Reviews (page 2 of 8)
Although a fan of Metallica, I’ve never listened to Megadeth before. This was pretty good
There is a place for this music somewhere, but I wasn’t in a position to appreciate or take much out of it today.
Cartoonish quality - Black Mourning. Mostly ghastly noise. Couldn’t listen to it all
Did less than nothing for me
Back to back albums with ellipses in the title. If it's good enough for Louis-Ferdinand Celine, it's good enough for Megadeath and Britney. Other than that, and a 1'star rating, the two albums didn't have too much in common.
More listenable than I anticipated, but let’s be honest here, I wasn’t anticipating much. A 1 feels harsh, a 2 generous.
시끄러!
Don’t really get this. Very generic heavy metal. None of the melody of Metallica, none of the angst of Slipknot or Sepeltura, none of enthusiasm of Guns n Roses. Did nothing for me
Damn those are some slick riffs. Shout outs to The Conjuring and Bad Omen.
Would expect a much much more bold show off from the guitarist. Other than that, good energy good chords. Also lead vocal is good but could be better if they add more attacks. Overall good. But not yet a 4.
fun album, but being that Thrash isn't generally my genre, it got a bit old for me after the first few songs. that said, no denying Mustaine's talent on this. these songs are absolutely kick ass, just probably not from an album i would come back to a ton probably a 3.5, but round down for not so much re-playability on my side
A great album from one of the biggest names in metal with some really thoughtful lyrics. It doesn’t top the rating system and isn’t as memorable as other metal albums, though.
Megadeth is gonna Megadeth
スピーディで、想像するメタルよりもロウなテンション感。メタリカより好きかも
Hey it’s the MTV News bumper!
I've never been massively keen on Megadeth, Mustaine's voice is grating. This does undeniably have some iconic riffs though.
Like Metallica but without the tunes
Oh my…. Straight into the bottom 10 of albums I have endured so far this year…
I love this if they stripped out the widely guitar and got the guy to sing an octave lower. Someone has probably done this on AI but I'm not that desperate to find out. Didn't listen to disc 2.
I’m utterly agnostic about this LP, which is not terrible enough to be among the very worst of the one stars and not interesting enough to be towards the top of the one star list. It is like there is literally nothing there. One star. Tom.
Megadeth finally clicked for me when Rust In Peace generated on December 7th, 2024. Prior to that, they were my least favorite of Thrash's Big 4, I generally found Dave Mustaine annoying, and had almost entirely dismissed Megadeth. Peace Sells... But Who's Buying is the first Megadeth album I'm excited to listen to. I've heard it before, but now it feels like listening to it for the first time. The songs are a little rough around the edges, but the album benefits from that roughness as a whole. The songwriting is on point, Mustaine's vocals are good. It's pretty much everything you want in a thrash album.
Solid metal album
Not for me.
Inexplicably, this is a first listen for me. It's fine. For some reason, I always thought it was more of a concept album that what I'm picking up on this listen.
Joel 15 år hade satt 5. Det är ju lite vade det är, och titelspåret Peace sells är en ren klassiker, men det blir lite mycket med ett helt album back to back.
this was a great thrash record
This sounds like other records of the genre, nothing stood out to me.
Much like with Rust in Peace, this just does very little for me and his voice is pretty bad! I can't think of a reason to come back to this and I'm surprised to see two Megadeth albums in the list.
Yes, I know. It's noisy. Mustaine can't do vocals for shit. And it's the same shredding over and over. But somehow, it pleases the tism greatly.
I can understand how megadeth spent most of its time in the shadow of Metallica. The solo's are very fast but at times annoyingly out of sync with the rest of the band. The songs make movements but they don't quite go anywhere. The old addage "less is more" comes to mind and the second half of the album redeems itself somewhat by dialing down the pace for one song to make the fast bits actually hit with some impact.
Me, 30 secs into the first song: "Fuck yeah! I might give this a 5!" Me, 30 secs into the second song: "Ok, that's enough."
Dave Mustaine, the onanistic Yngwe Malmsteen of thrash, just doesn't do it for me. Three songs in and I had to turn it off. The frantic noodling and high pitched whine of his lyrics remind of a meth-addled mosquito humping a piece of orzo. No thanks.
These 3 stars are mostly earned by the title track, but I will also give props for trying different things and almost being funky on occasion. I don't care for Dave's voice, though.
The longer I listened, the more I liked this. Was between a 3 and a 4, but the awesome I Ain't Superstitious cover decided it for me.
2/5 - The bass line on Peace Sells is classic material, but otherwise I mostly didn't care.
This is Megadeth's best album. Which isn't to say it's a very good album. Vocals can make or break a band and Mustaine's voice is like Lemmy's little brother without the character and even less range, spitting out lyrics with too many syllables and relying too heavily on metal tropes. The music is pretty not bad on this one though. Nice dual guitar attack, rapid-fire blast beats and some impressive melodic arpeggiated runs on the bass by the perennially underrated Dave Ellefson. And a nice change of pace in the eighties from the shitty hair metal that was dominating (not actual metal, but whatever).
Not really my thing to be honest but there is a lot of very clear talent on display, and the more I listened the more I enjoyed the sheer dumb fun of it all. Fav Track: 6 - Bad Omen
I think my issue with Metal is the lyrics...I can't get over the fantasy and death and devils. I like the actual music. I don't know if it's just because I never really listened to much metal or if this project is expanding my musical horizons or the actual quality of the specific albums is that different, but the more metal albums I listen to, the more I am liking it as a genre. Except the lyrics, those are still silly as fuck.
🤮 more of this shit!?
It's got the signature Megadeth track, look, and feel, but it's just not an overall great record. It's fine, but not great.
Holy shit, megadeth. It’s adjacent to a lot of the music I love, but it’s leave me cold. Never been a fan of thrash metal, I need more melody in my life. Still, gets a couple to stars because it’s not jazz or country music. Didn’t have a favourite track, couldn’t get through the first couple.
Too loud
For a band whose name means 'a million deaths', I thought this was a bit corny and tame. It has some good moments and always fun to hear ridiculous, overblown trill-filled guitar solos but after a while it all merges together into one long blob of heavy metal noise and over-reverbed howling.
Thrash ends up sounding a bit samey to my ears but I enjoy it quite a bit. Clearly some instrumental mastery here as Megadeth leave their mark on an stacked year for the genre.
No sir
buenos riffs
Actually dug this a lot. Not a metal person but sheesh
Better than I was expecting but my expectations were pretty low. It just isn't a relaxing listen.
Something too produced about this. But fine, dumb metal but fun. 3 Heard before? No Owned: No, 101/382 (26%) Will I get: No
Solid gen 2 metal dude, I love the 80s stuff.
Not my jam at all, but not scary like I thought when I was 7 years old.
very good for focusing at work
Rips
listened to this while mowing the lawn. probably the most appropriate time to listen
This is norm my preferred style of music however it wasn’t unpleasant to listen to even given the length.
Just not for me
Death metal is not for me
I can definitely appreciate it! But I just don’t think I would put this on to actually listen to. It’s too guitar hero for me 😅
Lots of riffs but pretty boring overall
These Megadeth albums from the late 80s and early 90s are always a blast. What’s always stood out to me is the more technical side of their music, because you can really hear it in how the drums, percussion, and guitar riffs all weave around each other so precisely. Another element I love is the galloping bass, which adds so much drive and momentum to their sound. And when it comes to fun, technical guitar work, the opening track “Wake Up Dead” is a definite highlight.
Day942 - it was much easier to list to than i expected. i know basically nothing about their music and it’s not something i would go back to but its really good
A lot of traditional metal sounds the same to me, and as someone who is sensitive to certain loud noises, traditional metal is not really my vibe. For some reason, I also find metal to be campy and overdone. This album in particular wasn’t horrible, but I won’t listen to it in full again. “I ain’t superstitious” was pretty good though. I might listen to that one once in a while.
