Peace Sells...But Who's Buying

This sounds very stupid to me but it's also fun, and not a bad thing to listen to if you just feel like turning your brain off. No, I will not be listening to all the live tracks.

I know it's dumb but, man, is it ever fun. It's hard to dislike Megadeath. They lay down such serious shreds while never taking themselves too seriously. I love that. The grooves here are so solid, the breakdowns so good, and the guitar riffs are a masterclass is glorious brutality. There's a lot for a rock fan to love here, honestly. Are the lyrics fantastic? Hell no. But nobody ever hit play on a band called "Megadeath" expecting world-class lyricism. That's not what you're here for. You're hare for the shreds. And Megadeath delivers.

There's just some phenomenal riffs on here, the technical guitar work is stellar. The only thing that I really can fault this album for is that I find some of the songs are hard to differentiate from one another, they sort of just blend into this thrashy hull in the middle without much to really set them apart

Five stars. Why? Because it's Peace Sells...But Who's Buying by Megadeth, that's why

Growing up Megadeth was always the band that played second fiddle to Metallica. Dave Mustaine got the boot via bus ticket from Metallica after all and decided that he needed to get back by playing faster and harder than Metallica ever could. This record is a good reminder of why they always came in second. There are riffs. Sooooooo many riffs. Mustaine is an amazing guitarist and the rest of the band excelled at speed and thrash. But this album in particular lacks the finesse and melody that pushed Metallica to the straosphere and that Megadeth would incorporate on later works like Rust in Peace. 2.5*

Metallica WISHES they could've made this album. Better guitar work, better bass work (and the bass is actually audible), and WAY better drums (Lars is so overrated) I really like everything about this album except the vocals, but I'm getting used to them The 2nd half of the album is a lot better imo

It's not my kinda music at ALL but they're obviously skilled musicians.

Great guitar work but the Beavis and Butthead style of metal sounds even cheesier now than when this was released.

Terrific album, I really enjoyed it. High energy, thrashy goodness with an unrelenting rhythm. It's intense and fast moving, but not too hard on the ears like some thrash is. "Good Mourning" has some legitimately lovely guitar work. The lyrics run the gambit from clever to overwrought, but Mustaine has a talent for vivid imagery. Fave songs: Wake Up Dead, Peace Sells, Bad Omen

Some nasty guitar licks and pretty cool concepts for an album. Overall, not a huge fan of thrash metal and this record didn’t change that, but props to the musicianship on display during the solos.

I never knew the vocalist/guitarist of Megadeath used to be in Metallica, makes sense. Regardless, in terms of Metal speed/thrash doesn't do much for me, at least in this form. Feels like the mix is boring and just kind of there. I'm sure this is a classic, but it's just ok to me. Obviously the guitar playing is well done, but yeah.

I don’t know how many times I can write “this is probably good it’s just not made for me” in regards to heavy metal. It’s not my genre. I don’t enjoy listening to it. But there’s definitely talented musicians. 2.5/5

At this point, Dave Mustaine hadn’t really figured out how to meld Megadeth’s technical prowess with well-written, engaging songs, but it wasn’t far off.

Megadeath were the first metal band I ever discovered and I probably watched the video for Symphony of Destruction (that I’d taped off MTV) hundreds of times. I don’t think I ever went as far as buying any of their stuff though. Didn’t love this album but it sent me off to go and re-listen to symphony of destruction which I still quite enjoyed, for old times’ sake. Won’t be putting this album on again but it’s put me in the mood to go and listen to a bit of Tool.

Outstanding album. The opening bass riff to Peace Sells is classic. I can't tell you how many times I've listened to this. Part of the soundtrack of my youth. 5 stars all day.

So Metal. My face has melted

lol this has been one of my favourite albums since I was about 14. Not my fav Megadeth but still a damn classic. 5/5.

Megadeth to my ears. Srsly, if they'd spend some time thinking about some nice transitions, melodies, composition this could've been a great album.

