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Megadeth: United abominations
04/02/11 || revenant
A short history of Megadeth in the lead up to this album goes like this: Megadave injures arm and incompetent doctors say “no more guitar playing for you”, so Megadeth splits up. Despite the incompetent doctor diagnosis, Megadave does play again, perhaps a reward from god for becoming a religious douchebag. So Dave writes a few songs, records it as a solo album with a bunch of house musicians. Despite the intention to release it as a solo project, the record label stepped in with the lawyers and a contract stating Megadave owes them one more Megadeth album. Thus Megadeth’s tenth album, “The System has Failed”, is born. Megadave then finds himself a new band (excluding his best mate, naturally) and Megadeth is reborn, with the first album after rebirth being “United Abominations”.
Phew, quite a tumultuous story, but when has Megadeth not been tumultuous?
The first thing noticeable about this album, before you even put the CD into your stereo, is the change in imagery. The logo has changed, Vic has grown skin and the artwork and presentation as a whole is quite a departure from what Megadeth released historically. It’s a clear message: this is a new Megadeth. A new Megadeth with ugly artwork and shitty songs. BAM! Now you know the direction I’m taking this review, despite Megadeth being one of my favourite bands. My motto for this review? Take no prisoners, take no shit.
Admittedly the album does start strongly. “Sleepwalker” was the perfect choice of opener: fast and aggressive with definite echoes of their masterpiece album “Rust in Peace”. The chorus is a little shitty with Dave’s singing, but still this is a great opener. “Washington is Next” is next and is a great follow up. A little more technical and less thrashy, I find this song is one that though great to listen to on the record, fails live. It’s a great song, but just not the adrenaline pumping mosh maker that you expect at a Megadeth concert.
After the first two tracks, the quality falls away dramatically. “Never walk alone…etc” is a half paced rocker, that doesn’t contain one iota of catchiness. “United Abominations” is a slight improvement, and probably in the better half of the songs you find here, but certainly not a great song by any means. “Gears of War” is a decent mid paced track, but after that you start descending into the abyss.
“À Tout le Monde” makes a surprise return at track eight. What the fuck for? I already have this song on “Youthanasia” so why the fuck do I need a new version with a chick (Cristina Scabbia of Lacuna Coil) on vocals? Answer: I don’t. OK, so this version has a better singer than Dave on it, but she’s mostly doing the backing vocals and besides all of that, the original still sounds better. This was an unnecessary inclusion and one that should have been kept as a B side to a single.
Of the last six songs on the album, there is really only one moment of note: the closing solos on “Burnt Ice”. If anyone was in doubt that Dave can still play to the same level, listen to this and have your doubts smashed like a glass at a Jewish wedding. Mazel tov! The second half is this album is completely forgettable and plagued with poor song writing. If there were only one or two of these tracks, you could easily palm them off as filler. But as they take up the majority of the album, it’s not so much filler but a poor album.
I would argue, and I think there is a definite case for it, that this would rank as Megadeth’s worst album. Sure, many people would quickly point to “Risk”, but I still found “Risk” to have some catchy tunes on it. Here Megadeth intended to make a statement, this is the new Megadeth and we’re here to destroy! Sadly, the only way this Megadeth will destroy is with tedium. Two great tracks, one decent track, a crappy version of an old classic and a bunch of filler is what you get with “United Abominations”. This one is only for fans who insist on having the complete discography.
- Information
- Released: 2007
- Label: Roadrunner (beep beep)
- Website: www.megadeth.com
- Band
- Dave Mustaine: vocals, guitars
- Glenn Drover: guitars
- James Lomenzo: bass
- Shawn Drover: drums
- Tracklist
- 01. Sleepwalker
- 02. Washington Is Next!
- 03. Never Walk Alone… A Call to Arms
- 04. United Abominations
- 05. Gears of War
- 06. Blessed Are the Dead
- 07. Play for Blood
- 08. À Tout le Monde
- 09. Amerikhastan
- 10. You’re Dead
- 11. Burnt Ice
