To cut a long story short: This album owns you! No, it really does. If you want to know why, please read on. 'Endgame' is Megadeth's 12th album in 24 years. However, you wouldn't believe it's mature guys doing this, so energy-filled this is. Once again leader Dave Mustaine promised the new album to be 'Rust in Peace 2' or something like that. All-out thrasher 'Head Crusher' was the first single off of the record and affirmed peoples' belief to Mustaine's words. But how did it go after the album was unleashed? Simple; 'Endgame' is no 'Rust in Peace 2'.

There are things that recall years 1990-1994 in Megadeth's history. We'll get into them during this review. 'Dialectic Chaos' is a two and a half minute instrumental song, which delivers in every possible way. Amazing feel of "this is what we love to do", catchy-as-a-very-catchy riffage, bursting solos, perfect musicianship and tasty production. It just shouts "METAL"!!! When 'This Day We Fight!' explodes into action, it is good old style speeding riff and double bass drum delivery, with Mustaine spitting his first words. No, it really is! There are loads of guitar solos and what's best, they come surprisingly (if you don't read the lyrics sheet, that is, heh). It is clear that the band take no prisoners. Mid-paced '44 Minutes' with its gorgeous melodic guitar work in contrast to heavy rhythmic part works exceptionally well, and there are numerous lead guitar parts abound. Wow, the album really delivers in the guitar department! Mr. Mustaine shows today's youth how to speed up, thrash up and shred the hell outta guitar. His new axe-wielding partner is Chris Broderick, quick as lightning fingered guitar athlete from Jag Panzer. Perfect companion and there's even some good old time duelling happening here!

'1,320' actually sounds like it is diving deeper into the band's history: With its speed metal riffage and the lyrics about cars it kind of reminds me about '502'. So now there's even some 1980s feel on the album. Thus far I'm impressed, even though I knew that Megadeth are more than able to deliver big time any day. I think many Megadeth followers never believed to hear this day after, especially after 'Risk' (1999)? Yes, the band have occasionally shown some signs about "getting back to the roots" or at least "back to the thrashing 'n' speeding", but here all the tokens become flesh.

'Bite the Hand' partly sounds like it could be from previous two albums, but still it features some speed metal riffing. However, the song features a boring chorus and the first solo, albeit a good on in itself, does not sit too well into the song, but the last minute of the song saves it from averageness. 'Bodies' continue with more modern way, but has 'Youthanasia' (1992) style catchiness and drive, plus extended soloing again. The title track drags listener into harsh future via 'Countdown to Extinction' (1992) style darkness. Some of these songs wouldn't be so good, if the rhythm section of bass player James Lomenzo (Zakk Wylde's entrusted guy) and drummer Shawn Drover was lacking in some way: Both nail it down with stylistically varying performances.

'The Hardest Part of Letting Go... Sealed with a Kiss' is the oddball of the album. A dramatic tale somewhere between 'Mary Jane' and 'A Tout Le Monde', so it is no ballad for sure. Some orchestral arrangements on synths and guitar work shows the songs origin, which is Messrs Broderick and Mustaine. However, the song brings anticipated variety to the album, and fits in well after all. It is thrash time again as 'Head Crusher' demonstrates some furious into-the-bone, accurate thrash attack. Mustaine, probably unconsciously, loans main riff of King Diamond's 'No Presents for Christmas' here, heh. Heavy metal drive of 'How the Story Ends' slays everybody still alive after that crushing thrasher. Mustaine and Drover penned this one, and it is a very rhythmic song indeed. It also contains Spanish guitar and chimes, that hark back to 'Rust in Peace' era. As perfect a closer it would have been, there is one more song left. 'The Right to Go Insane' is a mixture between 'Countdown...' and 'Youthanasia' where bassy heaviness and anthemic catchiness clash.

The Andy Sneap production is far from his machiney deeds. The sound breathes, every instruments is well audible and it sounds organic enough. Maybe the drums are a bit boosted up, but... They do not sound triggered into my ears. My only complaint about otherwise powerful sound is crash cymbals which lose into it all. Mr. Mustaine's vocals are most powerful since 'Youthanasia'. He sounds angrier than in years, as he twangs and spits, but still his voice is so much more tuneful than on those early 1990s albums. So it's a case of old and new. The instrumental performances are magnificent and what is the most important, they are multifaceted, still never forgetting this is metal what the band are doing.

The cover artwork does not work, because it is too big for CD size. Otherwise the graphic design is a feast for the eyes. And the true Vic is back! The lyrical topics are very diverse. Familiar for the band, warring is a strong topic, and then there are robbers, cars, politics, fucked up society, insanity and good old torture device head crusher, which does exactly that. Mustaine is not on his sharpest and most sarcastic form here, though, but some of the word divisions fit with the music so perfectly it really does not matter. "When its dog eat dog, you are what you eat Just like the mad dog that bites the hand that feeds" from 'Bite the Hand's chorus shows that Mustaine's social commentary ain't at its best here, but "twisting, turning the giant screw, your teeth are breaking loose crushed and splintering into your mouth" ('Head Crusher') and "above the ring of clashing steel, they raise flags of war, a sign to all the warriors who cannot hear amidst smoke of cannonballs, they bang the drums of death pound a cadence out for those who cannot see" ('How the Story Ends') more than compensate, or what do you think?!

'Endgame' is easily the best Megadeth album since 'Youthanasia'. It took fifteen years for the band, or rather Mustaine, to make a firm, powerful and striking album... The lineup sounds tight and devoted, so let's hope they stay together to bring us more thrashing metal. And why not some more material from others than Mustaine, too. An interesting future awaits.

Rating: 8½ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
10/29/2009 15:57