What a bloody racket. Their Mums must be so proud.

The tight musicianship, superb guitar shredding combined with a vocalist (and lyrics) that don't take themselves too seriously add up to a highly enjoyable album. I'm no heavy metal fan, but good music is good music, plain and simple innit.

One of my favorite albums in high school. Classic thrash metal with blistering guitar shredding solos. Sure lyrics might be a little dumb but who cares. Oh and one of the best metal album covers of all time.

To get kicked out of Metallica and go on the record something like this - pretty incredible

The thrash carousel is spun with welcome economy here: garbage truck guitar distortion, fun growling stretches, cartoon takes on big themes, mildly tedious complexity, ballads soaked in self-pity, pleasingly uninhibited solos. Thrash metal may be the easiest genre to spontaneously improvise idiotic lyrics to. Thinking about this record just now, I caught myself absentmindedly heavy-whispering “Achilllllleeeess… he cut off his dick!”

A heavy album that was pretty catchy but lost my interest about halfway through. 0RS

Less boring and lame than Metallica, but still pretty stupid. Good guitar work? Snooze

Je profite de cette critique pour adresser ma plus cordiale traînée de pisse à toutes les personnes qui portent des t-shirts tête de mort.

As a huge metal fan I can’t get into this album at all. Theres no connection, no mood given, no response at all.

When I was a kid, and maybe this is just where I grew up, but there was a choice you had to make - were you a Metallica guy? Or a Megadeth guy? Well, I heard the song Battery and decided I was a Metallica guy (even though Megadeth was a much cooler band name). But then later I heard the Megadeth song 'Go To Hell' and thought, oh, that's not bad. But after listening to this one, I gotta say - in the Metallica vs. Megadeth war, I'm still a Metallica guy.

Cartoon slasher crap with repetitive music, why is this in here and viewed with so much more credibility than bands that were always said to be crap like motley crue et al - drivel. Didn’t like this when it was new and it hasn’t aged. Pure shit. Repeat riff, twiddle guitar, hit drum repeat actively. Poor man’s NWOBHM - Iron Maiden did it with more class and melody maybe in just ain’t 16!

Megadeth are one of those bands where the more I listen to them, they better they get. Whilst this album is no Rust In Piece, it's still incredibly good in its own right. It takes the pace and rawness of their debut and adds a bit more structure and cohesion whilst still being fun and very thrashy. The guitarwork is fucking insane with the countless incredible riffs and solos, even a couple of breakdowns, such as in Wake Up Dead. Drumming is great, basslines too, like the start of Peace Sells and that small bass bit at the start of Devil's Island. Yeah, the vocals are shit. Everyone admits that they are hilariously bad. I think they add to the music. As bad as they are I don't think you could replace them with, say, a James Hetfield or a Joey Belladonna, because they wouldn't suit the music. Maybe that's just me getting used to the vocals though. Nobody listens to metal for the vocals anyway Easiest 5 yet, gets a 5 automatically for the Peace Sells - Bad Omen run.

Favourite Tracks: Wake Up Dead, Peace Sells Honourable Mentions: Good Mourning/Black Friday, I Ain't Superstitious Wake Up Dead is an insane album opener, that immediate intensity and the multiple tempo changes showcase Megadeth's technical skills right from the start. The iconic bass intro in Peace Sells makes it instantly a classic. There's a heavy jazz influence thanks to Chris Poland (2nd Guitar), Gar Samuelson (Drums, and David Ellefson (Bass); which sets Megadeth apart from so many other metal bands. I'm not here for the lyricism, I'm here for the thrash >:)

Bangers throughout. This is going on my regular rotation, I had to stop myself adding every song to the albumfest pot. I liked when Devil's Island started sounding more like Neville's Island lol, but just as metal nonetheless. Anyway, they walked into the studio and fired on all cylinders start to end, this is glorious

Very underrated band. Arguably better than Metallica at this point.

classic album, five stars if only for bass line on peace sells

One of my all time favorite 80s metal albums.