Interesting how tame this actually sounds nowadays to my ears, whereas it would have had parents clutching their pearls back in the 80s when it was released. Plenty of speedy guitar work on show here, and Dave Mustaine benefits from not being as much of a prick as his former bandmates from Metallica, so you can actually hear the bass and the drums are superior to anything Lars ever put out. I don't mind a bit of metal, although it's not something I tend to put on of my own accord very often.
Pretty solid metal
Este disco no lo escuché muchas veces. Soy más de Rust In Peace. Gracias a escuchar wake up dead recordé cuando los fui a ver al Luna Park. Qué fiesta. Larga vida a Megadeth y al Colorado. No me dejo influenciar por mi amor por el colo, por eso coloco 3. Alguna vez volveré a escuchar este álbum.
Listens: 3 Standout Tracks: Peace Sells, Devils Island The intro to Devils Island is an absolutely sick, face-melting shredder of a song. I was very glad to have the opportunity to listen. For some reason, this album resonated with me more than Slayer's Reign In Blood (which I took the opportunity to re-listen to). Both albums came out in the same year! I think it has to do with the fact that the genre is fresh in my head, having also just had Deep Purple's "Deep Purple in Rock" come up just a few days ago. I think of all of the new genres I've experienced while on this Journey, Metal and its sub genres have brought me the most enthusiasm for why I am still listening to new music every day for the better part of 3 years (I'm a bit less than half way done).
Still not my thing, but atleast it's fun about it.
Sell sell sell
Definitely not my thing, as it never really has been, and wore pretty thin pretty quickly.
Classic metal album.
Loved everything about this album
I liked it for the first few songs but it got boring kinda quick. Idk if I’d listen again
this album's pretty good but i just can't seem to get into it for some reason. i think i need to be in a very specific mood for this type of heavy metal? idk i like the title track a lot as well as "devil's island" and "my last words" but i feel like i dont really have much to say about anything. it sounds good to me. i guess. gonna have to come back to this one i think.
The musical equivalent of the worst DIPA you’ve ever had.
Not my kind of music at all.
Good
Some mega riffs but just when you’re starting to enjoy one they start playing everything way too fast for the sake of it. Yeah, I know that’s kind of the point of thrash metal, but it’s not an excuse.
Megadeth!!
Overall, a fine album. For metal of it’s era, it’s pretty heavy.
This is a strange one. Didn’t get into thrash/speed metal when it started. First heard this in the late 90’s and quite enjoyed it. Not so much now. I imagine that if I listened to it more often and properly that it might go up to a 3 but ultimately not quite my taste
Dave Mustaine’s vocals do nothing for me but the energy on this is insane! Good variety too
Classic thrash album. Mustane can’t really sing, but he’s a riff master and really an underrated guitar player. Fun record.
Good album, not my favorite or the one of their best in my opinion…it’s great to listen to while driving in the car.
The guitar-playing is insane. The lyrics try to be edgy but come off a little silly (like Dave Mustaine is deliberately trolling suburban conservatives). Overall this album is more fun than I'd anticipated. This is the music a teenager in the 80s turns up to 11 in their bedroom after stomping upstairs, shouting to their parents "You don't understand me!" and slamming the door.
It was not a bad album, but it was boring. Thrash, out of all types of metal, is definitely not the most interesting one. Bad Omens was fun with the often prominent base, but the overall highly unimpressive vocals really didn't do it for me. Hoping for more fun metal in the future...
No sophomore slump here. Good job, Dave! 5
5/5
would buy peace, wouldnt buy a megadeth record
I enjoyed listening to some of it, actually forgot I was doing the challenge at some point but a lot of it also wasn't super memorable to me and some of it boring. maybe they are too focused on amazing technique and "impressive" playing and kinda getting lost in that or maybe I just don't get it I skipped the last two remixes at the end, lowkey the first two I didn't even notice they were a remix. I was also dissociating a bit tho.
Very nice riffs and solos
Starting off very strong here with Wake Up Dead! Lovely guitar and solo, so much energy, it was amazing. The conjuring carried that through. As a title track (kind of), peace sells was pretty damn great. There is only so much metal I can listen to with one album yesterday and one today, but this album is still pretty good. Good mourning was just a fun name. My last words was so great! Probably my favourite of the album. My last words was an awesome way to end this and I’m so glad I listened to this album. 4.5/5 ⭐️ 201/1089
Ok
I'm only giving this a 2 because I don't care about the style, but I absolutely understand why they invented Guitar Hero and Bill & Ted now.
Ooff what a difference from the last album we got. I'm here for it though.
Not my jam, even if I can see the influential nature
Since Dave Mustaine is a former member of Metallica, it's impossible not to compare the bands. And, technically, Megadeath is better in a lot of parts. But those parts just never quite add up and Megadeath is always the slightly goofier version of Metallica. He's great at playing guitar. He's not so good at writing songs that sound different from each other.
Rockin'!
a fun ride honestly not the most involving metal i've heard but i had a good time
Two metal albums in a row, a year since I got the other Megadeth album from the generator. Don't really care for them, it's just alright and wouldn't listen again.
it’s megadeth. Classic album. great
The lyrics might be dumb, so the guitar playing is good enough to distract you. This was some solid thrash metal with a scattering of interesting sections, but felt rather one note. "I Ain't Superstitious" is an old blues song remade through a thrash metal lens, so that immediately stuck out when compared to the other songs. Dave shuts up for enough time during the instrumental introductions of both "Good Mourning / Black Friday" and album closer "My Last Words" that you can appreciate the musicianship of the band. If you enjoy this style of music , then you would have a good time with it. I doubt it will convert anyone who already has made their mind up on the genre.
This album lacks Marty Friedman. Still great, though.
there really shouldn't be 2 Megadeth albums in this list....
If it's good enough for Beavis, it's good enough for me.
This album is basically built for shredding and headbanging, and if that’s what you came for, Megadeth delivers. There are plenty of impressive guitar solos and heavy moments that make it easy to rock out, even for someone like me who isn’t a huge metal fan. The title track is easily the standout, though. “Peace Sells” has more melody than most of the album, the lyrics are entertaining, and it is genuinely catchy. Beyond that, there wasn’t much here that really grabbed me. The vocals often feel buried beneath the guitars, the lyrics lean into the usual edgy Satanic Panic-era material, and a lot of the songs start to blend together. Still, the album keeps moving and never really bored me, so while it didn’t convert me into a metalhead, it was an all-right listen.
It's funny how much this just sounds like hair metal - it's just another LA metal band that could be Motely Crue, but instead of singing about fucking they're singing about like skeletons. Really liked the first and last tracks, but mostly I think I just don't like thrash metal (or most metal really). I guess unfair to these guys because they probably invented the sound, but when I listen I just hear every other metal band and every parody of a metal band. Feels like a commodity good.
I wasn't too excited about this when it popped up for me this morning. I figured it was another one that I had to listen to quietly while eating my lunch on the lanai, so my neighbors wouldn't wonder what was going on at our house and decide they needed to bring their kids inside. I'm just not a thrash metal fan at all. Aside from the lyrics, the music on this one isn't as crazy as I expected it to be. You definitely have to give all of the musicians credit for what they do - especially on the drums and guitar. The speed at which they play is amazing. I actually didn't mind the first couple of songs on this one, but then it just starts to get repetitive to me and I just kind of zone out on it. Definitely not one I'll listen to again, but I give it credit for what it is and the impact it had on the genre, so no problem with it being on the list.
