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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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
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.
Five stars. Why? Because it's Peace Sells...But Who's Buying by Megadeth, that's why
So Metal. My face has melted
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.
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.
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.
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.
To get kicked out of Metallica and go on the record something like this - pretty incredible
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.
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.
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.
As a huge metal fan I can’t get into this album at all. Theres no connection, no mood given, no response at all.
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.
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.
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
What a bloody racket. Their Mums must be so proud.
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?
fav megadave album
Nice good heavy beats
Loved it. Will be listening to more Megadeth.
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.
hell yeah brother. 10.
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.
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.
YES
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.
This album shreds. Nuff said.
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).
The peak plateau is reached! A pinnacle of thrash metal.
I'm Buying Hhhh
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.
9/10
Great
Megadeth's #2 album and just quality from start to finish
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.
Mu gusto bastante
meh
YAY MEGADETH
Such thrash.. Much weedly-weedly-woo. Happiness.
Pretty rad
Awesone
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!
So good
Love this album very much
- metal masterpiece - great lyrical content - love the mix of groove and speed
Ég hlusta reglulega á Megadeth. Frábært band, þéttar plötur. Mín uppáhaldslög eru á öðrum plötum með þeim en þetta er samt bara frábært
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).
... Peace sells...? OkAy
almost perfection - grew up on this album. This and Rust in Peace were/are peak Megadeth.
Metallica : "You'll never be better than us!" Mustaine : "Hold my beer"
Very enjoyable and in many ways more accessible than the other progenitor of thrash, Metallica.
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%
Great compositionally inventive thrash.
Epic heavy metal!
Outstanding! One of the best of the genre, outside of Metallica.
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.
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.
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.
loved it.
Fuckin awesome
Banger alert
A generous 5 maybe but this album gives me so much pleasure. The riffs!
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.
Classic
Amazing album. Too bad Dave had to go and "remaster" these albums
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.
One of my faves from back in the day.
Still a great thrash album.
Really good thrash album. Fantastic actually. This will be added to my rotation for sure.
Straight up 10/10
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.
One of my favs
I've been sleeping on Megadeth. Rock perfection.
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.
Rockin’
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.
\m/
actually pretty sick
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.
I still have my copy of this around the house, somewhere.
4
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
Gran disco, aunque a veces se hace un poco plomizo y caduco.
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 but not their best