Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good! - Megadeth

This is the 1985 Combat Records debut album by thrasholes Megadeth. FYI that was a compliment, if I said douchestep or something else non-Metal it's be an insult. I've previously reviewed Super Collider and So Far, So Good... So What! on this blog, and I figured why not get this one over with because it was fairly simple. This album features Chris Poland, Dave Ellefson and Gar Samuelson and was self produced by Dave. This is actually the last of the big four's debut albums to be released, Fistful of Metal was released in January 1984 this was released in June of 85. Just a fun fact.

1. Last Rites/Loved to Deth: Opening with a quote from a classical piece, that for whatever reason I'm to stupid to recall. When I look it up, I discover it's Bach's Tocatta and Fugue in D Minor. I think it's a nice intro, and once it ends and the song starts it has a nice punch. Now the "verses" kind of sound like a mess, like they don't really sound like they lined up correctly. As it progresses it sounds like it comes together better, and David Ellefson's poppy bass sounds like it fits better. A decent song, but the solo isn't really there.
2. Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!: This opens rather promising, and the vocals sound very demonic with the shrieks. The plays a riff, that almost sounds like a chase, and I love the bass and drums accompanying it... tasty. Nice and angry too.
3. The Skull Beneath The Skin: The way this opens I was expecting it to maybe be fast but this isn't as fast as some the others this far. This is fast but parts are slower when its just drums and the bass. This is a nice speed metal tune though, and tells the tale of how Vic became Vic. If your interested I'd definitely look up the lyrics. It's kinda neat, but then again Black Magic and Occult interests me. Not like I'd practice or believe it, but in the same way Ancient Egyptian mythology interests me.  
4. Boots: The infamous cover of the Nancy Sinatra classic. This is basically a thrash/speed metal cover of the tune. I mean is there really much more to it than that. I mean the stupid fucking beeps on the reissue sound terrible, laughably terrible. But this is an angry song and I like it.
5. Rattlehead: Ah the track named after Vic, one of the many metal mascots to grace album cover with the likes of Eddie the Head or Snaggletooth or even more recently the Deathbat. Even though it's named after him, its about head banging. I like the tune and solo, but yeah.... I mean it's not really mind blowing. 
6. Chosen Ones: This almost sound like it could pass as a Priest song. Really, I'm serious. It's actually a bit refreshing after 5 tracks of essentially the same thing. Yeah this isn't really THAT different, but it feels different enough I guess to where I like it. Plus tasty solo, and great bass fill. Plus the song is about Monty Python. 
7. Looking Down The Cross: A very beefy song topic, about the "real" last thoughts of Jesus. The song in its own is interesting and has a nice build into the song, which appears to fade in. I really like that solo and I feel like this song is being given room to breathe. This sounds like a Megadeth song by the way, and has that sinister feeling that they are great at. Also this is possibly the best song on the album, like really. It's the most unique, sonically different, and kinda has this sort of Iron Maiden bass gallop. This could pass as a Maiden song, but that's not necessarily bad. I kinda think this is one of the songs that I'll revisit, and while it may not have the punch I want it to have, looking back like none of these songs do. This really sounds like classic Megadeth, and I feel like if he revisited this song it'd be phenomenal on the level of other songs like Peace Sells or Tornado of Soul.
8. Mechanix: This is the original version of the Metallica classic known as The Four Horsemen. While the affirms rioted track is better crafted, this track is very fast and about sex using a car as a euphemism. This could basically be looked at as if you sped up the track and took out the nuances and structures and made it much more straightforward. I still enjoy this, thought you can't top the others

Overall I have to give this album a 6/10. This sounds very loose, and I like that. At the same time, its very one note. Like I feel like these songs were recorded live all in one take and the album was cut on track after another. I mean the songs fit together well, but like..... It's very self produced sounding.... Which it is. I also feel like there is a sort of demo feeling to the album, which isn't a bad thing, but it doesn't sounds as focused. Like all the songs are of the same mind set sort of. If you weren't paying attention it'd be easy to mix one into the other. At least their next album would feature a more cleaned up sound and more focused. Just check it [this one] out, its worth a listen or two. 

