Weve heard the scorching new album from Megadeth and heres our track-by-track guide to their brand new record, Endgame!
Dialectic Chaos:
A truly epic 2-minute instrumental crammed with blazing solos opens Endgame! Mustaine has recently been telling all and sundry that former Nevermore and Jag panzer man Chris Broderick is the best fellow axeman hes ever had in Megadeth and on this blistering opening (and throughout the album), the lead trade-offs between the two are nothing short of mind-blowing.
This Day We Fight!:
The instrumental segues straight into a punishing thrash riff and venomous Mustaine vocal-line. Its a HELL of an opening one-two combo! The pace of it, the unrelenting aggression, the insane fret-work Mustaine sounds beyond pissed-off and this is going to kick all kinds of ass when its blasted out live. The shredding on this track will melt your face and blow your mind.
44 Minutes:
A stirring, epic intro (complete with a cops radio reporting a crime in progress) gives way to a jarring, stomping riff that dominates the verse and is followed by a huge melodic chorus and even more fret-frying lead guitar work. The second solo has Eastern influences but the punching rhythm guitar packs just as much of a punch as the solo itself.
1,320:
A heavily 80s inspired opening riff is then accompanied by pounding double-time snare drums. The motorbike-themed track is riddled with suitably fuel-injected riffing and yet more unrelenting solos. Fans of the widdle are going to wet themselves when they hear this record!
Bite The Hand That Feeds:
Again, the lead riff on the album is 80s-tastic but in a way that doesnt sound dated in the slightest. It captures the vintage Megadeth sound but Andy Sneaps dynamic, crunching production brings it kicking and screaming into 2009. At this point, it really seems as though Megadeth have created something special with Endgame. Every single second so far has kicked every kind of ass imaginable. The outro to this tune is mega in a Motorhead-fashion!
Bodies Left Behind:
The track opens at a mid-tempo pace that echoes the bands early 90s output. Again, its Mustaines trademark sneer that fuels this inferno. Possibly the catchiest chorus thus far and the track also has the most twists and turns thus far in terms of tempo and feeling (mid-tempo chug through to neck-snapping thrash). This ones an absolute monster.
Endgame:
Attention! Attention! All citizens report to your district detention centres! Do not return to your homes! Do not contact anyone! Return all of your weapons! screams a megaphone introduction to the albums politically-charged title-track before giving way to a chugging bombardment of riffs. Chug turns to sprint after around 2 minutes as those fret-melting lead guitars take over again. This is the end of the road, this is the end of the line, this is the end of your life, this is the Endgame!, roars the chorus. Clocking in at just under 6 minutes, this is yet another beast of a track. We know youll have heard a lot of hype about this record but it really is THAT good!
The Hardest part Of Letting Go
Sealed With A Kiss:
An acoustic opening and subtle strings are backed by a haunting Mustaine vocal lines. Feint lead guitars lurk in the background before crashing through the boundaries. Hard-hitting riffs combine with stabbing violin lines on this odd, hard-rocking ballad.
Headcrusher:
If youve not heard this one by now, you had really ought to. Check it out here! Its a Megadeth classic in waiting and if that pneumatic-drill of a riff in the chorus could bang the head of a man with no neck.
How the Story Ends:
United Abominations was a fantastic record but when youre getting to track 10 of Endgame and its giving the best tracks from that album a run for its money, it tells you what were dealing with on this album. An all-out assault of up-tempo guitar work, a middle-8 that sees palm-muted riffing combine with thunderous double-bass drums and a mammoth chorus, How the Story Ends is yet another killer track. Were definitely looking at one of the albums of the year here, no question about it.
Nothing Left To Lose:
A rumbling bass line leads us into a guttural, low-end riff and a chorus that conjures memories of 90s Megadeth. After 3 minutes, theres a truly heroic build-up and all hell breaks lose. Solos fly while the rhythm track pounds like a prize-fighter to the tracks end.
Endgame not only has a claim to be the best Megadeth album for over a decade (quite an achievement after how good United Abominations was), in a year chocked full of awesome albums, Endgame is one of 2009s best.
