Megadeth

Rust In Peace

The album that influenced Metallica's 'Black Album'

Review Score:

(10/10)
Even though Megadeth and Metallica were practically competitors of the metal genre and constantly trying to outdo each other, this album changed metal for the fact that it was so brutal that it influenced Metallica to create a softer approach to metal music (result:'The Black Album'). Although it practically predicted the downfall the genre, 'Rust In Peace' remains the last great metal album. Thanks to the guitar virtuoso talent of both Dave Mustaine and ex-Cacophony guitarist Marty Friedman, the album not only rocks hard as hell, the guitar solos are rapid fire speed and tend to only get faster as the disc proceeds. David Ellefson's bass lines are catchy, but often repetetive. Nick Menza's thrashing and lightning-fast drumming sure beats the hell out of Megadeth's previous drum-machine-sounding skin-pounder, Gar Samuelson. The one thing you have to get used to is Dave Mustaine's squeaky voice that sounds like he just got neutered. I must admit that I often wonder if I bump their music full blast in my car, would it be Megadeth's raw power that breaks my windshield...or Dave Mustaine's shrill vocals? All the tracks are great, but the highlights are: "Holy Wars...The Punishment Due", "Hangar 18", "Take No Prisoners", "Lucretia", and "Rust In Peace...Polaris". If I could change one thing about this album, I would put a blues cover on it like they did for 'Peace Sells...But Who's Buying?' (Willie Dixon's "I Ain't Superstitious"). Why not cover, saaaaaaay.......Muddy Water's "Mannish Boy"?

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