Super Collider - Megadeth

This is the 14th studio album by Megadeth, one of the Big Four. I remember this album coming out, but not anticipating it. I knew about it, but I never even realized it came out until the day it came out, I was at Best Buy and saw it. I didn't buy it, I wasn't there for that, I think I was there for something else. But I decided to review this because my friend Justin Stockton did (The guy who I did the So Far, So Good... So What? review for on his birthday) and I kind of wanna see what I think of this album. I do know I enjoyed TH1RT3EN which came out the same day as Lulu, and was also co produced by this Johnny K guy, so that's a good thing.

1. Kingmaker: The first song I heard was the last track, so after that I have the bar set a little higher. This is a relatively Megadeth song that sounds like the other songs at this point in their career. This song is good, my only complaint is it's a little long. I do like that arpeggios at the end of the song though.
2. Super Collider: This is another good song, thought I don't think it's amazing. I enjoy the solo on this song and I think it's cool. There is energy and the song isn't really boring. I like the chorus of this song, thought it is a little poppy for this band, but that's Ok. I don't want to damn Dave for that, he wanted it.
3. Burn!: This intro is a little more of a return to what I want from Megadeth and the song is too. Its good that this song follows up the previous. This is a song that could be a song that I see being on a "greatest hits of the '10s". This is pretty solid and rough. I just wish it ended at the first ending part.
4. Built For War: I like the drums in this track. This reminds me a little of High On Fire, instrumentation wise. You know, the riff during the verses of the song. That reminds me of them, and maybe sludge metal in general. The only thing is his voice isn't sludge oriented, if you know what I mean.
5. Off The Edge: This has much more sludge vocals to it. This is a good song that I could picture maybe Mastodon playing, except for the faster parts. The solo is pretty solid here too.
6. Dance In The Rain: David Draiman of the famous Chicago band Disturbed is on this song. I don't like Disturbed, just look at the review I did for them. To be completely honest, this is my only fear, I don't have high hopes for this song. This song reminds me of the vocals on Symphony of Destruction like the intro of the song kind of. It's a good song, but it's doing everything that's pointing towards it to just flop for me. It's getting tense. This song did work my nerves and is a "paranoid" song I could see being in a movie. If you got rid of Draiman, this would be an instant classic in their catalog. This is probably my favorite song because it almost seems, minus maybe the lyrics, like it was rerecorded and a song from the 80's. {9/10}
7. Beginning Of Sorrow: The bass in this song is something that reminds me of Korn. I'm not huge into Korn. Infact, I've never really been invested in them, outside of maybe a review or two or three for the future. I do like that this is a little departure from the rest of the album.
8. The Blackest Crow: I thought this was a commercial for Spotify, I can't believe it's on a Megadeth album. Never in 100 years would I think this would be there. This song is a neat idea and I think it's pretty good. I don't think that he over did the banjo, which is a very good thing. They were able to mix the two genres together and not overdo it. To that I applaud you. {7.5/10}
9. Forget To Remember: This is another good song, that with time, may grow on me, but as of right now it's just ok. Nothing special, nothing horrible. It's a good track, the ending is something cool though and that solo too, and right before the "solo"
10. Don't Turn Your Back: This has a Jimi Hendrix vibe to it. Until the song really starts. Then it gets into something heavy. Something good heavy. This is a song that I think it pretty good, and it's title reminds me of that Budgie album title. The guitar pre-solo reminds me of Jimi again. This is another solid solo on this LP.
11. Cold Sweat: This is a cover of the Thin Lizzy track that was on their 1983 Thunder And Lightning album. I thought it would have been from an earlier album, but whatever. Justin also pointed out that this is the first cover since 1988's So Far, So Good... So What? album. The original version of this song has a punch to it, and a kick, so I expect Dave to do a good job. I like how his "evil" vocals give it a gritty tone. This is also better produced, but that isn't saying much based on the difference in technology in the early 80's and the early 2010's. I do enjoy the solo in this song. It was relatively straight forward, they didn't really change much, but they still did a good job, an enjoyable track. This is a good ending to the LP.

