"Classic" album appreciation thread - the '80s

[TAC]

Rust In Peace was released in late 1990!!!

I’d take this over Filter that’s for sure.

[Dream Team]

Definitely a Top 5 all-time metal record. Flawless. Greatest collection of guitar-solo duels also.

[bosk1]

Rust In Peace was released in late 1990!!!

Was it really???  My bad!  I thought it was '89.  Oops.

[The Walrus]

I'm not a super Megadeth fan but I'll generally take them over Metallica any day. Early Megadeth is amazing and Rust In Peace rules.

Going back to Scorpions for a minute, I only know the hits (there's a bunch) and a couple songs sent to me in my last roulette. Well, one of my dad's friends who is a total rock geek came by this morning and dropped off Box of Scorpions for me to check out. I don't know most of these songs, but I've found tonight's evening activity! I'm excited to jump into this and hopefully find some gems I never knew Scorpions had.

[TAC]

We’ll Burn The Sky

[bosk1]

I love disk 2 of that set.  Disks 1 and 3 have some good songs that would definitely make me spin them.  But disk 2 is where it's at for me.

[Cool Chris]

I didn't get in to thrash at all when it rose to prominence.  Years later I decided to check out some of the big names, and enjoyed it for a very brief period, then moved on. This is the one album in the genre I bought and still own (and enjoy) to this day.

[Stadler]

I love disk 2 of that set.  Disks 1 and 3 have some good songs that would definitely make me spin them.  But disk 2 is where it's at for me.

That's pretty spot on (though "In Trance", "We'll Burn The Sky" and "Loving You Sunday Morning").   I still listen to the "Taken By Force" - "Love At First Sting" run far more often than I should (and far more often than any 80's band except Kiss and maybe Maiden). 

[cramx3]

I only have the Countdown to Extinction album by megadeth and I do enjoy it, but never really explored much more besides a handful of songs including some on Rust in Peace which I do enjoy. 

I actually saw Megadeth open for the Scorpions a few years ago at Madison Square Garden, awesome concert my first and only time seeing either of those bands.  I was planning on exploring Megadeth a bit more when they were announced as the opener for Ozzy's tour but that show got postponed until next year so I never took the time to revisit Megadeth. 

[bosk1]

Here's my very rough assessment of Megadeth's history:

Pre-Rust In Peace:  Some good stuff here and there, but the sound is so primitive and the quality is very inconsistent.  I don't know if that is a factor of Mustaine not yet really coming of age as a songwriter yet or him being so smacked out of his mind on the substance du jour that he was just all over the place.  On the former point, he was an amazing player and wrote some incredible riffs and solos, as evidence by both his work in Metallica and the early Megadeth albums; but in terms of writing complete songs...I dunno.  He just wasn't there yet for my tastes.  And the production on those early albums takes away as well.

The untouchable golden age:  Rust In Peace, Countdown To Extinction, Youthanasia, Hidden Treasures EP.  There is a progression toward being more accessible, but it worked.  These albums really are fantastic.

The "identity crisis":  It seems odd to lump Cryptic Writings, Risk, and The World Needs a Hero into one "era" of the band, given the changes in sound and lineups through that time period.  But if there is a common thread, it is that Megadeth was all over the place.  Cryptic has some really good songs and some songs that just went WAY too far in trying to make the band accessible to the masses and watered down what this band is.  Risk is by far the most experimental thing they have done.  And despite being panned by the fans, it is my favorite album outside of the golden era albums.  The only song I don't like is Crush 'Em, but I get what Dave was going for.  TWNAH is...odd.  It was an attempt to return to form, but is still kind of all over the place.  But to me, it is worth having for the title song and the last half of the album and for the absolute drum clinic put on by Jimmy DeGrasso on this one. 

The latter years:  Other than United Abominations, all their later albums have been pretty good, but have also been pretty samey.  For each album, there are a few songs I really like, and a bunch that are forgettable standard fare.  I enjoy them on the rare occasions that I pull them off the shelf.  But I don't really desire to very often at all.

[bl5150]

I recognize Rust in Peace's brilliance and Holy Wars, Tornado of Souls and Hangar 18 are songs that any metalhead should cherish to hear live upon occasion.

Agreed on those songs. This is one of very few albums that I consider a classic even though I think it's half filler - because the great songs nailed it.   Marty's solo in Tornado ...was replayed many times during the year or two following its release.   Prior to RIP I was no great Megadeth fan but the brilliance of the guitar playing converted me and then I began to explore their catalogue in more detail.

[The Walrus]

Up until a few years ago we had a coworker who's a big Megadeth fan. We'd play tons of Megadeth. Cryptic Writings was one we played often, but we played Countdown, Rust, Peace Sells, and, thankfully (for me), Dystopia all the freaking time. We never even bothered to mention Risk, Endgame, 13 etc. lol

[TAC]

Endgame is amazing, K-Lox.


My personal favorite is So Far So Good So What.

[jingle.boy]

Endgame is amazing, K-Lox.