Classic thrash. One of Megadeth’s best. Dave Ellefson’s bass is fantastic throughout, Chris Poland’s guitar work is the best he ever did and Gar Samuelson’s drumming is hard hitting and perfect for the tone of this album. Dave Mustaine sounds great, generally less whiny than he does on later albums. Really nothing negative to say about this album.

10/10. Yippee!!! Another metal album!!! :) No, that wasn't sarcasm. I'm a huge fan of metal music. I'm also a fan of Megadeth. Megadeth are total metal titans!!! They are among the big four thrash metal bands!!! :) There is crazy guitar work and drumming on this album. It's wickedly great!!! :) This album isn't as good as Rust in Peace, but it's still incredibly fantastic!!! :) The most disappointing thing about this album is its length; it's too short!!! The runtime of the non-deluxe version of this album is under 40 minutes. Albums this great should be much longer!!! :)

Great album start to finish. Guitar riffs that shred all through out.

I've been sleeping on Megadeth. Rock perfection.

One of my favs

My first thought when this one was album of the day is that I was going to give it a 4 out of 5 rating. This is solely based on the fact that I've listened to it before and that I think Rust in Peace is better. After listening to it again I still stick with that Rust in Peace is better but Peace Sells is also great. It might not be as polished as Metallica's Master of Puppets or as fast/brutal as Slayers's Reign in Blood but it sits somewhere in-between delivering awesome thrashing riffs (and the bass in the beginning of Peace Sells is mind-blowing). Peace Sells... But Who's Buying? gets a 5/5 as it is amongst the best thrash metal albums out there.

Straight up 10/10

Really good thrash album. Fantastic actually. This will be added to my rotation for sure.

Still a great thrash album.

One of my faves from back in the day.

My order for the big 4. Slayer, Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax. I like all 4 but only really love the top two. Having says that... This album is a banger. A little too great on the solos, but the songs are solid.

Amazing album. Too bad Dave had to go and "remaster" these albums

Classic

A generous 5 maybe but this album gives me so much pleasure. The riffs!

Banger alert

Fuckin awesome

loved it.

Listened to this album hundreds of times when I was in middle school. I prefer Rust in Peace but this one is straight bangers from beginning to end.

As I (probably) said for Rust in Peace: It's a thrash classic. Dave has an acquired taste vocal style and even then it's not very good but the songs are still great.

8 / 10 Heavy Methal clásico. Un Dave Mustain resentido por su despido de Metallica, hizo discos más rápidos para intentar ser mejor que ellos. No se quedó muy lejos, pero si por detrás.

Outstanding! One of the best of the genre, outside of Metallica.

Epic heavy metal!

Great compositionally inventive thrash.

There are definitely some faults in this album, some lyrics I find very uninspired (Wake up Dead), and I just don't like I Ain't Superstitious. Everything else though, is so good. Riffs, solos, bass, drums, all really good. A little sloppier than Rust in Peace is, but not in a way that brings it down. Will I listen to again: 100%

Very enjoyable and in many ways more accessible than the other progenitor of thrash, Metallica.

Metallica : "You'll never be better than us!" Mustaine : "Hold my beer"

almost perfection - grew up on this album. This and Rust in Peace were/are peak Megadeth.

... Peace sells...? OkAy

No bad moments but Devils Island and My Last Words stood out, plus the obvious hits. Incredible leads and energy throughout, bass prominent in the mix (2004 remasters).

Ég hlusta reglulega á Megadeth. Frábært band, þéttar plötur. Mín uppáhaldslög eru á öðrum plötum með þeim en þetta er samt bara frábært

- metal masterpiece - great lyrical content - love the mix of groove and speed

Love this album very much

So good

Alright! Some good ol fashioned thrash metal! These guys were the pioneers to thrash man! Good stuff. 80s was a good decade for hard-core metal. Fucking LOVE Megadeth!