Overall I have to give this album a 7.6/10. If you want to check out Justin's review you can see it here. He chose a good album, and though it's not gonna be my next review, let's see what else he does. He might just pick another good album again and surprise me. From what I remember of TH1RT3EN this is a relatively similar follow up, partially probably because of Johnny K. The solos on this album are pretty solid and I can't really complain. At this point in a career being able to put out these albums, of this quality, that's pretty great. This album is somewhat diverse, I respect that. That's why Slayer isn't my fav or the big four. It's Metallica, thought Megadeth is awesome too. I ''don't'' know when, but I'm gonna be reviewing Persistence of Time in March of this year. That's a promise. And overtime this may grow on me. Also don't let the "silly" un-menacing cover fool you about his album.

So Far, So Good... So What! - Megadeth

Today is my friend Justin Stockton's 17th birthday. I asked him what album he wanted me to review for him on his birthday and he told me So Far, So Good... So What!. I know that this is my favorite Megadeth album, well either that or Peace Sells... Who's Buying. But part of the reason I like this so much is because it isn't their ''masterpiece'' and I think it should be. This album is very underrated and should be more respected. I think that this is well....

1. Into The Lungs Of Hell: This is my favorite song off this album. I love the intro with the electronic sounding horns. There is something about that that makes me feel like that is an awesome way to start a song and an album. The intro solo in this song also sounds awesome I love the guitar distortion. This song kind of reminds me of my favorite Iron Maiden song Transylvania. This is like their Transylvania to me. There is a certain feel for this so good The soloing and the recording in general on this song just... This song is a 10/10.
2. Set The World Afire: The sample in the beginning of this track of the radio then getting bombed. I think that that's hilarious. The riffs in this song are more like Transylvania. than Track 1, but that's the intro instrumentation. The reason I say that this vocals on this album work is because there is some type of evil vocal effect in the background making it sound evil. There is a part in here where the riff speeds up, that is my favorite part of the song. This entire album in general is defiantly BA. The intro, solo, chorus, instrumentation this also gets a big 10
3. Anarchy Of The U.K.: I like this song. I like the original and I also like this version to. This a a good cover of the song with a cool sounding solo. I also like the music video for this song. Also I'm glad that Dave  didn't really change the lyrics up so much. I don't really have a ton of stuff. This cover is solid.
4. Mary Jane: It don't matter what this tracks about. All that matters is that it is beast. It is slow moving and reminds me of the album, well it's Metallica's 1984 sophomore effort Ride the Lightning. The guitar just sounds awesome and the beat. When this speeds up it gets more intense and reminds me of, for some reason the song Transylvania comes to mind. The soloing on this is amazing.period! This is defiantly a headbanger and thrash classic.
5. 502: the beginning of this song reminded me of Miserlou by Dick Dale and the Del Tones. Well that is until he says shit. Ha. there is some type of police alarm and vehicle horns sampled were it founded like a solo, which was followed by a bad ass soloing power. The ending with the like emotional breakdown during the fade. 10
6. In My Darkest Hours: This is an emotional song. I like this and it is like their Stairway to Heaven. If you've heard it you know what I'm talking about. I love how the acoustic guitars sound on this album. I feel this is Megadeth's own For Whom The Bell Tolls, but better mixed and better quality. The fact that the lyrics are based on Cliff Burton in honor of his passing. That's touching man, that he would do that for someone in a band that kicked him out. This only hits you harder when you find out Metallica hadn't really, until after this song, honored Cliff. They are honest bastards, in a bad way. The solo in this is among the awesome solo parts
7. Liar: This reminds me of something I'd hear on a 1970's Judas Priest album. Which is their shining moments as a band, in my opinion. The song keeps on driving and picks up after the emotion of In My Darkest Hours is done. It's like he is now denying the fact that Cliff has died and calls the person who told him this that they are a "Fucking Liar". I think that from that point of view it is masterpiece.
8. Hook In The Mouth: this song has a very driving bass riff in it. I like that it's different. This seems like something I could vision Cliff playing on. Now that isn't the case. But the song has a type of solo where in the beginning of it it sounds like bees buzzing. Which I think is funny an also at the same time amazing.

Overall I'd give this album a 9/10. By far one of my favorite 80's album and better than some of Metallica's 80's monsters. This is different, but it's not. This stands out from Dave's discography. There are very important parts on this that are important to me. This album has a pre-Meagdeth existence world Metallica. The first two albums are their best and they sound like Dave's writing.