Finally Dave Mustaine wants to take over the world again.  Mustaine’s injury and the subsequent end of Megadeth in 2002 may have been a very good thing.  The last few Megadeth albums were bad.  Now 2 years later and after remastering the entire catalogue, Megadeth is back with The System Has Failed.

In the ever-growing fickle world of heavy metal, is The System Has Failed going to matter?  In a just world, it will because this is a great album.  Dave Mustaine is one of the best heavy metal songwriters, despite the last few albums that were disappointments.  The songs on The System Has Failed are some of Mustaine’s finest.

While some fans may be disappointed that this is not Rust in Peace: Volume II, every kind of Megadeth fan should be able to find redeeming qualities on this record.

Megadeth suffers from the same problems Metallica has faced in transitioning from 80s thrash metal giants to early 90s crossover success and now find themselves rebuilding in the 00s.  The main difference here is that Megadeth has come back with an album that is thoroughly listenable and enjoyable.

The current political climate agrees with this band.   Mustaine spews venom about corrupt politicians, dishonesty, injustice and so forth.  Unfortunately all of these ideals are rather timeless, so expect these songs to be as pointed in 20 years as they are now.  Musically, the band sounds like a mixture of the 80s and 90s Megadeth, not quite the break neck speed of old but strong metal nonetheless.  Chris Poland returns to add solos all over the disc.  There are guitar solos coming from everywhere.  There are also keyboards in every song on this album but they are hard to notice.  So don't worry because the keyboards are understated mostly and fit the songs so well you still know you're listening to Megadeth.

Standout tracks are “Blackmail the Universe” despite the fake news sample, “Kick the Chair” which was one of the first songs leaked and the first single “Die Dead Enough”.  “Back in the Day” finds Mustaine in a reflective mood, yearning for the days when metal meant to “Live and die to play, everyday and place, leave a path of metal, across the world from stage to stage.”

I have heard mixed thoughts about The System has Failed.  Anybody who does not like this record just doesn’t like Megadeth.  The System Has Failed ranks right up there with Megadeth’s best recordings.  The most important thing is that Mustaine is angry again and is ready to do something about it.  Expect the next album to be even better.
 

• Visit the Official website.
• Listen to samples and Purchase this CD online

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