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The World Needs a Hero Megadeth |
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A new label, a seemingly new lease on life, and another pulpit for Mustaine to preach from. Old news by now, the break between Megadeth and longtime Capitol Records home, Dave's brought aboard guitarist Al Pitrelli to go with returning drummer Jimmy Degrasso, who I personally still can't get used to and never cared much for his muffled sound but… and co-founding bassist Ellefson for this latest installment in the crazy mixed-up world that is Megadeth. Megadeth, riding a successful roll for a while but seemingly rising and falling with the ever-changing musical tides, tries to move forward by taking a small step backwards in a brave but necessary attempt at recapturing the lost and left for dead fans that endured the abominable "Risk" release, their final original record for Capitol. And while I'm personally still smarting from that one, and I do believe I was among the first to point out the irony of calling it "Risk" in the first place, it appears Mustaine and co. realized the err of their ways and put forth a decidedly more driven effort here that'll make for a good starting point once the band decides to stay within their own limits rather than trying to follow Metallica step for step. Upfront, I'll be quick to point out that listeners shouldn't expect "Peace Sells…" revisited or really anything typical of their Speed-Metal era, but rather a conglomeration of everything post-"Rust in Peace," an album many look back to as being the band's defining moment. "The World Needs a Hero…" is true enough, but this isn't the record that's going to give it to 'em. It's a welcome back to the real world comeback but still a little too playful and polished. At its worst, the album comes across as an edgier version of "Risk"-"The World Needs a Hero," "1000 Times Goodbye," "Burning Bridges;" while at its pure Metal best draws influence from where "Rust in Peace" left off, "Recipe For Hate… Warhorse," and "Return to Hangar," the intended follow up to "Hangar 18" of course. At all points between it's total "Countdown To Extinction" meets "Cryptic Writings." With the comparative elements laid forth, "The World Needs a Hero" does find their creative juices flowing once again and in that regard, this is not a passé Heavy Metal record simply released to make a statement against their having gone soft. In fact that did occur quite some time ago but they've still managed to leave it all out there every once in a while. Here, we'll look toward "Recipe for Hate… Warhorse," and "Losing My Senses" for comfort as well "Dread and the Fugitive Mind," which is basically "Sweating Bullets" with a much better verse/chorus arrangement, and as well, the epic closing track which operates in much the same way as the two-part "Time" closer from the last, "When," very tranquil, sudden and then loud and disturbing. So to outdo "Risk" one needn't expect much more than a few quick flicks of the pick hand and a few solid drum rolls, but measured within the context of their overall history, "The World Needs a Hero" finds Megadeth coming back to earth a little, more focused, more intent but still too colorful and still vulnerable to falling into that pit of mediocrity that's stunted their last several albums. Released by Sanctuary
Music Review by Vinnie Apicella
[va85@columbia.edu] |
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After all is said and done was all the overtime worked to pay for this stuff worth it? Of course and this re-issue is almost the perfect example as to why. Dave Mustaine went back into the studio to rework the sound on this one himself and while he was at it he decided to go with different cover art as well. As for the updated sound, it blesses the music with clarity not available to the technology of the time it was originally recorded but leaves the overall feel unchanged. Each track cuts like a sledgehammer, that is to say, imprecise and bludgeoning but that is what a true Metal-head is looking for anyway. Play all the notes you want but please kick my ass Dave, and Dave does. The cover, well I like the original better because it was completely raw and Metal cheesy for the times but the new one isn’t bad and in all honesty I don’t think anybody is buying this for the cover anyway. Beyond what was already mentioned there are some other additions that incite purchase, most notably the bonus tracks. These three bonus tracks represent the earliest MEGADETH recordings and are each the first demos of the first three tracks to the record. They have an extreme garage quality to them that allows you to feel the true intentions of that pissed off guy who was just booted from METALLICA for being an asshole. Pure gold as far as rare and unreleased MEGADETH goes and one can only hope that the rest of the re-issues follow suit although that is doubtful as Dave Mustaine isn’t assisting in their re-issue or so it has been reported but who knows, maybe there are