Awesone

Pretty rad

Such thrash.. Much weedly-weedly-woo. Happiness.

YAY MEGADETH

meh

Mu gusto bastante

Megadeth is, if nothing else, just Dave Mustaine showing off his technical prowess. That’s plenty enough for me. Everyone’s playing as if their lives depended on it in this record; apparently letting two, though greatly heroin addicted, jazz fusion-musicians into your thrash band wasn’t that bad an idea. The only songs that disappoints and feels unnecessary is “I Ain’t Superstitious”. But when your album already contains songs such as “Peace Sells”, “My Last Words” and one of the greatest thrash songs of all time, “Good Mourning / Black Friday”, one miss is completely allowed.

Tune after tune, every song in this album has a charm to it, and the guitar in every song hits right.

Megadeth's #2 album and just quality from start to finish

Great

9/10

I found Rust In Peace energetic and quality but ultimately not for me. So I don't know why, if it was just my mood, but I'm finding so much more to enjoy here. Absolutely balls to the wall, don't give a fuck, and so good. Good Mourning/Black Friday is simply immense. Peace Sells, Wake Up Dead, obviously ace. There's only a couple of tracks here I don't completely love. Will have to revisit Rust in Peace. I remain unconverted to Metallica yet, but we'll see.

I guess I’m buying, because I thoroughly enjoyed the album! It feels like there are aspects to enjoy on a multitude of levels, between the ever-shifting rhythm patterns in the kit and the high-flying runs in the guitar. Tons of fun!

I'm Buying Hhhh

The peak plateau is reached! A pinnacle of thrash metal.

Great metal album right from the start. I stick to general opinion here and claim that this one and Rust in Piece are their two best albums, as confirmed by the fact that both are included in the 1001 list. I listened to the 2004 cd remasters - not sure if there is some discussion on these (probably there is) but both cds sound excellent.. (afterwards I listened to the original Countdown to Extinction, which sounded ok but not so good as these remasters).

This album shreds. Nuff said.

Almost technically perfect and one of the guiltiest pleasures so far. I try not to feel that way about music, so maybe it's subconscious recognition of some set of flaws. The sequencing leaves some gaps, but in sum I'm enchanted. Beautiful cover, too.

Found some new Megadeth faves. Live versions on the album were really good too

Really great thrash project and cementing Dave stepping out from Metallica. Devils Island is a jam

YES

2nd Megadeath's album, 1986. The first Megadeath album I've listened so far. Great riffs and lyrics! Mustaine and bassist David Ellefson stated that they wanted to change the public perception of heavy metal by writing songs that contained socially aware lyrics. "Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?" is often regarded as a thrash metal classic and as an album that gave prominence to extreme metal.

This album was slick as hell. Loved the heavy energy and the clean vocals. It really is an excellent example of what metal should be.

First album in the list so far where I've listened to the album several times before. Not the best Megadeth, but shows the trajectory. Great thrash metal.

hell yeah brother. 10.

doesn’t have the polished perfection of Rust in Peace, and album that was perhaps the epitome of thrash metal itself. But Peace Sells is a very different treat. A bit rough around the edges with some punk undertones but it’s technically complex and adventurous. Dave Mustaines snarling raspy vocals set against incredible musicianship and inventive songwriting and complex arrangements throughout. In Wake Up Dead and Peace Sells it also has two of Thrash Metals most icons tracks. As probably my favourite album by one of my favourite bands I’m probably a little bit biased with my scoring, but I still listen to this all the time and thinks it’s a genuinely special album.

Loved it. Will be listening to more Megadeth.

Nice good heavy beats

fav megadave album

The dawn of thrash as evidenced in Bad Omen and Black Friday. I remember those import bins during the 80's thinking the deliverance from hair metal was there, but they usually disappointed. But not this album. It was everything evil and harsh that I always imagined those others should have been. Where would music be today if we paid attention to this kind of music instead of that crappy hair metal?

So very silly. So very good