Review : MEGADETH – “Endgame

Megadeth – Endgame
released September 15, 2009 on Roadrunner

The band that’s #2 in ‘The Big Four’ is back to kick your ass with their twelfth studio album, which starts off reminiscent of their days of yore. Mustaine and new guitarist Chris Broderick (Jag Panzer, Nevermore) trade dueling leads with a passion not seen since Marty Friedman. The instrumental intro gives way to the defiant and confrontational 2, which continues into 3 (only here with Countdown To Extinction-like accessibility). Then it’s just thrashin’ fun on 4, all about funny car racing, and listen to that outro!

5, 6, 10, & 11 are all pretty good songs with strong hooks and choruses, but are more in line with their late 90s output. The apex of Dave’s paranoia is on the Alex Jones-inspired title track, but it’s too scattershot to be effective. Also avoid the tender love ballad (8), though it does get pretty epic when the keyboards kick in for “S.W.A.K.”. But then…ooooh, “Head Crusher”! The album’s first single goes into overdrive holding your interest for ‘side B’, kicking off with a blindsiding solo and finishing in fine ferocious form.

Produced by Andy Sneap (the master of clarity), this album tries to be all things to all Megadeth fans, and is arguably their finest output since Rust In Peace.

FCC OK
Try 2, 3, 4, 9

01. Dialectic Chaos
02. This Day We Fight!
03. 44 Minutes
04. 1,320′
05. Bite The Hand That Feeds
06. Bodies Left Behind
07. Endgame
08. The Hardest Part Of Letting Go… Sealed With A Kiss
09. Headcrusher
10. How the Story Ends
11. Nothing Left To Lose

Rating: