Megadeth's Best And Most Atmospheric Album.

Review Score:

(10/10)
Ever notice how a lot of metal fans tend to judge music solely by how accessable it is rather than how good it is? This is what happened when Megadeth released Youthanasia back in 1994. While the album met with strong reviews and very strong sales overall, some fans were unnecessarely disappointed when they found out how soft and moody it was compared to earlier releases.

But if you listen to Youthanasia side-by-side with Countdown To Extinction, you'll notice Youth really isn't much softer nor more "pop-like." In fact, Youthanasia (in a lot of ways) has a decidely less commercial sound than Countdown. Probably because the guitars on Youth are decidedly heavier (remember how unusually plain they sometimes sounded on Countdown), and the mood quite a bit darker (don't expect all the sarcastic jokes and humor of Countdown here, ladies and gentlemen).

And it isn't as if Megadeth was trying to cash in on what was popular back in late 1994. This album doesn't sound grungey nor alternative. Rather, it seems stuck somewhere between a heavy rock album and a heavy metal album. True, it does have the occasionally pop-like beats of a rock album, but a lot of solos are just as grinding as you would expect from a metal album, riffs just as heavy, and song themes just as disturbing. Disturbing enough that MTV actually refused to play the video for A Tout Le Monde because of what the song was dealing with (suicide). How's that for a sell out?

As for the actual songs, I can't really think of any that I didn't like. Train of Consequences is definitely the album's highlight with its excellent drumming, catchy riff, and great solo. Addicted to Chaos has one of the most beautiful solos Megadeth has ever done, and one of the most powerful choruses they'd ever done. Elysian Fields has a catchy (almost hammer-like) beat, and Family Tree is among the darkest and most disturbing songs Megadeth has ever written (no, it's not a love song as its chorus may suggest, but actually a song about incest).

In brief, Youthanasia is a great album. Especially if you liked the previous Countdown To Extinction. After all, there's really no major difference in accesability between the two albums.

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