Peace Sells...But Who's Buying
Megadeth
1986
Album Summary
Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? is the second studio album by American heavy metal band Megadeth, released on September 19, 1986, through Capitol Records. The project was originally handled by Combat Records, resulting in the original mix of the album being co-produced by Randy Burns. Capitol Records then bought the rights to the album and hired another producer named Paul Lani to mix it himself. The recording of the album was difficult for the band, because of the ongoing drug issues the members had at the time. Drummer Gar Samuelson and guitarist Chris Poland were fired shortly after the album's promotional tour for drug abuse, making it the last Megadeth album for Samuelson before his death and the last for Poland until he reappeared as a session musician on The System Has Failed. The title track, noted for its politically conscious lyrics, was released as the album's lead single. The album's cover art, featuring the band's mascot Vic Rattlehead in front of a desolated United Nations Headquarters, was created by Ed Repka. Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? is often regarded as a thrash metal classic and as an album that gave prominence to extreme metal. It has been featured in several publications' best album lists, including Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die and Martin Popoff's Top 500 Heavy Metal Albums of All Time. The album has been reissued several times over the years. In 2004, the album was remixed and remastered by Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine, with extensive liner notes detailing the album's background. In 2011, the three different versions were reissued as part of the album's 25th anniversary celebration. All of them with the exception of the 2004 mixes feature new remastering.
WikipediaGrowing 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*
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
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
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.
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.
A heavy album that was pretty catchy but lost my interest about halfway through. 0RS
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.
It's not my kinda music at ALL but they're obviously skilled musicians.
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.
Great guitar work but the Beavis and Butthead style of metal sounds even cheesier now than when this was released.
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.
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.
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?
Five stars. Why? Because it's Peace Sells...But Who's Buying by Megadeth, that's why
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.
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.
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.
To get kicked out of Metallica and go on the record something like this - pretty incredible
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.
Really great thrash project and cementing Dave stepping out from Metallica. Devils Island is a jam
Found some new Megadeth faves. Live versions on the album were really good too
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.
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).
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 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.
Tune after tune, every song in this album has a charm to it, and the guitar in every song hits right.
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.
Good stuff. I don't listen to metal, but this is some good music here. Pleasantly surprised.
This album is all killer no filler. Every track is fucking huge. It’s a shame it’s so poorly produced. The drum sound is shit The bass sound is shit The guitar sound is shit Dave Mustaine sounds like a pirate (this is merely an observation, and is in no way a negative) Interestingly, the original Randy Burns mix is significantly better than what was ultimately released. It’s well worth a listen.
Great album up and down, first Megadeth album but I really really enjoyed it. Perfect exemplification of the era and the genre. A little more diversity in style and it would be a perfect 5.
Not my fave Mustaine & co., but I do like a bunch of these tunes. Dave’s voice is in full snarl at times, which just sounds cooler than the infamous nasal-whine he so often resorts to. But dang… “I Ain’t Superstitious”? Yeah, that should have never been put on this record (or any, perhaps). I have a sneaking feeling that when it comes to metal we’ll be seeing more from Maiden, Metallica, and Megadeth. We’ll get some Sabbath and Slayer. Maybe - *maybe* - one Anthrax record. And that’s probably it. If there’s anything metal on this list that was recorded after the year 2000 I’ll be stunned.
accidentally listened to this out of order whoops. the music rips hard and it's not too long. as with most metal i like it better when they're not singing. 8/10
seems like this was intense in the 80s, but now it's more like a gritty catchy metal. raging against society and feels good while doing it.
Saved Prior: None Off Rip: Wake Up Dead, The Conjuring, Peace Sells, Devils Island, My Last Words Cutting Edge: None Overall Notes: I considered myself a metal-hater, but it seems I have a soft spot for thrash. Probably stems from my time listening to the Madden '10 soundtrack every weekend as a kid, but I liked this. Do I get metal? No. But I get thrash. Wouldn't want anyone to know that I listen to this when I'm driving down the street, but it's great in doses.
Great metal album. Thudding drums, interesting vocals that swap between growls and almost glam levels of yelling into the stars, and wild even at times sporadic guitar riffs make this an overwhelming experience in a good way. It's not as punishing as a lot of metal albums can be, it's more just a wild, propulsive and energetic good time.