6/10
Having to listen to this and Throbbing gristle back to back is the absolute worst. The guitar playing was good, the singing was bad Screaaaaaaaaaam Screaaaaaaaaaam Screaaaaaaaaaam 2.5 out of 5
This is a mega album (pun intended). Really packs a punch. I would buy peace, but I'm not sure how much it costs.
It's fine, I guess? I can probably understand its inclusion into the book since it seems fairly influential, but I can't really get into it. I've heard a lot more better metal music in my life.
hmm ... I'm sure it is great but not my bag.
i hate megadeth👎👎👎👎👎
Muito bom. Não tinha ouvido todo esse álbum ainda
Mid 80s metal. Trash metal. Great guitars.
Solid ‘deth album … Peace sells is the diamond, rest is very good
Guitars as sharp as a blade, pounding drums, one of the best basslines ever created by mammals, ultimate thrash metal classic. Just a bad cover song away from being a perfect record.
Wow, back-to-back Sepultura and Megadeath albums. Not even mad about it. I liked Arise more, but Peace Sells...But Who's Buying was a head-banging good listen as well. Not quite a 4, but a generous 3.5. I wasnt paying close attention to the lyrics but looked up the Wiki for my playlist choice, Good Mourning / Black Friday, and...huh. "Lyrically, Mustaine has described the second part, "Black Friday", as being about "a homicidal madman who goes on a killing spree". With an excessive use of gory language and violent imagery, the song chronicles the acts of a serial killer. It was inspired by Dijon Carruthers, who was one of the band's drummers prior to the hiring of Gar Samuelson. According to Mustaine, Carruthers was hanging out with people who were practicing occultism, and they inspired him to write songs based on spiritual themes."
fine enough
it was fine. uninspiring to me. did not notice when the album ended and listened to EIGHT Megadeth-alikes before i got wise 😭
Wake Up Dead was funny but otherwise yeah sure whatever
Decent.
At the end of Rust In Peace my primary thought was "this is a very cool, well put together, album that is simply not my thing. At the end of Peace Sells... But Who's Buying? I had the exact same thought word for word, but maybe with less songs I actually enjoyed. I think the only song on the album I really got into was Peace Sells. Everything else is good, but simply not my thing. I still have nothing but respect for Megadeth.
Jeg har gitt Megadeth en sjans 100 ganger. Jeg får det ikke til.. Det er noen fete riff, men stemmen hans er for ræva.. og musikken er litt barnslig.. treffer ikke helt.
wat een heerlijke gitaren !!!
Oh God, I hate trash metal... 🙄 01) Wake Up Dead - 5,5 02) The Conjuring - 4,0 03) Peace Sells - 5,0 04) Devils Island - 5,0 05) Good Mourning/Black Friday - 5,5 06) Bad Omen - 4,5 07) I Ain't Superstitious - 5,0 08) My Last Words - 5,0 TOTAL: 4,94 (49/100)
I don't like heavy metal or thrash. I have heard most of these songs though growing up. It all kinda blends together into one lump of noise. Peace Sells is more tuneful.
It's fun, it's thrash!
Why the low score? This is a seminal work of one of the best. Also featured on GTA Vice City, which makes it an automatic 5.
Listened to on my Bose AE2 Soundlink. Megadeth is a pretty rockin' band, one that I'm fairly familiar with due to exposure from Guitar Hero and an appreciation for their album Rust in Peace. Peace Sells..., which came out two albums prior to that great release, sees Megadeth find it's footing as one of the four horsemen of thrash metal after Dave Mustaine's early departure from Metallica. Peace Sells... has some good tunes, especially it's title track which has been a favorite of mine for years, but sitting down with this album as a whole, I didn't find myself particularly blown away. The album starts out strong with Wake Up Dead, with it's fast energy and heavy ass riff/solo section leading the second half of the song to it's end, and it doesn't take too long until we reach the title track Peace Sells, which is just an all time metal classic, with it's iconic bass opening, great riffs, and fun vocals from Mustaine, which are both entertaining in it's content and it's delivery. Unfortunately, there weren't many other highlights on this album outside of these for me. It's all well-produced and impressively played rock, but it just doesn't excite me too much, and Mustaine's vocals on the whole felt bland lyrically and often a bit grating in it's delivery. Even in moments where the band find themselves exploring the creative boundaries of metal, like in the blues-metal fusion of I Ain't Superstitious, I don't find myself very surprised or engaged. Peace Sells... is a good set of metal, and I wouldn't mind throwing it on, but it doesn't stand out very strongly to me against a lot of the other monumental 80s metal releases that really capture me.
This was better than I was expecting. Was catchy for the most part, even tho only one song is going to make it on a list of mine for now.
I don’t think I have listened to Megadeth since I was a kid. A friend of mine was big into thrash - Metallica, Megadeth, Nuclear Assault, etc. I didn’t mind some - mainly Metallica - but my tastes weren’t really into it, preferring goth and early industrial/ebm even back then. So, this is probably the first time in almost 40 years that I’ve listened to these guys… It’s funny how tame this album feels now.
If I've heard this before it was probably when it was new - had a friend who loved this stuff. I wasn't really looking forward to it but it's much better than I expected.
Have never been a thrash metal fan - this didn't change it
Breakdown in Wake Up Dead was cool I Ain't Superstitious was suprising
Solid
Technically excellent, there's some very good instrument playing happening here. I don't really know enough about thrash as a genre to say whether or not this was a good representation of the style, but I liked it well enough. It was very similar to Metallica, which I see from the Wikipedia page is because Dave Mustaine was in Metallica.
Not much of a metal fan but this sounded fun.
Great metal.Lyrics aren’t always top par but it rocks
Ok 2/5
Run of the mill thrash metal. It's not bad just not special.
Not my thing (I don't like Metallica either), but good for what it is.
Notable Textzeile: Satan has their souls, they sing pagan tunes The ceremony is sure to be cursed They wait for his blessings but down comes the worst Ich finde das überraschend easy listening. Im Sinne von: die Songs haben klare Strukturen, die einzelnen Parts ufern nicht zu viel aus und alles ist sehr mittig produziert, die Höhen in den Soli sind weich, die Lautstärke der Riffparts und des Speedruns angenehm gepegelt. Was ich damit anfangen soll weiß ich trotzdem nicht. Name und Cover sind ja bestimmt prägend für das Genre, aber komischerweise will es ja politisch sein, aber irgendwie affirmativ zum System und die die den Teufel anbeten sind schlimm und cursed? Oder hab ich da verkürzt gelesen? Finde das alles sehr seltsam und am Ende nicht mehr als eine 2
Ich habe Megadeath mindestens einmal live gesehen und keine Erinnerung daran. Vor allem nicht an eine so tighte, Hardcore lastige Band wie hier. Es muckt, aber nicht zu sehr, die Riffs sitzen und sind fair auf Bass und Gitarre verteilt. Textlich ist das hier ganz die Iron Maiden Schule für Heavy Metal Klischees: Fatale Untreue (wake up dead), Totgeweihte (Devils Island), anti-Imperialism Hymne (Peace sells), Satanism (Conjuring). Erstaunlich solide.
I get the energy - aber langweilt mich nach Song 4.
As we say, not my cup of tea, but it's obvious this is a standout representation of its genre.
It has been a while since I had a metal album appear on here. This is a pretty good album even though thrash metal isn't my favourite genre. In fact I find megadeth to be weaker than slayer and metallica in terms of the big four of thrash metal. That's not to say that this isn't a good album though, quite the opposite. there are some damn good songs on here such as Peace sells and The Conjuring. And Dave Mustaine is a pretty damn good guitarist, although his vocal style is not as good as James Hetfield's. He kinda sounds like he is pretending to be frustrated while holding it back at the same time. It works sometimes but not all the time. Still though, I will listen to it on occasion but I still prefer metallica.
I shouldn't like Megadeth... but I kind of like Megadeth
Didn't do it for me. Sorry. Seems to have good guitar solos.