a few more gems out there. For those who really get into the nitty-gritty of why and how things occurred each track is commented on by Mustaine and bassist David Ellefson. In addition there are a few further paragraphs by the MEGA-duo as well as long time friend and early supporter Scott Ian of ANTHRAX. Not exactly script material for a moivie of the week but damn fine Metal reading for sure. The only bitch about the whole thing comes with “These Boots” which is included here replete with an endlessly annoying sensor bleep. Apparently the words written by Mustaine to differentiate this version from the original were not to the liking of the songs composer so it was either bleep or be cut from the record totally. If MEGADETH couldn’t secure right to the song as it should be heard they should have just left the damned thing off. The full story of the beeping is explained in the liner notes so no reason to go on about it here. In short, the re-issue of “Killing” has a single flaw, “Boots,” but that seems to have been beyond their control so subtract a review point, skip the track and get on with the bangin’! Released by Loud Records Review by David Lee
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"Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good!" Megadeth |
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You'd have to figure with a name like "Loud" records they'd be good for something sooner or later. Not to insult anyone's listening tastes but it all seems a little easier to swallow now. And here's where it all began for Mega-Dave and his band of not always so merry men. "Killing Is My Business…" in its original incarnation was a groundbreaking record at the dawn of an up and coming Thrash Metal scene of the early eighties. Megadeth rose in the ranks of the "Big 4" and even though they've looked back several times over, while we wait and we wonder and we hope, no one can deny them their roots as one of the best in the business in their day. "Business" being the operative term, theirs was to destroy any and all comers in the wake of Metallica's unprecedented success and in fact they were amongst the loudest and most devastating around-proud titleholders of the world's "State of the Art Speed Metal Band." Some seventeen years since its original Combat release, the original tapes were recovered, digitally restored-a point that should not be overlooked-and reveal and retain the original brutality meant to dent a few heads every now and again. Amidst a few well chosen greetings
and an up close and personal experience with one Vic Glorious indeed to again hear the
triumph and torment in reborn classics as the bludgeoning title track;
"Rattlehead," an unheralded personal favorite of mine;
"Looking Down The Cross" with its creepy plodding midpoint
break, still not for the faint of heart; Three early demo tracks round out,
drown out, and basically blow out a modernized Released by Loud Records Review by Vinnie Apicella [va85@columbia.edu] P.O. Box 20252
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Anyone who couldn't see this coming from long ago has been asleep. Effectively "rusting in peace"
since the apparently bitterly refuted glory days of this band, or perhaps
never knew of them prior to "Cryptic Writings". In fact, his presence, amidst
many of the excessive instrumental experiments and developing patterns,
from a vocal perspective, a smothering element that overbears any of the
anticipated contributions from the rest of the players. Now it's not so funny anymore.
But before I get crucified for thinking that an album has to retain some
degree of heaviness in order to be acceptable, "Risk" does have
its moments now and again if we take into context that it's no longer
the Megadeth that struggled in the shadows of the Metallica's of
the world a decade and a half ago. "Crush 'em" in case anyone doesn't know is a heavy, three-chord cruncher, anthemic by design, and coming to a sports venue near you. Other notable moments present themselves on "Prince of Darkness" which is among the more diverse and features possibly the only heavy riffing we'll hear from Mr. Friedman on this album. The man who was a virtual guitar
clinic with each appearance since he joined is basically a non-factor
for the most part, but the person I feel for the most has gotta be Jimmy
Degrasso, recently sitting in on drums and no doubt wondering if he ever
left 1989 and Y&T. "The Doctor is Calling", and considering its eerieness in nature, we'll assume he's uninvited, is pretty decent overall. The two-part conclusion, "Time:
The Beginning & The End" are complete antithesis' of each other, and
again find the band flexing their creative muscles. That said, Megadeth is not riding any new trends they did not help to create and so congratulations are in order. "Crush 'em" might make
the biggest impact here, in their continued search for vaster acceptance
though it's hard to figure if they'll get it with "Risk" which
in all fairness should be judged unbiasly from a musical perspective.
