Menza's incredible drumming.
What a wonderful way to start an album...not only is this the best track on the album it might very well be one of the best opening tracks of all time...surely the best in the world of thrash metal.
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Hangar 18
This was the song that really got me interested in Megadeth. I think they may have even performed it on Top of the Pops! Anyway, it's a song of two halves, the first half is the one with the singing and the second is an extended "jam" of sorts! I love the lyrics all technical and tongue-twisty about secret experiments in Area 51! The second half takes a while to get going, it's a little samey, riffing then a short solo followed by more riffing and more solos, but then is suddenly gets heavier and I really like it from then on until the end.
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I love the "level change music" part in the middle of the piece. :D
It's a strong tune that has to live in the shadow of the opening track.
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Hangar 18
Love the way the song kicks off with a fierce riffing. And the lyrics are brilliant...just wish there'd be a third verse instead of the rather over long instrumental outro. I've always found that bit tedious and repetetive. No denying there's some great playing going on there it's just bit too long. Everytime you think that's the last part...nope...there comes another one. Which is why I actually like Return To The Hangar much more than this one...it's basically similar structure but just bit more tight and shorter.
In a live setting this song does work better...especially as a concert opener.
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Take No Prisoners
The first song on the album I would call "thrash", it has a great speedy opening riff, and doesn't let up from there, indeed it speeds up! The vocals are pretty good although the lyrics are mixed, starting strong but getting a little cliched at the end. Overall I like this one a lot.
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Take No Prisoners
:headbanger: :headbanger: :headbanger: :headbanger: :headbanger: :headbanger: :headbanger: :headbanger: :headbanger:
This is not a complicated song. It's essentially "Concerto for Thrashers in G Major". Gets to the point and pounds it home, like a good thrash song should!
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Sorry for not participating in these. It kinda feels weird for me reviewing these albums. I lived and breathed these albums when they were released and hold them in the highest esteem. I can’t honestly fault Rust and Master. They were both probably the most addictive albums I’ve ever owned when they came out.
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Sorry for not participating in these. It kinda feels weird for me reviewing these albums. I lived and breathed these albums when they were released and hold them in the highest esteem. I can’t honestly fault Rust and Master. They were both probably the most addictive albums I’ve ever owned when they came out.
Well, this is also an excuse to trot them out again and savor the tunes one more time. Hope you're enjoying them again. :)
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Take No Prisoners is a nice thrasher but that's about it. There's nothing special about it...but there's also nothing annoying or troubling about it. A nice fast tempo rocker.
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Five Magics
This starts as an interesting instrumental, which is sort of let down by the vocals. Not a bad song but perhaps it could have stayed as an instrumental! ;)
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Apparently, the remasters of this track make the vocals horrible, so I'm going with the original version on this... vox aren't too bad in my book, as I'm listening more for the aggro thrash than anything else. I'm just glad the cookie monster stuff was kept as an ornament and not the main vocal line.
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Five Magics is the worst track on the album hands down. It's still not a horrible song but it overstays it welcome for a bit. I wouldn't mind had it been trimmed down to 3 minutes or so.
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Poison Was The Cure
I like the bass led intro and the final instrumental section is good too. After the little drum break when the song proper starts it all falls apart... the riff sounds like a hillbilly hoedown and the vocals have no connection to the tune whatsoever and are completely incomprehensible! This may have been the intention and might be a staple part of the thrash genre...! So... a mixed bag then. :)
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Yep, it's a thrash song. Did you bang your head? Yes? Good, intended result achieved. Movin' on... Not a whole lot to think about or to dissemble. It's a headbanger and I have fun with it.
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Poison Was The Cure is another great one! I love the bass intro and overall it's got a nice bass heavy vibe to it.
I have no problem with the vocals either even if their delivery might not be the most common one. But Dave has always had bit different take on melodies too.
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Lucretia... thrash jazz fusion? Mmmmaybeee sooooo...
For a 4 minute song, it's really quite complicated, something you gotta sit down and think about as you listen to it. It's not my favorite on the album, but I can still let it play as the CD spins on through.
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Lucretia
Well this is an improvement. I didn't much like this one either, but giving it a spin the last week or so, I can see some positives in it. I really like the guitar work in the main riff and the solo is quite nice. Again, not Mustaine's greatest vocals but they're not too bad.
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Lucretia is the other weak song on the album with 5 Magics...I never really got into it...so it's mostly a skip song for me. Or atleast not car collection material. :)
Which reminds me I need to make a Megadeth collection for my usb drive...indeed.
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Tornado of Souls
Back on solid ground after the weak trio. Love the riff, good vocals with a nice vocal melody. Musically accomplished all round.
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aw hellllllllllzz yeaaaaaah
TORNADO OF SOULS :headbanger: :rockon: :beerbang: :death: :guitar:
Beautiful solo starting at around 3:09... bring me my air guitar, I have an imaginary concert to perform at!
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Dawn Patrol
If someone says drum and bass to me this is the sort of song I think of, not some popular dance culture nonsense.
