Posted by 43 Years in the business, over 50 million record sales and a reported 17 trips to rehab by frontman Dave Mustaine and the end is nigh. Partially spurred on by Mustaine’s recent diagnosis of Dupuytren’s contracture Megadeth are calling time on their career and this self titled album, their 17th, is to be their swan song.
As is often the case with self titled albums, this is a distillation of their sound, from brutal 80s thrashers to melodic 90s metal. ‘Tipping Point’ is most definitely the former, a chug-along brute with blistering solos and Mustaine’s snarling vocals full of defiance and lust for vengeance – just ignore the naff, AI video. Despite the rather uninspired lyrics, ‘I Don’t Care’ is a short, sweet and punky affair that is over and out in just over three minutes. Matching the trademark sound is the signature, anti war lyrics – with the hefty, locomotive riffs and nimble drums of ‘Made To Kill’ ticking that box.
It is heartwarming to hear the cantankerous old guitar slinger still at it, raging at the world but this record is, despite being decent enough with the odd flashes of greatness, largely run of the mill. The chunky, Youthanisia era style ‘Hey God?!”, playing out like the prayers of a conflicted man, is one of the flashes of greatness. Elsewhere there is the pleasant but passable midpaced melody of ‘Puppet Parade’ and its tale of grey, workaday monotony. The ok hard rock of ‘Another Bad Day’ and the moody tale of uprising ‘Obey The Call’ – all enlivened slightly, especially the latter, by some frenetic guitar solos by Mustaine and new axe man Teemu Mäntysaari. If its solos you are after then the aptly titled ‘Let There Be Shred’ has plenty, lively fretwork aside though this track doesnt leave much of an impact.
For a swan song its good enough but a bit of a damp squib, as if to encapsulate this the record ends on a cover of ‘Ride The Lightning’ – a Metallica song he co-wrote. Just to remind you, in case you forgot, Mustaine used to be in Metallica.
6/10
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