Yeah I put it on and got very confused thinking it was a live album.Somewhat counterintuitively, the album opens with them being introduced to the Hammersmith Odeon audience as part of BBC in Concert coverage of the Def Jam tour with Griff then ad-libbing before the album proper starts with Bring The Noise. I could be wrong but I think their point in doing this was to set out their stall that what were saying was universal and tbf on the politics and social commentary side I personally don't think you need a specific lived experience to be able to understand or enjoy it. That said the genre point I think is valid, though it might be possible we'd attract other new posters who could provide insight to enhance/lead the discussion. I get the sense there are quite a few lurkers on this thread who if it went in their direction for a week might chip in?
Maybe something like Arrested Development's debut or one of the Native Tongues gang, probably De La Soul, would be a happy medium for going in a hip-hop direction whilst carry people along?
Back on topic, I'm coming to conclusion I would like Rust in Peace to be a bit scuzzier.
Yeah I put it on and got very confused thinking it was a live album.
I apologise I spoke very unclearly. I meant when the album came out it might not have had the same impact in the UK as it would have in the US which is why it might struggle in this thread which does tend to trade in nostalgia
Omg.I’m not sure about over there, but over here, when I was a kid, there were lots of advertisements in comic books for things like Sea Monkeys, which seemed to promise that tiny people would build castles in your aquarium if you dumped them in there. Of course they were shams. And this record is the equivalent of the brine shrimp you got in the mail for your $2.99 instead of a host of magical water-breathing pixies.
I don’t think I’m one of the guilty ones for spelling Deth wrong - but hands up for a stupid mistake if I did :) I too was one of those kids who dreamed of an underwater kingdom of magic creatures. I seem to remember they were pedalled over here in DC comics or similar. I never got to find out whether they were a sham or not - I guess I just grew out of it. Appreciate the review and comments. I’d agree about the ‘scales’ nature of some of the solos. That’s said, I do think MF is a master of metal guitar, and from my aging perspective being later to guitar playing, impossible to emulate!I’m not sure about over there, but over here, when I was a kid, there were lots of advertisements in comic books for things like Sea Monkeys, which seemed to promise that tiny people would build castles in your aquarium if you dumped them in there. Of course they were shams. And this record is the equivalent of the brine shrimp you got in the mail for your $2.99 instead of a host of magical water-breathing pixies.
It’s not Megadeth’s fault. This isn’t a sham. This might be good for metal. They’re just doing what metal bands do — substituting speed for hooks, speed for melody and speed for crunch. Sometimes they substitute “dark” lyrics or growling (also known as overacting) for these things too, especially when they slow down. And I realiz(s)ed listening why I’ve never cottoned to metal: because every once in a while, when they get a smoking groove going — which is periodically but infrequently — they run it for an average of about 18 seconds before shifting to a much more pedestrian set of chord changes. Or worse, a tempo change. Or even worse, a solo. Then one has to wait a few minutes, or until the next song, until they return to another gut-buster. IF they do. Other bands get a chord change or a melody they know rings the bell, and stick with it for — gasp — a WHOLE SONG!
Speaking of the solos, or the rhythm section for that matter, I know I am supposed to be wowed by the incredible dexterity of the players, and let’s face it —it’s gotta take some talent to run at the pace these guys do. But too often what I am hearing sounds like scales, like the ones my kids used to practice on the piano. They don’t evoke much but head shaking (or banging, I guess), and they don’t stir my emotions. They don’t make me want to pick up my air guitar. They can’t hold a candle to the great ones we all know.
I want to quibble with an earlier comment about there being no bad songs here. I don’t know enough about this genre to determine good from bad. I do know enough about songs to distinguish what one is, however. And there are precious few. “Lucretia” perhaps. Or “Eye of the Tornado.” Unfortunately the lyrics can be so ridiculous they border on if not veer over the line into parody. For example, tornadoes don’t have eyes, you idiots — that’s hurricanes. At least when Ozzy did this shit you knew he was joking. Here and there I guess I sense a trace of humour, and they do rhyme “Polaris” with “scare us”, but there isn’t enough to spend any more minutes, let alone hours, searching.
I like plenty of quick music; I love a lot of punk. I love guitars. I love plenty of what the broad universe calls “hard rock”. In theory, I should love this record, and even metal as a genre. But, to recall yet another childhood memory, this is like being promised fireworks on the 4th of July, and living in San Francisco, where the fog rolls in at night all summer, and the ceiling is a few hundred feet. You see a lot of half and quarter fireworks — just the bottom bit of them. There’s a little enjoyment, but mostly disappointment. And you’re sad. But you also laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. 3/10.
PS. You spelled “death” wrong too, gents.