I LOVE this song... if only it was a little longer, a third verse, perhaps some sort of bass "solo" and they could have stretched it 3 minutes! But it is what it is. It has one of Dave's best vocal performances, and other than length I can't fault it!
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Tornado Of Souls belongs to the okay pile in my book. It's not nearly as good as the best songs on the album but it's not weak either by any means. It indeed has a great solo and a nice riff...but I on the other hand am not overly thrilled by the vocals...to me they've always lacked some punch.
Dawn Patrol is a fun little tune and one of my absolute favourites! The bass line is sublime and the oddness of the vocals are a great touch. It's such a basic track but I think that's what makes it so special. And you just cannot stop humming it after you've heard it...I once had this on a loop in my head for a day...but not in a bad way. If you want an ear worm this song is probably the best one to have. Quite the masterpiece for a song that clocks in at under 2 minutes!
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Dawn Patrol is an exercise in "always leave them wanting more." :D
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Can’t believe you guys can put down songs like Five Magic’s, Poison was the Cure and Lucretia but laud a song like Dawn Patrol. It’s not a terrible little song or anything but it’s classic filler and momentum killer on an otherwise masterful album from start to finish.
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^^^
At the end of the day I'm not a huge fan of Megadeth, it's only this album and the follow-up that I really enjoy. I'm not a big fan of thrash, so I tend to prefer the more mainstream songs they do.
And yes, those three songs are the weakest tracks on the album, but they each have their moments... for instance the bass led intro to Poison was the Cure is great, it just falls apart after that, and there are similar issues with Five Magics and Lucretia (and the later is better than I remembered). But two-thirds of this album is (as you say) masterful, and few groups can boast that success rate.
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Rust In Peace - Polaris
The last track on the album is one of the great album closers. It's fast and heavy, with a great riff, nice lyrics and seems longer than it actually is (probably because the break in the middle and the reprise). Love it.
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Rust in Peace - Polaris: yes, this does seem like a longer song, kinda cool how that works out. It's my second favorite on the album, between the lead track and Tornado of Souls. I always enjoy a good Megadeth song about nuclear warfare. :smug:
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I'll rank the tracks:
1. Holy Wars... The Punishment Due
2. Rust in Peace - Polaris
3= Dawn Patrol (if only it was longer!!!)
3= Hangar 18
5= Tornado of Souls
5= Take no Prisoners
7= Five Magics
7= Poison was the Cure
7= Lucretia
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Rust in Peace...Polaris is my second favourite tune as well...such a monster of a song. The main riff is a killer and the vocal delivery is suberb...and the lyrics are great as well...
The solo section is spot on as well. In fact I can't find anything to fault on this song...such a brilliant song through and through.
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I’ll rank the songs
1.=Holy Wars... The Punishment Due
1.=Tornado of Souls
2. Rust in Peace... Polaris
3. Five Magics
4.=Hangar 18
4.=Take No Prisoners
5. Lucretia
6. Poison Was the Cure
7. Dawn Patrol
Rating= 10/10
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Mine would be:
1. Holy Wars...The Punishment Due
2. Rust In Peace...Polaris
3. Dawn Patrol
4. Poison Was The Cure
5. Hangar 18
6. Take No Prisoners
7. Tornado Of Souls
8. Lucretia
9. Five Magics
As an overall rating I can't give it a full five stars but a very strong
* * * * ½
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In regards to the whole catalogue I would rank them right now.
1. Rust In Peace
2. Peace Sells... But Who’s Buying?
3. Countdown To Extinction
4. Youthanasia
5. Killing is My Business... And Business is Good
6. So Far, So Good...So What!
7. Endgame
8. The System Has Failed
9. United Abominations
10. Th1rt3en
11. The World Needs A Hero
12. Dystopia
13. Cryptic Writings
14. Super Collider
15. Risk
I do like them all though. Even Super Collider and Risk
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Perhaps I should give the other albums a listen but I only listen to Rust in Peace and Countdown to Extinction. I do own 3 others but I haven't listened to them in years!
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Which other ones do you own Kilo?
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Peace Sells, Dystopia and Th1rt3en
I really didn't like Dave's vocals on Dystopia. It's so long since I listened to Peace Sells I'm not sure why I didn't get into it, and Th1rt3en just wasn't my thing at the time.
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Those 3 are among Megadeth's absolute finest.
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Dystopia is a little boring and uninspiring and Dave’s vocals are pretty shot. Th1rt3en is pretty decent but it’s a little pedestrian in it’s approach and it has too many rehashed/reworked songs on it. Peace Sells is an out and out classic!
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As I say, I shall have to give them a another listen, I know my tastes have changed over the years.
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^^^Cryptic Writings is one of their least thrashy least heavy albums, certainly at the time of when it came out, so you could give that a go as well. It’s very melodic and a little more experimental with lots of catchy poppy melodies on it.
On another day I could’ve had it as high as 9 or 10 but I was in a very Mega thrashy/heavy mood when I did my list yesterday.