At first I was like 
But then I 

[King Postwhore]

 

[Podaar]

Rust in Peace is hit and miss for me, like much of Megadeth, but Holy Wars... The Punishment Due is worth the price of admission alone. For me, it is in the upper echelon for all time metal songs. The unbridled aggression is gorgeous and those solos...    Dave's vocal performance fits the song perfectly. He sounds like he's barely got a his anger under control until he finally just explodes at the end.

I know what I said, now I must scream of the overdose
And the lack of mercy killings
Mercy killings
Mercy killings
Killings, killings, killings, killings
Mercy you know, they'll take my thoughts away

Frank Castle would be pround. 

[Max Kuehnau]

Megadeth - Rust in Peace

Songs:
-Holy Wars... The Punishment Due
-Hangar 18
-Take No Prisoners
-Five Magics
-Poison Was the Cure
-Lucretia
-Tornado of Souls
-Dawn Patrol
-Rust in Peace... Polaris

As with the two previous Megadeth albums, I tried this one out when it was released.  And I didn't like it.  It wasn't until Countdown that this band finally clicked for me.  But then I went back and explored the back catalog.  And while the earlier albums to this day do nothing for me, I could finally see this album as the landmark that it is.

The music was as aggressive as ever.  But suddenly, it was also accessible.  Suddenly, Mustaine managed to put together songs that could appeal to people outside of just the thrash scene. 

Every player shines on this album.  Mustaine's riffs and the solos he takes are some of the best thrash--or any subgenre of metal, for that matter--has to offer.  Friedman's solos are blistering, yet have an uncanny sense of melody that makes them memorable and not simply a flurry of notes played at breakneck speed.  Ellefson's bass lines aren't flashy or fancy, but they hold everything together and give the songs a groove and pulse that almost-subliminally makes them more rhythmic and appealing.  And Menza's drumming drives the songs and gives them a flair and aggression that fits beautifully with the aggressive guitar riffing. 

Honestly, writing about this album is pretty boring because I don't really have anything critical to say.  Every song is awesome, and there is little to criticize.  I only wish that I had actually gotten into this album in the '80s when it was released instead of finding it several years later.

I only own The System Has Failed, because one of my heroes plays on it, call me superficial. (although I listened to Rust and Youthanasia once and only once) Btw, bosk, Rust was released in 1990, 8 days after I was born. (so it's not strictly an 80s album I think, although it's likely justified to call it a classic album)

[TAC]

Frank Castle would be pround. 

Who is Frank Castle? 


Seriously. I don't know who that is.

I know what I said, now I must scream of the overdose
And the lack of mercy killings
Mercy killings
Mercy killings
Killings, killings, killings, killings
Mercy you know, they'll take my thoughts away

 

I only own The System Has Failed, because one of my heroes plays on it,

Who?

[Max Kuehnau]

Frank Castle would be pround. 

Who is Frank Castle? 


Seriously. I don't know who that is.

I know what I said, now I must scream of the overdose
And the lack of mercy killings
Mercy killings
Mercy killings
Killings, killings, killings, killings
Mercy you know, they'll take my thoughts away

 

I only own The System Has Failed, because one of my heroes plays on it,

Who?

Vinnie Colaiuta (and btw: this is how I always pick albums to check out)

[TAC]

TSHF is pretty good. That didn't inspire you to get more into Megadeth?

[Podaar]

Frank Castle would be pround. 

Who is Frank Castle? 


Seriously. I don't know who that is.

[TAC]

Does. Not. Help.

[Max Kuehnau]

Does. Not. Help.

Hand. Cannot. Erase. This. Weapon.

[Podaar]

Does. Not. Help.

I'll give you a hint, the title of the song is Holy Wars... The Punishment Due

[max_security]

I have come to like Rust In Peace but I didn't at the time. I was a fan of Marty Friedman since the early 80's and Megadeth was far from the music he was previously making with his solo stuff and with Jason Becker.

[King Postwhore]

Does. Not. Help.

I'll give you a hint, the title of the song is Holy Wars... The Punishment Due

You can hit him on the head with a comic book like a dog and he still won't get it Gregg.

[jingle.boy]

Does. Not. Help.

I'll give you a hint, the title of the song is Holy Wars... The Punishment Due

You're only punishing yourself, Gregg.  You know how much of a cultural luddite Tim is.

[Podaar]

 

I'm trying here, Chad. I'm really trying.

[pg1067]

Frank Castle would be pround. 

Who is Frank Castle? 


Seriously. I don't know who that is.

I guess the difference between TAC and me is that I googled it, but had I not done so, the picture wouldn't have helped me either.

[TAC]

I figured someone would be nice enough to just tell me. So no, I didn't google it.


I assume it's some comic book hero.

I mean I watched THIS when I was a kid:

[King Postwhore]

Form of a blank slate.

[TAC]

Shape of water!

[EPICVIEW]

Cheap Trick- In Color

[KevShmev]

Cheap Trick- In Color

 

[max_security]

Mxyzptlk