Megadeth

Youthanasia

Even better than Countdown to Extinction

Review Score:

(10/10)
Youthanasia is what got me into metal to begin with. At the time, I had believed it was the best CD I had ever purchased, but after buying the legendary Rust in Peace it was placed to a mere second. Hah. I've been a hardcore Megadeth fan ever since. I can't understand why any loyal worshipping fan would even remotely dislike this CD. It is, after all, the album that brought Megadeth so many fans in to begin with.

Anyway, compared to their previous album, Countdown to Extinction, I think Youthanasia beats the snot out of it. The lyrics are a LOT less crass and meaningless, and Dave's voice often comes to a point where it sounds good--sometimes even excellent. At certain points he almost sounds like Axl Rose (no kidding!). And not to mention the incredible guitar playing and countless solos woven throughout. Watch out for the killer tracks "Reckoning Day" (the really cool riffs sound like approaching thunder in the background), "Addicted to Chaos" (drummer Nick Menza is still the man and its too bad he left), and especially the almighty "Train of Consequences", a song which till this very day remains my personal favorite 'Deth song. "Victory" will also get your blood boiling and features an incredible fast-paced solo towards the end of the song. Overall, the songs are not "heavy" in particular but rather "loud". It seems like most of the riffs were purposely amplified, but that is not necessarily a bad thing at all. In my perspective, the CD is much more heavier than Countdown anyway.

I would not recommend this CD to the hardcore metalhead thrash junkie fans of Megadeth's much crasser (and more nasal) past. It seems this CD came as a turning point in Megadeth's career. Here their lyrics and songwriting became a little more focused, a little sharper, and yes, a tad bit lighter, but a lot more refined.

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