Love the almost military groove at the end of wake up dead. It's really good, however the vocals don't gel with me.
Считается одним из ключевых альбомов Megadeth. Это можно понять, ведь тут сформировалось оригинальный специфический звук группы, имеется пара знаковых треков. Но на оба пункта мне есть, что возразить. Будучи выгнанным из Metallica, Мастейн мало того, что попытался догнать и перегнать бывших сотоварищей, но и создать новый звук, который отличался бы от квартета Хетфилда и Ульриха. Вот тут интересный момент. Я обожаю треки авторства и соавторства Мастейна в рамках Metallica. Да и он забывать про них не хотел, один из них утащил с собой в Megadeth. Но развиваться стал в совершенно другом направлении. Я понимаю, что мог питать антипатию к творчеству Мастейна в школьные годы, когда был слепым фаном Metallica. Спустя десяток лет ухо стало всё же чуточку объективнее, думаю. Так вот, несмотря на то, что дискография Megadeth у меня уже несколько лет лежит на жёстком диске, я всё равно не перевариваю оригинальную специфику звука Megadeth. Меня сильно радуют композиции, которые в альтернативной вселенной могли бы достойно пополнить дискографию Metallica, и меня душат треки, которые являются наиболее самобытными для Megadeth, как и вся самобытность в звуке группы. Вокал Мастейна я научился переваривать, но не научился наслаждаться. Может быть, потому что это физически невозможно. Wake Up Dead и The Conjuring, Devils Island, Bad Omen звучат душно. Лучшее что в них есть – это гитарные соло, они хороши. Остальное вроде бы понятно, но просто не доставляет. Ритм-секции скучные, монотонные и репетативные. Вокальные партии блёклые. Вот Peace Sells уникальный случай. В ней присутствует мастейновская самобытность, сильный акцент сделан на вокальной партии, и при этом трек реально интересный, запоминающийся и доставляющий. Можно даже назвать умным, в нём довольно оригинальная прогрессивная структура. В общем, на этот раз Мастейн смог. Так, что до сих пор трек помнят, как помню, его услышать можно в GTA: Vice City. Good Mourning / Black Friday также феноменальный трек. Один из тех, по которым видно, что Мастейн действительно один из величайших гитаристов и правда талантливый композитор. Первая часть доставляет больше: прогрессивная структура, интересная мелодика, яркая вокальная партия. Вторая часть также весьма сильная, сопоставимая с Peace Sells. I Ain't Superstitious хоть и не цепляет, но и не душит, звучит оригинально, вносит приятное разнообразие в альбом. My Last Words снова маленький шедевр. Помню, в топе 200 альбомов от Metal Hummer редакция выделила именно этот трек в альбоме. Мастейн смог красиво альбом закрыть. Яркие вступление, рифы, соло, хуки, приятная вокальная партия. Так вот, два из трёх запавших в душу трека, GM/BF и MLW я вполне мог бы поставить в один ряд с классикой Metallica: поменяй вокал на Хетфилда, вышли бы отличные треки для их классических альбомов. Половина треков альбома – духота утомляющая. Но всё равно те треки, что удались – реально мощь, реально классика. Настолько, что даже духоту потерпеть можно. Но, конечно, не настолько, чтобы до пятёрки вытянуть. 7/10 Занимательно, что когда я в 1986 году передал свой комментарий Мастейну, тот учёл всё сказанное и выдал в 1988 году отличный альбом So Far, So Good... So What! В нём было улучшено хорошее и выкинуто душное, благодаря чему у нас имеется отличный альбом Megadeth, который можно поставить на одну полку с классикой метала. Только вот проблема в том, что так считаю только я (и, возможно, товарищ с Украины), а сам Мастейн, фанаты и критики преимущественно считают третий альбом шагом назад по сравнению с Peace Sells… but Who’s Buying? Что ж, их право. У первых трёх альбомов Megadeth была фишка – многоточия в середине названия. С одной стороны, придавало оригинальности, с другой – подталкивало создавать немного аморфные названия, которые обычные люди сходу не запомнят. Но в этом был какой-то авторский почерк, приятная индивидуальность. Наверное, жаль, что позже стандартизировалось. И, да, обложка хороша, одна из наиболее репрезентативных в дискографии Megadeth, да и в целом классической можно назвать.
