2026 Albums

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

While I have my copy it arrived quite late last night, I probably won;t get to give it a listen until tomorrow as I'm busy today. Looking forward to hearing it though!

[Zzzptm]

Megadeth is a strong, strong album and I'm totally pleased with it and, frankly, surprised at its variance and depth.

This is true. It's almost like Dave took a piece of every part of Megadeth's history and put it on this album...there are songs that remind me of the early days, the 90s and the 00s...

This album sort of captures the essense of Megadeth.

The singles from the album that were pre-released gave no hint about the songwriting to come through on the other numbers on the album. "Essence of Megadeth" is the perfect three-word review.

[Vyn]

I'm pleased that you all have received your tunes...although mine shipped out the other day, it isn't slated to arrive until Monday. MONDAY. And with this multi-state winter storm in full effect, it won't surprise me if it got delayed until next Thursday or Friday. In fact, the delivery guy will probably steal it and I'll never get one. The damned thieving bastard.

I'm intentionally not looking for any of the songs online, I want to experience the joy fresh off of the vinyl.

[Zzzptm]

Good news is that they're good enough to make them worth the wait.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

I've now listened to Megadeth... and yeah, it's pretty good. I'll need to a few more listens to allow it to settle in... but it's already very promising.

[Charger]

Stupid mail delivery man decided NOT to drop my package containing the new Sky Valley Mistress on my door step today.

Instead now I have to go pick it up from the post office tomorrow.

That lazy bugger. Sure he did manage to stuff all the other mail in the mailbox but didn't bother driving an extra 150 feet to bring the package...

[Vyn]

That lazy bugger. Sure he did manage to stuff all the other mail in the mailbox but didn't bother driving an extra 150 feet to bring the package...

I hate it when that happens!

Relatedly, my mail delivery person parked at the entrance to my driveway and trudged 425 feet, through nine inches of snow in order to hand deliver my mail today. Maybe your guy should call my guy for advice LOL.

Even more notably, Megadeth has arrived! Working through some tasks then going to listen to this thing...even the ordering of the songs and their titles bodes well for a great trip!

[Charger]

So... Sky Valley Mistress...and Luna Mausoleum.

Solid effort again. Whole lot going on here. Very complex out of this rather young couple. This isn't your average doom rock album...gonna need a few listens this one before you can even get properly into it.

But so far I am enjoying it a lot. No Sleep is a monster of a tune. That riffing is brilliant and the vocals! Oh my!

[Vyn]

Well, if this is truly Megadeth's last album, it is an awesome capstone they created! My least favorite tune as it stands is Ride the Lightning, and it's good. It is one of my top Metallica songs, so after listening to it for the past 40 years or so Megadeth's by-the-numbers performance, while good, sounds like a cover band. It's difficult for me to remove Hetfield's voice and Burton's bass from it. The drumming on Megadeth's version is much better, though

But the others, hoo-boy. First-rate Megadeth from top to bottom.

[Charger]

I have actually really liked Ride The Lightning. The heavier guitars work for me. And yes it's kind of odd to hear a Metallica song with good drumming! Part from the vocal melody (which isn't Dave-like at all) if you didn't know it wasn't a Megadeth tune, you'd think it was...

Now that I've lived with the album these past few days I can finally say something concrete.


Best tunes:
Tipping Point, Made To Kill, I Am War and The Last Note

Good tunes:
I Don't Care, Let There Be Shred, Obey The Call

Pretty good tunes:
Hey God, Puppet Parade (the vocal melody on this one is better than the music!)

The Not as good as the others tune:
Another Bad Day

Musically I'd say that's the weakest one...it sounds like it wouldn't be out of place on Super Collider. But it isn't a bad song all in all, just weaker in comparison.

There's a bit of every part of Megadeth's history included which is nice. Even though Dave said he only came to the conclusion this will be the last album after most of the songs were already done (only The Last Note was done after that decision) there is a feel that (subconsciously perhaps) Dave wanted to kind of sum things up here.

From what I've read online this divides the fan base a bit...some say it's their best one in a long time others say it's just a mediocre album...

For me neither one applies. It's a solid piece of Megadeth work. Something that is fitting for a final album. It captures the essence of Megadeth better than most of their albums do.


Solid candidate for album of the year title...but considering the sheer ammount of albums we've got coming this year....I wouldn't be surprised if something races past it fast.

[Vyn]

It will take me a few days to let the songs coalesce into something more definable. I'm still in the, "new record glow," phase. But I will say that I think the album overall is a better showing than a lot of their back catalog, but not all of it, and individual song shoot-outs would be tough to pin down. I don't think it is mediocre at all, and frankly I think some people get drawn into the mindset that if a record isn't the BEST EVER, then it is lukewarm at best and probably just sucks.

Of course, then comes the, "how do we define what 'best' means," spectre that's always looming over such things.

[Charger]

I don't think it is mediocre at all, and frankly I think some people get drawn into the mindset that if a record isn't the BEST EVER, then it is lukewarm at best and probably just sucks.

That indeed is quite common these days...It either is GREATEST EVER or Not very good or bad or sucks ass.

People seem to have forgotten that albums CAN actually be very good solid albums without being the best ever.

[Charger]

It's actually pretty tough to rank Megadeth vs Sky Valley Mistress...

Both very solid releases. Been listening to both a lot now.

I suppose they'll find their rankings later in the year...but right now I think they're tied for the first place.

[Zzzptm]

1970: "Oh wow man Deep Purple In Rock is their best album ever! All the other albums SUCK!" - if one's not a DP Mk1 fan, true enough.

1972: "Oh wow man Deep Purple's Machine Head is their best album ever! All the other albums SUCK!" - hang on, what about In Rock? That's still quite the solid offering, there.

1973: "Deep Purple Live in Japan is not quite as good as Machine Head so... IT SUCKS!" - hey wait hold on whoa you said *WHAT* about Live in Japan???

[Zzzptm]

It's actually pretty tough to rank Megadeth vs Sky Valley Mistress...

Both very solid releases. Been listening to both a lot now.

I suppose they'll find their rankings later in the year...but right now I think they're tied for the first place.

The fact that they go in differing directions, musically, only makes the comparison more difficult. If they were both thrash metal albums, we'd have more of an apples-to-apples comparison. "Tied for first" may be how we feel in December, given how strong both releases are, each in their own way.

I'm not skipping songs on either album and while there are songs on each album that are weaker relative to the other tracks, they are still very strong, overall. These champion albums are going into extra time and possibly penalty kicks!