Not my thing but I can still appreciate it.
Dave Mustaine is one of the biggest dorks in music but he was very good at making thrash metal in 1986.
Early Metallica sounds so good, while this just comes off as goofy and corny
I assume I'm gonna get all the "Big Four" of thrash metal in this list at some point, and if that's the case, then I have two to go. The lyrics in this may only sound deep if you're 14 (or if you're Dave Mustaine), but it's got good intentions, I guess (much alike those in Antrax's 'Among the Living'). As for the vocals, they don't disappoint only because I never had high expectations to begin with, and I'm kind of grateful that they weren't as prominent and annoying in this album as the vocals were in the previously mentioned record. Up until this point, it may sound like I'm giving a bad review of this LP, but the truth is that none of the shortcomings I mentioned are that significant in this subgenre, in my opinion. The appeal of it lies in the instrumentals, the songwriting and the sheer energy, and even though the latter half of the project is more exciting than the former, I still feel the band delivered on the most essential aspects of their music on today's entry.
Yes.
Rust in Peace is a solid 4-star effort from the heavy metal crew. So what does PSBWB bring to the table? (Answer: One less star and a truckload of music that is clearly not supposed to be taken seriously.) Angry, harsh, and blisteringly fast. The lyrics are probably good, but it's the way they're delivered that really resonates with the listener. In a good way or an extremely bad way, depending on which part of which song you focus on. The beginning of The Conjuring, for example, uses such a horrifically bad vocal tone that I'd rather tear my ears off than listen to it again. Wake Up Dead contains a fun extended riff – in fact, it's so extended, across so many bars, that it departs from riffage and becomes something more like a weirdly mixed solo. The false finish and complete tempo change near the end gains some bonus points too. Megadeth also manage to squeeze three solid guitar solos into a 3:37-long track. Pretty impressive. Or gutsy. Or overzealous. Take your pick. Next we have The Conjuring, which I'd hope the band is self-aware enough to notice that the singing is absolutely godawful. The rest of the instruments, though, are pretty good. And I enjoy the doomy atmosphere, especially with the instrumental at the very beginning. The title track's rhythm guitar chugs along, with its melody almost making the band sound like the thrash equivalent of Black Sabbath. (Am I crazy?) The much clearer-sounding lead guitar does wonder during the solo that essentially runs underneath the entire track. Cool. Vocals are a bit repetitive, though. Devils Island... now that, I can dig. Even if clearly lacks an apostrophe. It becomes clear after a certain point in the album that... well... Megadeth is not particularly good at coming up with hooks. Good Mourning / Black Friday is a sign of things to come, but at least it still kind of rocks. Bad Omen is the real bad omen. (Hence its title.) I Ain't Superstitious is the exception, being way punchier and catchier than its streaming numbers would suggest. 3/5 Key tracks: Wake Up Dead, Devils Island
nothing stood out on this record but it was fun anyways
Highlights: “Wake Up Dead” – twisting structure, constant momentum shifts, proper statement of intent. “Peace Sells” – iconic bass intro, pure attitude, and still absurdly catchy for something this aggressive. “Devils Island” – relentless and claustrophobic. “My Last Words” – closes the record with a manic, gambling-with-death energy. It’s not just heaviness—it’s personality. Mustaine’s vocals are more sneered than sung, but they fit the material perfectly. There’s a sense that everything here is slightly unhinged but still controlled, like it could spiral out at any second. Yeah, music snobs might wrinkle their noses—but that’s half the point. This isn’t polite, and it isn’t trying to be. It’s smart, aggressive, and unapologetically metal. Verdict: A cornerstone thrash album that balances brains and bite. Not quite as polished as what Megadeth would later become, but arguably more dangerous for it. And honestly—sometimes you don’t overthink it. You just stick it on, turn it up, and enjoy the riffs.
Legendary album
Classic ! The riffs are cool and its what you expect from them ! The voice is a bit annoying and its a bit cheesy sometimes as we agreed with GJS ! 3.5
Just can't connect with the songs on here. Good riffs but vocals are still too goofy.
One of the bands that were of great influence for me in the 80's metal scene. Maybe not their best album, for me that will be Countdown to Extinction, but nevertheless 5/5
According to the laws of supply in demand, if no one is buying peace, then peace does not sell. Economic discrepancies aside, it’s a solid metal album
This was great. Brilliant thrash metal with great guitar solos and cool tempo changes which kept me on my toes. Preferred this to the Metallica that I knew.
Skulle levd på 80-tallet
Absolutely brilliant musically. I'd never have claimed to be a metalhead, but this list is changing me
This is an insanely nostalgic listen to me, and my favorite Megadeth album (though their opus is usually considered to be Rust In Peace). I was raised into metal, and while my tastes are more varied now, this stuff still lives in my DNA. Before I get into the album itself, a quick metal history listen for the unengaged will be very helpful for this one. In short, Dave Mustaine was a member of an early (pre-Kill 'Em All) incarnation of Metallica, but he was unceremoniously kicked out of the band for being too difficult, drinking too much, and partying too hard for early '80s Metallica (no small feat). After this, he basically said "Fuck you guys, I'm starting my own thrash band, and we'll be faster, angrier, and kick more ass than you!", and thus, Megadeth was more or less born out of spite. Megadeth has since outlived this fraught introduction to the world and been immortalized as a member of the big 4 of thrash (with Metallica, Anthrax and Slayer, all of whom appear on the list). And also, it's worth noting that Megadeth's rivalry with Metallica is more playful than anything in the present year. But the attitude that formed Megadeth did power them almost immediately into some scene classics; enter Peace Sells... But Who's Buying. Megadeth's sound probably best represents the core sound of thrash out of all the big 4. Metallica's thrash stuff had a proggy slant due to Cliff Burton (RIP), Anthrax was closer to crossover thrash/hardcore punk stuff. And Slayer was damn near a grind band sometimes (Reign In Blood in particular can still peel paint). Megadeth kind of sits in the middle, but is generally most similar to Metallica, if you need a touchstone. Peace Sells is an insanely efficient record, the band is pretty much locked in from beginning to end. This thing is full of exhilarating triplets, wailing solos, and some really creative basslines. I'm also not gonna tell you that Mustaine is a *good* vocalist per se, but he is the only man for the job. He brings some punk snottiness here, and it really shines through the most on songs like the title track and Good Mourning, he almost brings a comical theatricality. The lyrics are the perfected mix of surprisingly in depth political observations, pop culture, and a little occultism thrown in for flavor, and are very enjoyable. I honestly think this album is pretty much a perfect 36 minutes of thrash, but to single out some favorites, the title track is *incredibly* catchy, and tons of fun, while also having something to say behind the sarcasm. And My Last Words (a deeper cut) is one of the band's best thrashers. But this album has an incredibly iconic sound, and is a scene classic. If you love metal, you'll be floored by this. If you don't, you should give it a shot, it doesn't quite have Metallica's crossover appeal, but the level of quality here is high enough that it's worth it for just about anyone.
I've never been a big metal guy, but this is a lot of fun. It's really just a lot of noise, but whatever, it's better than half of the list as is.
I thought this was going to be an easy 1, but it was less screamy than I predicted and I listened to more than 10 seconds of each songs, so it gets a 2!
Beyond painful…
Dave Mustaine really can't sing can he? But who cares, this absolutely slaps. Peace Sells is exactly what I want in my thrash metal – the raw, snarling aggression, breakneck tempos and anti-establishment sneer of hardcore punk entwined with relentlessly complex musicianship, where Mustaine and Chris Poland trade intense, intricate riffs. You really can decipher Poland's background in jazz fusion through the way his solos bend around Mustaine's shredding, which really does elevate this all the more for me. The rhythm section is phenomenal as well, completely disregarding the typical thump of traditional metal drumming with frantic, shifting time signatures and creative cymbal work, whilst some truly filthy bass lines anchor the carnage. This deserves more regular playtime on my deck, for sure.
