The pioneers of thrash metal are back with the album fans have been patiently waiting for. Endgame is Megadeth at their best; full of epic shredding solos, dominant bass-lines and precise ear-pounding drumming. It also sees the debut of new guitarist Chris Broderick, making a match made in metal heaven with Dave Mustaine’s vigorously rousing riffs.
When Mustaine was sacked from Metallica back in 1983, after being the lead guitarist for two years, he said: "After getting fired from Metallica, all I remember is that I wanted blood. Theirs. I wanted to be faster and heavier than them".
With 11 released albums, 6 Platinum albums, and 7 Grammys for Best Metal Band, Megadeth dragged the bull by its horns through Metallica’s dirt and proved that Mustaine could get by just fine without Lars and Co.
Endgame is Megadeths 12th release and still manages to sound as fresh and inspiring as the gems they released in the 90s.
The album’s proficient introduction Dialetic Chaos is an epic instrumental that shows the skilled partnership of Broderick and Mustaine that was only ever seen with former guitarist David Ellefson who left the band in 2002. The track launches straight into This Day We Fight! with aggression and speed that gives Iron Maiden a run for their money with Mustaine’s infamous growling vocals.
The next track 44 minutes starts with a cop radio reporting a crime scene with riffs and drums pounding the airwaves with the most melodic chorus on the album.
1,320 and Bite The Hand show how metal solos should be done; hard, fast and powerful while Bodies is a bit subtler with its aggression, but it is Endgame’s most tempo-changing song. Endgame starts by shouting “Attention! Attention! All citizens report to your district detention centres! Do not return to your homes!” and is one of the darker songs sonically and lyrically.
The hardest part of letting go slows the pace right down with its acoustic guitar and strings showing us the soppier side of metal but fear not as the next track Head crusher slaps you in the face and is classic Megadeth.
How the story ends has is another melodic gem with hammering double-bass drums that leads into the last track of the album The Right To Go Insane with its booming bass-line.
Metal Hammer has already called it the album of the year and the best work from Megadeth since United Abominations in 2007. So if you want some thrash in your life, look no further than the band that taught the world how it’s done.