A lot better than I expected. Really nice bass lines. Lyrically it's pretty sound.
I'm not so sure that Metallica didn't hear this album and decide to change direction based on this. Awesome 80's metal! Favorite Tracks: "Peace Sells" "Devil's Island"
Love a good metal album Not sure what stands out to me here. But I found this to be a very solid listen.
Lekker rap en snel, niet zo iconisch als Rust in peace maar het blijft top
Great example of the genre. Some unusual elements too, which makes it even better.
4.1 - Apparently this album stands as a milestone in metal, and that esteem is well deserved. The guitar is undeniably awesome and the rhythms are crazy advanced without sounding pedantic.
This is our second Megadeth album. Like for the other one, I surprisingly like Megadeth a lot more now than when I was a full-on metal head but just wasn't into old school thrash metal. Funny how tastes change like that. This one just wasn't quite as good as 'Rust in Peace' though, which got five stars from me. It's really solid, but not an amazing standout album.
Hadn't heard before and really enjoyed it. The lead track I listened to a few times. Maybe I was just really in the mood!
I liked this a lot. Some songs dragged a bit and felt too long, but most of it was great.
I was taken by surprise at how much I enjoyed RUST IN PEACE from Megadeth earlier, but even so I wasn’t jazzed to have this come up at first. Guess I’m still not quite completely comfortable with my thrash metal side… take a deep breath and hit play… This is unmistakably Megadeth - it rocks hard and has several songs that frolic in what I was warned about with heavy metal. Just one listen to “The Conjuring” and I’m doing an Yelp search for nearby black conventicles... There are some pretty interesting lyrics that I really enjoyed. The title track “Peace Sells” is pretty great (‘What do you mean I ain’t kind? Just not your kind’). I love that sassy vocal delivery. Of course then there’s “Good Mourning/Black Friday” that seems to revel in gory murder. Not really my favorite subject and it wasn’t for me… although the guitar really is impressive. The demonic imagery seems poured on thicker on this album than on RUST IN PEACE. I didn’t like this album as well, but I’m still surprised at how listenable I find it.
My least favourite of the big 4 but still love them. This is among their best albums.
A highly dramatic and unified thematic work (the forms of evil). Epileptic, stormy and satanic. Metal... (7/10) FT: Wake Up Dead
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
Album de metal classique. J'ai toujours aimé megadeth et cela est dans mes préférés. 4.5
Struggled to rate this. Its pretty cheesy metal but it was fun! Squeeze a sympathy 4.
I think my main issue with Megadeth is a lack of diversity in their sound compared to the other 3 of the Big 4. I'd listen to it again, but not while focusing on it.
I think this one has grown on me. I first listened to it coming right off of Rust In Peace, and I compared it unfavorably to that masterpiece. But seeing it in its own light, its a damn fun thrash album.
This is a fun album, classic thrash sound, good political messages with a bit of devil worship and face melting guitar licks. I found the songs and lyrics to be varied enough that I didn't get bored with the sound, and the shorter playtime also helped with that, definitely a strong entry in the thrash genre. Fav Tracks: Peace Sells, Good Mourning / Black Friday, My Last Words
Pretty solid thrash record. It is an early contributor to the genre, so kudos for that. The tracks kind of blended together, I had a couple moments where I thought I was hearing songs for the second time, other than I Ain't Superstitious, which was a bluesy track that came out of left field. Enjoyable, fast, driving thrash metal that grows on you with multiple listens. As a big fan of early Metallica and Iron Maiden, this album has shown me that I will have to pay a little more attention to the early releases from Megadeth. Fave tracks: The Conjuring, Good Mourning / Black Friday
Two things The List has taught me: 1. Fuck jazz; 2. Megadeth aren't half bad. Thank you The List.
This is cool mix of some modern stuff but really heavy rooted with blues. Got some chord progressions sound like something I’d make and I make great stuff
Album dropped you off in hell 15 seconds in and left you there for 50 straight minutes
This album is just full of energy right from the beginning. This is my 2nd megadeth album and i liked this one way more than the other. I thought it was going to go crazy the whole time, but they knew when to slow/quiet it down. Electric 7/10
Classic Megadeth right here. Love the thrash and love the cover art even more.