Not my favorite but still an excellent record but just don’t mention Metallica
This was pretty good actually - maybe not quite as hooky as Metallica, but solid nonetheless. Favourite tracks: Wake Up Dead, Peace Sells, Devils Island, Good Morning / Black Friday.
4/10
I guess it's okay for a thrash album. I suppose I was never really into it
2026.06.08-09.
The guitars shred, expected when you put on thrash metal. I was surprised how good the bass is throughout! Dave's singing is a bit hit or miss for me, sometimes it is great and other times it is grating. Cool record but it all blends together and I can't really tell them apart, just 8 songs at 36 minutes so that isn't terrible.
Good fun. The first half is my favourite.
Megadeath and Iron Maiden were very influencial to the metal I listened to in the 80s, but it all seemed a bit much for me. I thought I just needed to listen to it more, to get used to the sound. I did, just like I'm trying to listen to more rap, so I can get used to is and so appreciate it. That works, to a certain degree, but in studying my health, I found that the issue was deeper. All autistic folks like me are born with a sensitive nervous system, so we react strongly to certain sounds or actions. This kind of metal I respond to negatively as it jars my nervous system. That's what it's supposed to do, to jar it or to numb it. This metal (and I guess Kendrick Lamar?) jars my system, and no amount of listening will calm it. In fact, too much pressure on my nervous system causes me to shutdown or meltdown, possibly many hours after the over-stimulus. I like Megadeath (I prefer Metallica), but it seems that I should be careful when I consume such music. 2/5
Some outrageous and impressive guitar playing. Classic level composition and comforting familiar
Maybe I’m just getting too old for this. There is literally nothing redeeming about this record.
I’m grading it on a curve a little bit because I am really not a fan of metal music, but as far as the genre goes, I really like this. Not sure if that means that this is not all that popular with metal heads because normies like it but I do find this is some of the most accessible metal on this list so far. What really stands out to me is that they give everything the space to breathe. Yes, they are incredible at their instruments, but what sets this apart from other metal is that you have time to digest it, it’s not all head banging front to back. Incredible trite metal lyrics aside, this one is pretty good.
Not as hard as I thought it was.
i can't do it, man.
Not my cup of tea but there were hints of Iron Maiden in there for sure.
Sounds like, and very much is, an album by a guitarist with an axe to grind. Super technical, constantly changing hyperactive songs full of high tempo.riffs and squealing shredding solos.
Maybe I am just getting old...
would give a 0 if I could
IM KIND OF INTO THIS TODAY
Just don't like the way this genre sounds
6.5/10 - I like thrash arguably more than the next guy, but I think full thrash albums are hard to wade through because of their pacing. It’s all gas in a way that less might be more. This is a good album for the genre and has one of a Megadeths biggest songs, so its inclusion makes sense, but this isn’t one of the best thrash albums. Good but not great.
It's fine, metal isn't my thing and this doesn't move the needle one way or the other. 6/10
Pretty awesome record thats way better than any Metallica album.
There are so many great tracks on this.
mega mid
Heavy metal boring
J’ai clairement pas écouté jusqu’au bout car ce n’est pas ma came. J’ai écouté chaque début de chanson en gros… Il y a quelques sonorités sympa mais faut creuser pour ça..
Pas ma came
I'll search for detailed information about this classic Megadeth album to give you a comprehensive review. # In-Depth Review: *Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?* by Megadeth (1986) Released in September 1986 on Capitol Records, *Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?* represents Megadeth's pivotal leap from underground thrash upstarts to one of the "Big Four" of American thrash metal. Recorded with producer Randy Burns, this album refined the raw aggression of their debut while sharpening their technical precision and expanding their thematic scope. Here's a comprehensive breakdown. --- ## Lyrics & Themes **Political and Social Consciousness** The album marked a deliberate shift away from the generic fantasy tropes dominating metal at the time. Dave Mustaine and David Ellefson explicitly aimed to change public perception of heavy metal by injecting socially aware lyrics into their music. Mustaine stated that the band was "not unaware of the political situation at the time," and his political beliefs were directly reflected in the songs. Critic Steve Huey noted the album's unique combination of "punkish political awareness with a dark, threatening, typically heavy metal worldview." **"Peace Sells"** — The title track's lyrics are a biting disapproval of the American way, conveying Mustaine's wish for a new social structure. Mustaine wrote it because he was "tired of people mocking metal in general and mocking people who are metal fans," frustrated by the way metalheads were stereotyped as "dumbasses" on television. The iconic line *"Peace sells, but who's buying?"* was inspired by a Patti Smith interview in *Reader's Digest* where she said, "Peace sells, but nobody's buying it." Mustaine wrote the lyrics on the wall of their rehearsal building with a pen because he had no paper. **Occult and Horror Narratives** Several tracks explore darker, more sinister territory: - **"The Conjuring"** simulates a Satanic ceremony and contains instructions for hexes. Mustaine described it as being about black magic. Due to his later conversion to Christianity, the song wasn't played live from 2001 until 2018. - **"Good Mourning/Black Friday"** chronicles a homicidal madman on a killing spree, with graphic, violent imagery. It was inspired by former drummer Dijon Carruthers, who was hanging out with people practicing occultism. - **"Bad Omen"** explores occultism, which Mustaine described as being about "two happy campers who have stumbled onto a Satanic orgy in the middle of the woods." **Personal and Narrative Storytelling** - **"Wake Up Dead"** tells the story of a man cheating on his girlfriend and sneaking home, fearing she'll kill him if she finds out. Mustaine admitted it was autobiographical — he was cheating on a girl he was living with because he was homeless and needed a place to stay, but was in love with someone else. - **"Devil's Island"** details the thoughts of a condemned prisoner on the former French penal colony, spared by God but doomed to spend his life there. - **"My Last Words"** is about Russian roulette and the psychological terror of playing the game. Lars Ulrich of Metallica has called it his favorite Megadeth song. --- ## Music & Composition **Riff-Centric Songwriting** The album is built on a foundation of razor-sharp, memorable riffs. As one reviewer noted, "Many songs on this album contain at least one awesome riff that you can point to as the track's high point." The opening to **"Wake Up Dead"** is a prime example — menacing, pummeling, and immediately establishing the album's aggressive tone. **Technical Proficiency & Tempo Changes** Megadeth's signature style — complex arrangements with numerous tempo changes — was fully formed here. The album was briefly characterized as "techno-thrash" for its progressive approach to thrash metal. **"Good Mourning/Black Friday"** is the standout: a nearly seven-minute epic that begins with eerie acoustic atmosphere before exploding into some of the most brutal thrash riffing of the era. The transition from the melodic intro to the full-speed assault is a masterclass in dynamic songwriting. **The Title Track's Groove** "Peace Sells" was notably simpler and more groove-oriented than typical Megadeth material. The iconic bass intro (which became the MTV News jingle) came about when Mustaine picked up Ellefson's fretless BC Rich Eagle bass and started playing the rolling line. The song originally stretched to eight minutes before drummer Gar Samuelson — one of the few people Mustaine deferred to musically — insisted they cut it to four. Ellefson noted it was "an exercise in discipline" for the progressive fusion-influenced musicians to keep something that simple. **Guitar Work** The dual-guitar attack of Mustaine and Chris Poland shines throughout. Poland's leads are often underrated compared to later guitarist Marty Friedman, but the Poland/Mustaine pairing created a formidable shredding duo. The soloing is consistently top-tier, with tracks like "Good Mourning/Black Friday" and "My Last Words" featuring emotionally charged, technically brilliant leads. --- ## Production **The Capitol Budget Effect** Signing to Capitol Records provided a significantly larger budget than their debut, and the production reflects this improvement. The guitars are sharper, the sound is thicker, and Mustaine's vocals are more polished than on *Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!