I feel a little bad smacking it around because there aren’t many musicians who can possibly be so fast and so clean. But it does really come down to that bit about switching riffs. Once you’ve got a good one, stick with it! And I probably understated how much I dislike that growling, which here is limited compared to other metal I’ve heard at least.I don’t think I’m one of the guilty ones for spelling Deth wrong - but hands up for a stupid mistake if I did :) I too was one of those kids who dreamed of an underwater kingdom of magic creatures. I seem to remember they were pedalled over here in DC comics or similar. I never got to find out whether they were a sham or not - I guess I just grew out of it. Appreciate the review and comments. I’d agree about the ‘scales’ nature of some of the solos. That’s said, I do think MF is a master of metal guitar, and from my aging perspective being later to guitar playing, impossible to emulate!
i meant the band spelled it wrong :)I don’t think I’m one of the guilty ones for spelling Deth wrong - but hands up for a stupid mistake if I did :)
i meant the band spelled it wrong :)
Just like my reviews! :)It's too busy for its own good.
Just like my reviews! :)
Yeah, and I too have found myself uninspired this day today for some strange reason...I was actually going to simply quote your review with a "what he said" but decided that was just being a lazy git, I'm not sure my ramblings added much to the discussion that hadn't already been said.
Kicking myself for not writing the 3rd to last paragraph.Yeah, and I too have found myself uninspired this day today for some strange reason...
Rust in Peace - Megadeth
I've never been into thrash metal, and after listening to this, I know why. It's just too much going on and despite having something (sometimes political) to say in the lyrics, it is hard to either make out over the speed of the instruments playing, or the overall sound of the vocals, which I'm not really a fan of here.
I'll give Megadeth credit for taking on such subjects while other hair band songs of its time were more focused on other things relating to "having a good time". You'll be hard pressed to find that here. Playing this today of all days here in the US would almost seem cathartic and comedic as someone is surely having a good laugh at what's to come, but then again too much doom rock makes me not want to think about things I'm trying my best to ignore. Binging the AO all day from the overnight helps tune the noise out, but this playing in the background to the Chelsea-Wolves match seemed almost Benny Hill-like in the speed of the back and forth on the pitch. Technically with the complexity of what's being played and the numerous tempo changes, I see how this release earned the accolades in the Heavy and Thrash Metal categories that it did.
The band's lineup changes prior to this album mostly due to substance abuse reads like they not only took pages from the book of Spinal Tap, they perhaps wrote it. Still, I can see where this album was well regarded by those who enjoy this genre as the first two tracks were probably the ones I enjoyed the most.
However, by the time I got to "Rust In Peace...Polaris" for the final time, I had heard enough of girth, erect, nuclear murderer, military gluttons, the bowels of hell, discharged payloads, disease like a dog, and the rotten egg air of death. "When will this cease?" indeed.
That's more than a bit much for me and I'm both at peace with things I can't be blamed for in what's to come, or genres that aren't going to be something I want to listen to.
This is a 4/10 for me, as in 'let these next 4 pass us by and not have to ever visit again', but then I thought that was the way it was going to be after the last time. In that vein, I eagerly look forward to the potential title of Megadeth's next album.
Given yesterday’s political charade in the US I wonder if you were packing your bags for a four year sabbatical somewhere. I’m honoured (I think) that you gave the pick some further ear time. Completely agree with the playing. Speed isn’t everything, but MF has something extra to make him a decent player imho.Kicking myself for not writing the 3rd to last paragraph.
I listened to bits and pieces again today whilst packing some boxes and while it didn’t change my view, I was further amazed by just how fast these fellows can play. It really is pretty extraordinary.
I've got a brother who talks at me. Not to me. At me. To be fair he'll talk at anyone in his way and he tends to restrict his visits to me to when City have an away game on Sky that he can come and watch (thankfully he hasn't yet computed that he could watch any away game at my gaff thanks to the wonders of modern technology).
When he talks at me he tends to tell me stuff that I've heard before ie the last time he was here it was all the places he plans to visit this year and his variouls pension due dates. Usually he gives me a rundown of City's upcoming fixtures and kick off times as well, as though I might not have previously noted them.
Over the years I've learnt to manage my responses to him somewhat by effectively zoning him out, nodding and umming and aahing occasionally and then every so often reengaging and replying to something he's said. His stream of consciousness pops in and out of mine.
Why am I telling you this? Well, you're probably ahead of me. In the absence of any useful analysis of the music or any knowledge of the genre (although I do like Motorhead in smallish doses) then I have to say this reminds me of being talked at by my brother. I had it on in the car yesterday and found the best way to manage it was to zone in and out, mainly out, every so often in, not deiberately but in an organic sort of way. Possibly.
The times I became more deliberately aware of it I had the sense of just checking to see if we were at a bit I was inclined to engage with or was going to learn something new (I feel kind of grateful and relieved when my brother tells me something I don't know so that I can genuinely respond with slight awe and wonder) but when I consciously tune in the feeling I had was of having my fey indie sensibilites battered, of being waterboarded, of playing social cricket only to face a barrage of unplayable quick deliveries, of... well you get the picture.
I can listen to it no more. My brother is coming over for the Arsenal match. Between now and then I'm giving my ears a rest.
If I have to score it, and I feel I should, I can only give it 5. I'm sure the musicians are adept and can play quickly. Doesn't make it end any sooner though. I'm not a fan of the vocals, in fact I do think the human voice wasn't designed for this sort of music at all. I won't score it less than 5 because I would have to justify that by saying why it's bad example of it's type and I can't do that. In fact I'm sure it's a good example of it's type. But it's not my type.