Megadeth - "The System Has Failed"

[Wyvern]

Thanks to Greeno's guidance to the use of Soulseek I was able to hear this album before it's official release and before spending any money on it

First I'm not a musician. If I were one I'd be able to review this with a better ear, sadly I'm just a metalhead
Second I'm getting old and difficult. I use to get albums and spin them like nuts until they click, nowdays if the damn song doesn't grab me by the throat almost immediately chances are it will never do (geriatric metalhead).

Being given the disclaimer and with the album just fresh heard, I'm writing this words of sadness. Why words of sadness? Because is always sad to see the agony of a living being. I wish the day I kick the bucket it will be lightning fast. When I see bands heading to their demise I rather hope for a quick split before is too late or a sheer suicide like Metallica did. Unlike his former band Dave Mustaine want to extent the demise of Megadeth like a patient in coma tied to machines.

After the brilliant masterpiece "Rust In Peace" Megadeth turn to a long walk into the valley of deth. As much as I like the following albums, things were never the same. "Youthanasia" gave me the first song I never recorded on a tape (the title song). "Crypting Writings" gave not only unrecordable songs but also a mixture of emotions. Great songs like 'She-Wolf', 'The Desintegrators' and 'FFF' came along with mediocre material and the unrecordable ones. When "Risk" came out, the band was officially ded for me.

At the "The World Needs A Hero" came out I thought: oh well, the previous one was maybe just a slip, but TWNAH failed miserably to deliver more than three enjoyable songs. Suddenly after that the band was recording a bad live album (something Dave sware he will do only at the time to finish off the band) and the end came.
So that was it, the band was kaput and went with a whimper and not a bang...was it? Well it seems like the proverbial patient I mentioned before the band was in coma, and when it finally awaken wasn't to run but basically to crawl.
I'm not going to go into details song by song, I look at the product as a whole, and as whole it doesn't convince me. Yes some songs will remind us of this or that album. But THIS album can't live up to the "hype" of Megadeth's comeback. Just continuing to keep the dying patient artificially alive, Dave is not keeping the faith and is not selling out for good to cash like crazy. Therefore is just slowly dying more and more without end. I guess that indeed the system has failed...on Dave '

I'm looking forward for those of you able to hear it and gave their opinions, so people out there don't take me for granted in this matter

 

[Walter_Langkowski]

Nicely written review, Wyvern. It doesn't bother me at all that you didn't include a song-by-song review on it. I'd really rather see a well written review by a fan than some pompous music critic with delusions of grandeur. That said, I haven't paid money for a Megadeth release since 1992, when I bought "Countdown..." on cassette probably for under $7. I still think that it is a good album, but something about the newer style always kept me from purchasing their new releases and in retrospect I'm glad I didn't.

I won't be rushing out to get this new one either.

 

[sixxswine]

Very good Wyvern. Though, I have to buy the record as a whole. I like to check out the liners, ect. I'm a nut like that. And believe me, you'll know what I think about the record. I have read good & bad reviews of the record, the most recent being yours & the one in the latest issue of Revolver. It does seem that people either like it or hate it. There are no lukewarm reviews or people on the fence about this record.

 

[Wyvern]

The reason I don't go song by song is that I'm incapable of criticize properly from a musical standpoint. I like or dislike, I'm not a judge for riffs, solos or whatever, but I'll try to do my best here:

'Blackmail The Universe': starts with some voice samplers (like the ones in the middle of 'Foreclosure Of A Dream') and a potent riff. Mustaine voice starts maybe a bit tamed from the old days (and goes like that throughout the album). The song is like something between "Countdown To Extinction" and "Youthanasia", the samplers go again in the middle (kind of annoying). The solo I guess is Poland, because is very good but less "flowery" than Friedman ones.

'Die Dead Enough': very melodic enjoyable song more towards "Youthanasia"/"Crypting Writings" era. The solo is good and the song basically delivers, except maybe for a bit of a bad chorus from Dave towards the end.

'Kick The Chair': the bait in the hook. This song is the more "Rust In Peace" of them all, almost a copy of 'Take No Prisoners' (if my memory does not betray me). The solo is very good amidst a speed riff in the background. The song that worths the album if you are willing to buy a whole slab for one song.

'The Scorpion': starts with some children sounds and an ominous start reminder of 'Good Mourning/Black Friday', but then the song change to something more happy only to revert to the ominous feeling with a strange guitar work in it. The vocals are kind of lame by moments. The instrumental parts are way better. Finishes with an unnecesary sampler sound.

'Tears In A Vial': opens with Dave reciting more than singing (but not like 'Sweating Bullets'), is melodic with a nice classic riff, then evolves into a mid-pace ride good but nothing a metalhead hadn't hear before. The solo again is well executed.

'I Know Jack': weird 0:40 min intro with a heavy bass/drum section and a voice saying the name repeatedly, finishes to hit the next song

'Back In The Day': more fast paced song, with a nice riff and better vocals. Reminds me of Armored Saint more than Megadeth, which ain't bad at all. Another of the good songs (IMO) that give some value to the album, but does not coagulate totally.

'Something I'm Not': starts horrible, with Dave reciting by parts, with a cut riff pretty boring. Probably more to the "Risk"/"TWNAH" era. Easily skipable.

'Truth To Be Told': starts with a nice drum work, and change into a mid-pace tune with soft vocals so is like a wannabe ballad. Then change again to a recited chorus pretty ugly IMO. Of course reverts to the start and the change is now doubly annoying. Skipable too.

'Of Mice And Men': starts with a distorted vocal and right into a good riff again heavily supported by drums. By now seems that Dave lost all the energy in the first songs and is vocalizing no more singing. The rest is also boring.

'Shadow Of Deth': starts with a latin pray and then in English, with a background supported by more drumming but nothing interesting IMO. The song walks up to ~2:00 in a boring instrumental that ends in the next song

'My Kingdom Come': starts as boring as can be, Dave keeps on reciting and now for worsen thing with a bad sound effect in the background. At 1:30 starts to become more a metal song, only to go back (damn and I'm getting repetitive or is this album) to the annoyance and ends the album on a low note.

So is like 2-3 good songs, the rest low average to skipable. Again something to d/l or spend $ 5 at the most.

 

[sixxswine]

Thanks for the additional info on the thread.
I think I will just wait & buy a used copy.
I would love to get it to hear for myself.
I might check ebay after the release date there
will be plenty of them on there I'm sure.

 

[Psychonaut]

Come to Soul Seek and you can hear it now. I still want to listen again before making final judgement.

 

[sixxswine]

Come to Soul Seek and you can hear it now. I still want to listen again before making final judgement.

I hear that's where eveyone is off to these days. I'll think about it.

 

[Hawk]

And...













































































have you tought about it?
We'd love to have you there.

 

[~metal_maiden~]

I love Megadeth's new album.

 

[ShadowOfDeath]

Not as great as the classics but a decent album nonetheless. Great review \m/

 

[Wyvern]

Thanks SOD, hey Sixx come over.

MM you really like it?

 

[~metal_maiden~]

Thanks SOD, hey Sixx come over.

MM you really like it?

Of course I like it. I've been listening to it nonstop for the past month or so... I can't wait till the real thing is released.