* **Original vs. Remastered** The original 1986 mix is drenched in reverb — typical of low-budget thrash releases of the era — but sounds "thicker" and more powerful. The 2004 remastered edition improved the drum sound for many tracks but clips frequently and is loud enough to diminish dynamics. Many fans prefer the original for its rawer, more natural feel, though the remaster brings out some percussion details more clearly. **Overall Sound** The production strikes a balance between the raw aggression of underground thrash and the clarity needed for broader appeal. It's still rougher and more visceral than the pristine sound of *Rust in Peace* (1990), but that's part of its charm — this is thrash metal with teeth, not a polished commercial product. --- ## Influence & Legacy **Pivotal Year for Thrash** 1986 was the definitive year for thrash metal, with Metallica's *Master of Puppets*, Slayer's *Reign in Blood*, Anthrax's *Spreading the Disease*, and Megadeth's *Peace Sells...* all released. Together, these albums "sprung thrash metal into the limelight" and established the genre as a dominant force in heavy metal. **Impact on Other Musicians** The album's influence extends far beyond its era. Dimebag Darrell (then known as Diamond Darrell) famously told David Ellefson that *Peace Sells* "changed my life," a moment Ellefson recalled as deeply sobering. The album influenced countless bands that followed, from Arch Enemy to DragonForce. **MTV and Mainstream Exposure** The "Peace Sells" music video was a rarity for a thrash band in 1986, and MTV's embrace of it — including using the bass intro for MTV News — significantly elevated Megadeth's profile. Though Mustaine complained that MTV altered the bassline by one note to avoid paying royalties, the exposure was invaluable. **Critical Standing** Retrospectively, the album is regarded as a milestone of American thrash. AllMusic's Steve Huey called it a "classic of early thrash." *Kerrang!* deemed it the album that saw the inception of Megadeth's "always-distinctive sound." Pitchfork noted it helped Megadeth develop a strong cult following by appealing to "dead-end kids" resistant to the glam metal of the day. --- ## Pros | Strength | Details | |----------|---------| | **Iconic Riffing** | Nearly every track contains at least one unforgettable riff that defines the song | | **Lyrical Maturity** | Moves beyond generic metal tropes into political, social, and narrative storytelling | | **Title Track Accessibility** | "Peace Sells" balances thrash credibility with genuine catchiness and MTV appeal | | **Technical Virtuosity** | Mustaine and Poland's guitar work is exceptional; tempo changes are handled with precision | | **Dynamic Range** | Songs like "Good Mourning/Black Friday" showcase impressive structural ambition | | **Historical Significance** | A cornerstone of 1986's thrash explosion and the Big Four legacy | | **Raw Energy** | Maintains the aggression of their debut while improving composition and production | --- ## Cons | Weakness | Details | |----------|---------| | **Inconsistent Moments** | Tracks like "Devil's Island" and "Bad Omen" have sections that feel underwhelming or less memorable compared to the highlights | | **Cheesy Elements** | The vocal filter on "The Conjuring" can come across as "cheesy and not-at-all menacing" | | **Occult Lyrics Dated** | The Satanic/occult themes on several tracks feel like a product of their era and can seem clichéd | | **Cover Choice** | "I Ain't Superstitious" (a Howlin' Wolf blues cover), while fun, feels slightly out of place on a thrash album | | **Production Limitations** | The reverb-drenched original mix sounds dated; the remaster sacrifices dynamics for loudness | | **Not Their Peak** | Most critics and fans agree *Rust in Peace* (1990) represents the band's ultimate technical and compositional achievement | --- ## Final Verdict *Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?* is a landmark thrash metal album that successfully bridged underground aggression with broader accessibility. It refined Megadeth's sound from their raw debut, established their lyrical identity beyond fantasy clichés, and cemented their place in the Big Four. While not their absolute technical peak (that would come with *Rust in Peace*), it remains one of their heaviest, most influential, and most essential records. **Essential Tracks:** "Wake Up Dead," "Peace Sells," "Good Mourning/Black Friday," "My Last Words"
100% in one ear and out the other. I'm sorry Dave. Like, I'm usually one to write lengthier reviews, but nothing about this grabbed me. Maybe I wasn't paying enough attention? But I cannot find myself returning to any of this. Funniest thing about it is how it starts: like an album already in progress. Goofy singing. Nice drumming though. And completely masturbatory solos.
Is it allowed to just award a single star without listening? I'm expecting not to like this. No? Oh well, here goes then. Surprisingly more melodic and musical than I expected. Great musicianship. Heavy on the guitar and very present drums. Was that a funky-ish bassline at the start of Peace sells? That was a surprise. In parts pretty enjoyable, even Bad Omen. Still, not converted to metal by any means. I do like the drummer.
This album made me nostalgic for a time I wasn't alive for. This album made me wish I had hair to my ankles.
I'm buying that this is solid metal. But seriously folks, this album is not my usual jam but I enjoyed it. Good psych up/workout soundtrack to get the heart thumping. Top tracks: "Devils Island," "Good Mourning/Black Friday," "Wake Up Dead"
--Wake Up Dead...Dave, you silly goose, if you died how did you wake up? drumming in second half is killer --The Conjuring...love that chug --Peace Sells...great bass intro. total head banger --Devils Island...the midpoint thrash is where it's at --Good Mourning/Black Friday...unfocused but it rips --Bad Omen…takes a minute to get going but when it does, oh my. --I Ain’t Superstitious…heavy metal dudes love them some Willie Dixon --My Last Words...some classical guitar riffage to open. then balls to the wall metal \m/
What do you mean I can't get the work on time?!
I hear a good riff -> it becomes white noise -> the song ends -> repeat.
It's just kinda dumb
classic.............
*no music, screeching and banging instruments. Screaming vocals.
Scream scream scream. Bang bang bang. Chunka chunka.
In the battle between cool and not cool, I was team Metallica. That choice still stands. Megadeath is a cheesy attempt at speed metal that often sucked.
Трешачок.
Yikes! Whatever this is... I'm not buying
- I have a feeling that I may not enjoy this album much - I can vaguely hear the king crimson influence but not sure if it'll win me over - It did not win me over
Inoffensive but not my thing.
5/10 Generally not a fan of metal, but there's nothing wrong with this album. Not my type of music but it's not so distasteful that I feel repulsed. Middle of the road.
High school flashbacks. Don’t think I’ve listened to this since then. I don’t remember Dave’s vocal being so low in the mix. My memory is that they were/should be more prominent. Still rocks.
5/10
Beyblade commercial music
stamina, pure 80’s metal, gone are the flourishes and riffs and blues of 70’s rock, this is just pure intensity
Their second album. Metal. Dumb Rock 😆 🤟
Actually a good album, but it gets a bit monotonous in the long run.
Hard one for me to rate, this one. Great riffs, but not the most serious or best songwriting craft. Still, I liked it more than Rust In Peace [which I understand puts me in the minority], and Good Mourning/Black Friday in particular, to give it a 4.
The guitar playing is really technically proficient
Really enjoyed this, added to some high upbeat playlists for running
The metal music was invented but lyrics of death, satanic rituals, murder and celebrating Russian roulette (memories of those scenes from “The Deer Hunter” which I saw opening night) were too much for me.
a well played well written album, but thrash isn’t really my style, those who love it will see it as a classic. But for me, i can respect it and understand the appeal, just doesn’t strike right.
People say you can’t dance to this kind of music but clearly they’ve never seen me in my kitchen listening to this album. The second half of this album blows but that first half is gold.
