{"id":27827,"date":"2026-01-23T20:58:10","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T20:58:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/?p=27827"},"modified":"2026-01-23T20:59:23","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T20:59:23","slug":"megadeth-megadeth-blkiiblk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/?p=27827","title":{"rendered":"Megadeth – ‘Megadeth’ (BLKIIBLK)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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We all know the Metallica story\u2026 I\u2019m not going to talk about that, well, maybe later. Megadeth has been a constant in the heavy metal story since back in 1983, when Dave Mustaine swore that he would put together a band faster and heavier than that other band that I said I wasn’t going to talk about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, there have been many lineup changes and some history-making music. The one constant is, of course, \u201cMegaDave\u201d himself. The controversial guitarist\/vocalist\/lead songwriter has made sure that every single heavy metal fan in the world owns at least one Megadeth album in their collection. This has been achieved by hard work, phenomenal talent and of course, Dave\u2019s unwillingness to fail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My first run-in with Megadeth was courtesy of a Kerrang! Compilation VHS with the video to the song Peace Sells.<\/em> I loved it and got a friend to copy the album onto a C90 cassette for me. The power, the musicianship, and the snarl all made sure this teenage thrasher was hooked (in mouth?) Of course, the \u201cclassic\u201d lineup of Megadeth came a few years later with the 1990 Rust In Peace<\/em> album. This is when the world really saw Mustaine\u2019s vision in full. I saw the band live for the first time on this tour with a little-known band called Alice in Chains opening. The fury of their live shows became legendary; they never disappoint in a live setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Megadeth became global superstars after the success of the 1992 release ‘Countdown to Extinction’, <\/em>but this was the start of the band’s decline. Some ill-fated direction changes on the 1999 album Risk and the collapse of the \u201cclassic\u201d line-up before that saw Megadeth\u2019s popularity dip. This isn’t to say that the band weren’t out there making new records or playing live, they just never got another Countdown <\/em>moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This latest LP, simply titled ‘Megadeth’, is set to be their last ever album. Mustaine has had health struggles over the last few years and has decided to hang up his guitar for good. 2022\u2019s ‘The Sick, the Dying\u2026and the Dead’ was a great album, and this follows on in a similar vein. Latest guitar wizard Teemu Mantysaari has a strong presence with songwriting credits on nine of the ten tracks. Drummer Dirk Verbeuren feels like he\u2019s been around forever, and his contribution is a noticeable one. Bass player James LoMenzo still feels like a hired gu,n though, he plays a blinder here, as you’d expect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The album opens strongly with the lead single ‘Tipping Point’. Virtuoso guitar work, machine gun double kick drums and Mustaine\u2019s trademark love it or hate vocal style are all over the song. A brilliant opener. The production is great, too, from Mustaine and Chris Rakestraw. ‘I Don’t Care’ is a bit more throwaway, although some fun lyrics rescue the track. ‘Hey God?!’ Is a mid-paced chugger, which is a real grower. ‘Let There Be Shred’ does what it says on the tin, a real showcase of Mustaine and Mantysaari\u2019s incredible prowess. Puppet Parade reminds me of the Youthanasia era. Another strong track. Another Bad Day chugs along nicely with lyrics that all of us can relate to. ‘Made to Kill’ kicks off with a superb drum intro before we are off into very familiar Megadeth territory, stabbing riffs, answering kick drums, and guitar solos aplenty make this one of the strongest tracks on the album. ‘Obey the Call’ has a great crunching riff. Mustaine\u2019s vocals are more melodic here, another solid tune. ‘I Am War’ has a nice sing-along chorus which sticks in your head almost instantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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