RATINGS:
MEGADETH:
1.KILLING IS MY BUSINESS...AND BUSINESS IS GOOD! (POOR) Released in 1985, This album marked the debut of onetime Metallica member
Dave Mustaine. Megadeth did not show the early signs of greatness like Metallica did.
The angry buzzing noises of most lackluster 80s metal bands could be heard on this debut
album. Very little can be salvaged from the disaster that is this album. The only remotely
intriguing part of this album is "Mechanix" which is basically a remake of Metallica's "The
Four Horsemen."
2.PEACE SELLS...BUT WHO'S BUYING? (GOOD) Released in 1986, this second album is much more accessible. While not as
good as some of their later albums, Peace Sells provides some glimpses at heavy metal
excellence. The title track, "Wake Up Dead," and "Good Mourning/Black Friday"
indicate the great improvement from the debut album.
3.SO FAR, SO GOOD... SO WHAT! (POOR) Released in 1988, this album sinks back to the level of the first album.
It contains more pretense than true skill. The complexity of the last album is absent
here. The album lacks any focus or articulation and is left in a state of disorder. None of
the songs on this album are worthy of attention.
4.RUST IN PEACE (GOOD) Released in 1990, this album once again represents a turnaround in quality.
This album shows a maturity that even the second album lacked. Rust in Peace reveals a new found
knowledge of timing and rhythm absent in all the previous efforts. The title track and
"Hanger 18" both demonstrate the advancement in song quality. "Holy Wars... The
Punishment Due" is the best song on the album and gives an early taste of the
accomplishments soon to follow.
5.COUNTDOWN TO EXTINCTION (EXCELLENT) Released in 1992, Countdown to extinction proved to be the best
Megadeth album. This album is unrelenting from start to finish. It contains
remarkable depth, and It far surpasses any of the previous efforts. Every single song on this
album is pure metal mastery. "Symphony of Destruction" and "Foreclosure of a Dream"
are especially impressive.
6.YOUTHANASIA (EXCELLENT) Released in 1994, Youthanasia picks up right where Countdown leaves
off. This album is probably the most diverse album in the Megadeth repertoire. It shows
remarkable range and complexity. "Train of Consequences" and the title track are the two
best examples of the heavy metal excellence on this album.
7.CRYPTIC WRITINGS (GOOD) Released in 1997, this album does not have the diversity or intensity of the last
album, but it still stands up quite well. "A Secret Place," "She-Wolf," and "Vortex" are
probably the strongest songs on the album. Even though Cryptic Writings is a small step
backwards, it seems that Megadeth is a band which has truly gotten better with age.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
-Megadeth also has an album made up of a collection of B-sides and soundtrack songs.
© 1997 t-specht@students.uiuc.edu
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