Great riffs, heavy but clear, really like Megadeth despite not listening to them too much before. I did pass on the deluxe version of the album through the Spotify link and did opt for the somewhat shorter ‘expanded’ edition, but still listened through several times while mowing grass, and didn’t get bored with it. Overall 4.5/5
Pretty average to be honest I could just be that I'm numb to thrash metal at this point but this album feels really uninspired. Theres a few good songs here and there but nothing to make a cohesive experience 5/10 Favourite: Wake Up Dead Least Favourite: I Ain't Superstitious
There is the unique Megadeth-sound and sometimes also already the more rhythm/bass-centered sound of the later albums that I love ... and I'm buying! favourite: "Wake Up Dead", "Peace Sells", "My Last Words" 3,5
I used to own this album but it’s been a long time. Still a very enjoyable thrash album after all these years.
Not all that bad as far as metal goes but it's still metal
It's pretty decent. It's quite full-on, but accomplished and fun enough.
Este álbum sé que de fijo es un must en el mundo del metal o rock pesado, como no he estado mucho por esos territorios para mí este es un gran descubrimiento, probablemente el que muchos tuvieron en su época de colegio Dato curioso Megadeth nace prácticamente como una respuesta de Dave Mustaine al ser expulsado de METALLICA Solos de guitarra bien QUE ROLON The Conjuring QUE ROLON Peace Sells Honestamente como se compenetran todos los instrumentos es simplemente un lujo Intros que con facilidad invitan a escuchar el resto de las canciones Una energía contagiosa de principio a fin En resumen, un solido 5 Totalmente revisitable para volver a cargar energías
On a song to song basis, each of these is merely annoying. I can tolerate (not enjoy) each track on its own. As a full album, though, this becomes interminable for me.
I met the guitarist from Megadeth a few weeks ago. I'm still not listening to this record though.
They are the pathfinders of a whole genre and kind of define heavy metal. This is typical fare - honestly I find it so repetitive after a while that it loses any power it might have to jolt or shock…
Peace Sells is Dave Mustaine at his Mustainiest. A bit less polished than his former brothers in Metallica, a bit less practiced at song craft, a chip on his shoulder and something to prove about his own chops. Also, starting with a song about getting plastered and sleeping with another woman and having to not wake up his partner. Again, Peak Mustaine. But then, has Metallica ever been so puckish as to even write a song title like “wake up dead” or “peace sells… but who's buying?” The closest would be titling a song about a sanitarium “Welcome Home.” Dave leans into the less serious side of thrash and metal, despite being probably as big an asshole as the genre has. That title track walks that line. We know Dave is exactly the person who would give a line “I go to court when I have to” and be both sarcastic and sneeringly honest. But that petulance is framed by the anthemic shout along outro and an intro that will forever just be the MTV news theme to me. Maybe cruel that the most memorable riff on this album isn't from Dave's guitar. It's trite to view Megadeth in Metallica terms, but it's not like Dave doesn't invite it. How can we not hear Good Mourning/Black Friday and not hear an intro that is trying to outshine Fade To Black's? That's probably the defining aspect here… Dave's single-mindedness to out-thrash his peers, albeit a little later. Countdown to Extinction comes just after the Black Album. Cryptic Writings comes in the wake of Load. So it's interesting that Peace Sells includes something totally unique: a blues cover. I Ain't Superstitious is pretty intriguing here… not only does it pre-date Metallica covering non-punk and metal songs by a decent clip, it ends up being both an earnest take as well as arguing that the blues structure could accommodate metal shred. Thrash isn't really my metal, and metal isn't often my jam, but you can see a lot of what people see in it. Especially in songs like My Last Words, which might be my fave here, or Devil's Island, which i liked the guitar work on. 3*
No.
Not the production quality of Metallica. Some of this sounds like a home recording in a garage. That adds a little bit of authenticity/a cool factor though. The song structures are not as epic as Metallica either. But, notice how I (and everyone else) compares Megadeth to Metallica? You can’t separate the two, and it’s not just because they threw Dave out of the band. The two not only source from the same thrash metal scene, they share an essential ‘sound.’ But, one can hear the proof in the pudding- as talented as Dave is, he’s not the sharp, precise, machine that made Metallica into the gods they are. He’s a free spirit, Halloween renegade.
Disc 1 - 4.5/5 Wake Up Dead - 4/5 The Conjuring - 4.5/5 Peace Sells - 4/5 Devils Island - 4.5/5 Good Morning / Black Friday - 5/5 Bad Omen - 4/5 I Ain’t Superstitious - 5/5 My Last Words - 5/5 Disc 2 - 3.5/5 Rattlehead - 4/5 Killing Is my Business… And Business Is Good! - 3/5 Looking Down The Cross - 4.5/5 These Boots Are Made For Walkin’ - 3/5 Last Rites / Loved To Deth - 3/5 Mechanix - 3/5
Better than slipknot?
Have you ever asked yourself: “What if Metallica, but with a significantly better drummer, a dueling pair of lead guitars, and a frontman who is a witness of Jehova?” Look no further! This album kicked more ass than I anticipated, but I’m kinda a sucker for this sound and time period.
I tried, i really tried. I love some metal but not this metal. It was good to hear a talented rhythm guitarist under all the noodling. And some if the lyrics were quite funny. But mostly rubbish and the disc 2 live version was really facking awful
Easily the weakest of the Big 4 for me. I know it's held up as a thrash masterpiece, but the first two Megadeth albums are a bit shit to my ears. The production leaves no space for the songs to breathe, it's just speed metal all the way, which I guess is fine if it's your thing. There are some good moments along the way, Good Mourning/Black Friday is cool, and My Last Words has a great David Ellefson bass line, but overall this is just generic thrash. Megadeth would get so much better over the next few albums.
Perfectly cromulent 80s thrash metal!
Favorite track(s): Wake Up Dead, The Conjuring, Peace Sells, Good Mourning / Black Friday, Heard before Previous rating: 8/10
Fun and interesting
PEAK PEAK PEAK My Last Words is the best one here for that outro
Wake Up Dead
Classic speed metal. Great song crafting and musicianship performed with sophomoric lyrics. Dave M is an ass, but I feel like this band gets overlooked.
Every song seems like a response to Metallica, bigger, harder, faster. Many start with a little solo, and all of the solos are Dave sounding like he’s got something to prove. This is a hard one to rate. I think it’s still a little raw and unpolished compared to what comes later- but it exists as a gauntlet thrown down at Metallica for kicking Dave out. He had a bone to pick and something to prove, and largely does so. I want to give it a 5 because it’s music I know and love, but when I consider what’s to come later and that it’s kind of a one trick album, it’s hard to do so ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I do enjoy metal, but this is just kinda background metal. I like a little heavier guitar sound I think. Not bad, not great. Good to have on while I'm doing other stuff.
I'm a metalhead myself and I do appreciate this album, especially the excellent riffs. Unfortunately I've never been particularly into thrash metal or Megadeth. Good album, but I want more lyricism out of my music.
It was cool to get some metal after a lot of R&B and stuff on my list recently. This started strong for me, but honestly faded into "more of the same." I'm fine with thrash and Megadeath is definitely a heavy hitter in the space, but an entire album is a bit too much for me to enjoy all at once. I could see really digging a few songs, then moving on. 5/1/26
Not a bad album, but since this one is hailed as one of the icons of thrash metal, I expected more. The interludes of speed drumming and a-million-notes-a-minute guitar were too few and far between. Very sludgy at other times, with fairly crappy vocals. The band’s oddly placed cover of “I Ain’t Superstitious” isn’t going to make anyone forget the Jeff Beck group.