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One of the most aired
episodes of VH1’s “BEHIND THE MUSIC” the MEGADETH Here now is that classic episode along with a full half-hour of material deemed too extreme or controversial for airing. The time has come to dump your ratty VHS copy in favor of this DVD my Metal brothers and sisters. The main story here is of course the devastation that Dave Mustaine and his revolving door of sidekicks left in their wake while forging the template for all speed-Metal. Here you will re-learn how the MEGADETH flame was ignited by Mustaine’s dismissal from METALLICA and just how many times that flame was nearly snuffed out by Mustaine’s dance with drugs and drink. Ultimately Mustaine gets clean, finds happiness in most aspects of his life and puts together what many, myself included, see as the ultimate MEGADETH lineup. You may know most of the story but here are the pictures to prove it. Beyond the extra interviews and never before seen footage of MEGADETH in action there is the full “Moto Psycho” video that, due to its release by an independent record company, is not likely to get another play on any significant music channel. This video captures
Mega-Dave Mustaine and band owning just about every Heavy Metal cliché
known and not once do you think to laugh; it is all just too genuine.
Like the title of the latest MEGADETH disc the world does need
a hero and here is the story of that hero, kryptonite poisoning and all. Released by Sanctuary Records Review by David Lee |
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From "Rude Awakening" to Rest in Peace… can it get more surreal? Few could've imagined that Megadeth's very first live album in their seventeen-year existence would signify their end, and yet, ironically, that's what it does. For the band that have known their ups and downs, exceeded expectations and under whelmed all in the same breath, this should've been their rebirth. A rebound for the once revered Thrash pioneers having fed off the live energy, regenerated and reaching back to their roots, the "stage" should've been set. But we'll cry not for Megadeth, they've created some truly memorable moments in their talented but troublesome career yet overall, as this twenty four track double-disc indicates, they leave with nothing to hang their banging heads about. Spanning their nine previous studio records, touching upon everything from "Killing Is My Business," to their "World Needs A Hero" comeback, the double-Dave led "Hero" line up reconjures all time classics as "Mechanix," "Wake Up Dead," "Devil's Island," and "Peace Sells," with the later arena-Rock luster of "Almost Honest," "1,000 Times Goodbye," and "Trust," while hitting on all points between with a few tales of the unexpected, "Angry Again," "She Wolf," Tornado Of Souls." The biggest draw here, however, is the track selection, which, considering their line up changes and progressive metamorphosis, allows otherwise opposing parallels like "Wake Up Dead," and "A Tout Le Monde," to co-exist comfortably next to each other… or "Sweating Bullets" and "Trust," recreated with a sense of urgency previously unavailable prior to 1990. "Symphony Of Destruction," and "Peace Sells," then "Holy Wars," close out by storming the broadside and ripping a gaping hole in the audience before they're through… yes, somehow the pieces seem to fit here where they wouldn't have before-all things being equal, which they are. So we'll give Megadeth their due and applaud them for not representing the "Risk" album on here, yet I have to question still half-hearted throw-in's like "Kill The King," or "Almost Honest" while "Killing Is My Business," "Skin O' My Teeth," or even "Crush 'Em" weren't found room. If this is in fact the last we'll ever hear of Megadeth, who announced their disbanding shortly after "Rude Awakening's" release, then surely there are worse ways to go than having just completed a successful world tour and impressive live debut. And before the ashes turn to dust, their complementary "Rude Awakening" DVD will be released, following up on an already stellar "Behind The Music" documentary. Megadeth was a band that earned their stripes by taking it to extremes and backing up their words with their music. Recent indications were that they were becoming tired and misdirected that could've benefited from a "Rude Awakening," to find themselves… or conversely an unexpected break by a band that reached their peak long ago. We may never know but one thing's
for sure, "Rude Awakening's" a cover closing necessity
whose stock just went up. Released by Sanctuary Records: http://www.sanctuaryrecordsgroup.com/ Review by Vinnie Apicella [va85@columbia.edu] P.O. Box 20252
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