Megadeth - Cryptic Writings

Another excellent Megadeth album!

I like 'Cryptic Writings' a little more then its predecessor album.  They continued with making some mid-tempo songs, but also saw the need to satiate their fan base by tossing in some old school fast Speed / Thrash Metal style songs as well!

Also some of the songs on here are just better than the songs on 'Youthanasia'.  'Almost Honest' has an awesome chorus and 'Use the Man' is a good ballad and is probably better then  'A Tout Le Monde' in my mind.

Also this album has 'She Wolf' on it which totally recalls some of the heavy riffage of 'Holy Wars... The Punishment Due'.  Both songs kick total ass!

Megadeth - Youthanasia

How is Megadeths follow up to their most well known album?

Hard Harry412 can report that it is pretty darn good!  This album is noticeably slower then their previous ones, but that is because they are trying out different things and attempting to branch out as song-writers and is to be commended!  After all you can always hear Megadeths fast aggressive early songs when you actually go to one of their concerts!  (or buy one of their live albums too!)

'Youthanasia' is bolstered by a couple of good singles!  'Train of Conseqences' is a totally heavy almost groove metal type of song that one could argue is riffing off of Pantera or even Helmet.  I am sure some hard-core Megadeth fans probably don't like it, but Hard Harry412 has always liked it.

Also 'A Tout Le Monde' is one of their better songs that show-cases their new found slowed down melodic side.  The main riff is pretty cool and Hard Harry412 wonders if if would sound cool if it was done faster in a speed metal style!

Overall 'Youthanasia' is a totally worthy addition to the Megadeth catalogue.  Also it shows them experimenting with their sound a few years before Metallica did it with 'Load' and I think that overall 'Youthanasia' is better than 'Load'.  This round goes to Megadeth!!!

Countdown to Extinction VS. The Black Album

The two must successful and well known albums of each band in a steel cage death match against each other, the winner decided by yours truly, Hard Harry412!

Who shall be the victor in this clash of THRASH TITAN ALBUMS?

Hard Harry412 decides for.... MEGADETHS 'COUNTDOWN TO EXTINCTION'!

1.) While 'The Black Album' is probably better over-all, 'Countdown' has more GOOD songs!

'Black' in my mind has two really good songs that I like: 'Enter Sandman' and 'Wherever I May Roam' whilst 'Countdown' features three: 'Skin 'O My Teeth', 'Symphony of Destruction', and 'Foreclosure Of A Dream'.  It is hard to win when it comes down to 3 vs. 2!!

2.) When comparing these two I can't help but notice that 'The Black Album' sounds just way more produced.  I mean it was made with Bob Rock for crying out loud!  So as an Alternative Rocker who also likes noise rock I just am more drawn to the rawer sound of 'Countdown'

The rhythm section on the 'Black Album' actually I think sounds the best.  Lars bass drum still sounds pretty cool on this one (it was one of the main things I liked about '... And Justice For All) and Newsteads bass sounds deep and cool, but the two guitars just don't sound all that good to my ear.  I like Megadeths guitar sound way better!!!  HAIL MEGADETH!  Hail 'Countdown to Extinction!'

Megadeth - Countdown to Extinction

Megadeths most well known album!

This album is great!  It is better then 'Rust in Peace', which in my mind only had a few good songs.

'Countdown' lacks the annoying introductions that plague 'Rust' and also has way more better songs!  'Skin 'O My Teeth', 'Symphony of Destruction' and 'Foreclosure of a Dream' rank amongst my favorite Megadeth songs!

Also maybe some of the songs weren't the greatest, but they had totally cool music videos, like the one for 'Sweating Bullets' (actually this song has one of those 'Rust in Peace' type intros, but this one I like!!)

In fact it has some cool lyrics too!

Megadeth - Rust in Peace

Pretty good album from Megadeth.

I really like the two singles that start off the album.  'Holy Wars' is awesome and totally fast.

'Hangar 18' just might be my favorite Megadeth song.  The fact that it is sci-fi themed is an added bonus as I am totally into Aliens and what-not.

Also I am sure I have heard 'Tornado of Souls' on the metal radio around here so it has a sort of added familiarity to it that I like.

Some of the other songs though don't really do it for me.  Megadeth were adding in all these un-needed bass intros to some of these songs.  I think it would have just been heavier to just get right into the songs like on some of Megadeths earlier albums!  Still this is a damn good album.

The only real clunker is 'Dawn Patrol'... who the heck does the vocals on that one?  It doesn't even sound like Mustaine to me....

Megadeth - So Far, So Good... So What!

More from Megadeth.

My favorite track on here by far is 'In My Darkest Hour' which is about Cliff Burton whom I, along with many other Gen Xers, worship as a Metal God-man on Bass.  Also that song has a really good music video.

'Anarchy in the U.K.' is a nice hat tip by a Metal band to the Punks.  Lets get along guys!

Megadeth - Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?

Megadeth might be my favorite thrash metal band.

They were certainly the first one I was exposed to and I vividly remember seeing one of their videos on MTV and being awe-struck at how fast they played.  Too this day they get me pumped!  

'Peace Sells' is their 2nd album, but is the first 'old' album I was able to find on Itunes for my IPOD nano.  Have never had a copy before because the only Megadeth albums I have ever had were just greatest hits CDs.

This album has a great one-two punch where the song 'Peace Sells' is followed by 'Devils Island'.  Both of those songs kick total metal ass.

Also the edition I got had a live concert tacked onto the end!  That is a pretty cool bonus.