2 de 5 Critica política y social sobre la guerra y el sistema estadounidense, obscuro pero irónico, con riffs complejos y agresivos. A destacar: Track 1 - Wake Up Dead Track 3 - Peace Sells Track 4 - Devil’s Island Track 8 - My Last Words
First time ever listening to Megadeath. Some Great shredding, and some good riffs. Overall, not for me, but appreciate the musicianship. Highlights: “Bad Omen”
Mustaine actually annoyed me slightly less on this record than he did on Countdown to Extinction, but I still find him pretty difficult to listen to. I also found this record a bit tighter musically on both an arrangement and production level. Overall, though, I can only acknowledge my own failings to hear what is cool, badass, or appealing about this. 2/5
The Angry Masterpiece That Still Holds Up Copy/paste: https://tinyurl.com/yv478nk5
Ugh
So surprised by this. Musically diverse but still metal.
awful
I liked this!!
Not really my thing, but at least it was better than hip hop and jazz.
so not my kind of music. I can say yeah, but the guitarists - but I won't bc it annoys me that this menacing noise is what they made with their guitars.
Me, after three cups of coffee. Bursts of long, intense, jittery, laser focus insanity. It’s on and it’s bot turning off for hours. It will return in full for e at 3am. Relentless pounding.
In 1989 I was enrolled in night school at UGA (long story for another review). Night school is a peculiar mix of people. You have your slightly older students who are paying the bills who are focused and have a goal. These people do the best. Then you have a large body of light at souls. Kids who aren't quite sure they want to be in college but what else are they gonna do. Chris was one such kid from the latter group. We chatted after class. He was from a town about an hour south of UGA. Turns out he lived in my apartment complex. We started to hang out at his apartment. He had a room mate - Greg. Im sure anyone my age knew a number of Gregs and Chrises - maybe even in your friends and in your friend group. G&C were not in my friend group. They were not quite ready for prime time. But I did like to hang out (for set amounts of times) mostly because they loved loved loved metal and it cranking up some big dumb metal was a great way to decompress before returning to the drama of my apartment (another long story I'll save for a future review). So we would gather occasionally and crank up tunes - most of which I knew - but one album I just hadn't f*cked with was Peace Sells...G&C were big fans. I knew the title track form high school but never pursued Megadeth further. What better atmosphere to appreciate some righteous shredding than in a 4th apartment of a buddy from night school. I too brought things to them to try and explain their worlds. The one thing they really bit on was Goat by the Jesus Lizard - arguably the best album of the 90s but that is discussion for another time. There's a certain undeniable joy in bouncing around an apartment with a couple of knuckleheads with reckless abandon - for a while. See - I had a life outside that 4th floor apartment. G&C hung out together. A lot. And they're favorite hobby was to accompany the aforementioned slam dance party with a bottle of Robetusin (roboing). No judgement but not my jam. So as evening approached night I would depart and go out into the world leaving G&C to their hermetically sealed environment. That is the last time I saw Gregg. He and Chris kept hitting the Robo and things devolved into a scrum that ended up with Chris getting stabbed. It was minor wound but more than enough to break up the band. Gregg went back home. Chris followed at the end of the quarter. This all lasted about 2 months. But I still think about those guys. People who pass through your life. You generate a few memories. Maybe have a keepsake (the blank cassette on which I taped this album might be in my attic). I hope those guys found they're way. I can't separate this album from a moment in 1989 where the future looked large if generally unnoticed, bad decisions weren't necessarily a knock blow and a big dumb riff accompanying a bad attitude seemed ike it really mattered. And maybe it did. I raise a glass to Greg and Chris. Thanks for sharing this album with me. As for the album itself - the remaster sounds so much better than my crappy cassette dub of my youth. When they are on (about half the album) they cook. Now go listen to Goat.
Enjoyed some, some not
A real appeal to myself when I was 14. It’s not a masterpiece or anything but it’s fun and stupid in equal measure.
2 Stars (5/15)
Can appreciate the guitar work, but just didn’t click with me.
LOUD but loved the line "you say I hurt your feelings, didn't know you had them"
When I saw this was the days album my first reaction was 12 year old me would have instantly given 5 stars. Tried to listen without rose tinted glasses filled with nostalgia for my teen years. It is still 5 stars for me as this is without question the pinnacle of thrash metal. Dave Mustaine still put out some great albums in later years but at that point he was going for a different sound but it just never got better than this for Megadeth.
This is my first album back after a week hiatus due to being away. I saw that it was what was coming next after I suspended the generator and was dreading listening to it. I've had a recent run of thrash metal, fairly recent listening to Slayer and Anthrax. Prior to this project I think Metallica is the only metal band I've ever really listened to, and I've liked some of their stuff. Of course fans of thrash would say that they're not the real thing and bands like the ones I've listened to recently are, along with this. I'm sure they're correct, and all that has done is confirm for me that this is a genre I just can't enjoy. Musically this wasn't bad. Very good guitar, bass, and drums. But Dave Mustaine's voice annoyed the crap out of me throughout. There were no songs that I could actually enjoy due to that. The other negative for me is that the lyrics were silly throughout. Songs that had interesting themes didn't feel fleshed out at all, and just went for the "gotcha" effect. I hope that I can get a break from metal for a while, but my guess is that I won't get spared till I have a few more.
Uf amigo, aguante megadeth
Only giving a 2 for the musicians.
(60/100)
Was OK, love the technical guitar and drum work but the songs aren't strong enough to warrant very good status.
Actually better than I was expecting
(4.5) solid work, amazing, Metallica is jealous of its former member!
I only know one other Megadeth album, and I liked that one better than this one. Still solid though.
don't enjoy mustaine's voice
opera prima
I don't know why I was expecting a heavier sound. It didn't disappoint, but I've been hearing about Megadeth being super hardcore and a lot of their songs felt melodic. Maybe this is my ignorance with metal showing, but I enjoyed the album nonetheless. Highlight: Devils Island
I have always hated Dave Mustaine's voice. The quality of the music almost overcomes his vocals. I know it's a classic, and I loved a great percentage of it... I just can't give it 5 stars.
Not bad, just a bit repetetive and forgettable.
I wasn't expecting to like this, generally true heavy metal loses me, but this pretty jammin' without being just noise.
Poor Davey Mustain
Excelente disco de Thrash Metal. O ódio de Mustaine faz o álbum ter o peso e a força mas aqui já é melhor trabalhado que o primeiro álbum da banda. Excelente! Celest Pandamon.
Listened in the car. Really enjoyed this one. Loved the guitar riffs and solos, really loved the tempo switches in a couple songs. The lyrics are trailer park philosopher garbage but whatever, these guys know their audience. Great stuff.
Favorite Track: Peace Sells
Who's buying? Well... I probably would.
YEAH!!!!
I like Megadeth, but I don’t love them. This album rocks though. I think my favourite aspect is the prominence of the bass guitar. That being said, is it just me or is the sound a little thin? It has the sound of a thrash band playing through an am radio. Not a deal breaker. Just curious.
About what I expected 2/5
My boss likes megadeth. This is still corny but I don’t mind listening that much
Surprised by how much I enjoyed this one.
I was less annoyed by Mustaine's voice in this than I usually am
couple thoughts about megadeth: Dave Mustaine is such an asshole that even Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield couldn’t put up with him. Lars Ulrich! babies are born knowing how to cry and that Lars Ulrich is a complete asshole. how bad must Mustaine be? (pretty bad man) back in 1999 or so for reasons I don’t remember I bought whichever Megadeth album had the song Crush ‘Em. Bad song, bad album, but it came with this huge CD sampler full of songs by 20-some other bands. That sampler got me deeper into Type O Negative, a band I’d be giving so many fives if this ridiculous list included them, and introduced me to System of a Down. (Also Puya, Full Devil Jacket, and to a much much lesser extent Chevelle) At any rate Type O Negative rules and if I had to pick one of their albums for the list it would probably be October Rust even though it would more likely be Bloody Kisses Megadeth sucks