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JennYBlast From The Past Vol.4 - Part II: Megadeth - Youthanasia Album Review
November 2nd 2008 03:21
This week on Blast From The Past, we'll revisit the early 90s with Ice Cube, Foreigner and Megadeth.
Release date: November 1st, 1994
Genre: Heavy Metal
Length: 49:57
Label: Capitol
Released more than ten years ago, Youthanasia is Megadeth's sixth studio album, and went as high as number 4 in the Billboard 200.
The album starts with Reckoning Day, a solid track instruments-wise. As for the singing, I don't know if it's because I wasn't used to Mustaine's voice or something, I just didn't like the way it felt. track. The apocalyptic drumming at the end was pretty good. For those who know Mustaine's history with Metallica, you can't help but think that the chorus' lyrics refer to his old bandmates as he sings:
“Don't want no revenge
Ain't no payback time
It ain't called getting even
Here comes the reckoning day”
The first single, Train Of Consequences, has another great instrumental, something that I'll repeat a lot throughout this review.
Where I liked the drumming at the end of Reckoning Day, I just about loved Menza's work at the beginning of Addicted To Chaos. Mustaine's singing is intense on this one, it's almost like he's pouring all his energy on the lyrics to make you feel what he's saying. Great track.
A Tout Le Monde is a farewell song with the chorus sung in French. It is much slower than the previous songs. The newer version that's on their United Abominations album is very popular here in Quebec. It gets a lot of airplay time on the music channels over here. School shooter Kimveer Gill apparently listened to this song all the time. I didn't like it the first time I heard it (the recent version), but it's a great song.
Elysian Fields is the strongest song of this album on the lyrics' point of view. Mythology always goes well with metal bands. Why is that?
The Killing Road is a track about the hard life on the road when it comes to touring. The guitar riff on this one is just sick.
The great instrumentals continue with Blood Of Heroes. I interpreted the lyrics to mean that Megadeth is still here, “they never die.” The orchestra at the beginning is a nice touch.
On Family Tree, Mustaine's voice has a darker tone. Understandable since the song is about incest.
“Let me show you how, I love you
It's our secret, you and me
But keep it in the family tree
The secret of the family tree”
Like Addicted To Chaos, the title track – Youthanasia – has pretty good drumming in the beginning. The guitars are great too. It starts slow but the tempo picks up after the third verse. Good lyrics also.
I didn't really like the chorus on I Thought I Knew It All. Every line was repeated as if to create a echo effect. It didn't impress me much. But it's a pretty good song overall.
Black Curtains is a song about death. The guitars shine on this one. As a matter of fact, this album is just great for guitar lovers. Every song has a good riff.
Finally, Youthanasia ends with Victory which has the best guitar solo of the album. The songwriting is pretty smart here as every line contains the title of old Megadeth tracks. There are several ways to interpret this song but I'll take it as that as much as they've been through, they've survived, and they can only get better (“Not even close / to overdose”).
Overall, this is a great album. It isn't on my must-buy list mostly because I found it too slow for my taste. The instrumentals are great, but I didn't really find headbanging stuff. Instrumentals are great, lyrics are great on a couple of songs, pretty basic on others. So, in the end, I give Youthanasia a 4.9/5. There just isn't that 'oomph' factor to make it perfect. You won't be headbanging but you'll definitely play some air guitar after a couple of listens.
[Click here for Part I: Ice Cube - Death Certificate Album Review]
Genre: Heavy Metal
Length: 49:57
Label: Capitol
Released more than ten years ago, Youthanasia is Megadeth's sixth studio album, and went as high as number 4 in the Billboard 200.
The album starts with Reckoning Day, a solid track instruments-wise. As for the singing, I don't know if it's because I wasn't used to Mustaine's voice or something, I just didn't like the way it felt. track. The apocalyptic drumming at the end was pretty good. For those who know Mustaine's history with Metallica, you can't help but think that the chorus' lyrics refer to his old bandmates as he sings:
“Don't want no revenge
Ain't no payback time
It ain't called getting even
Here comes the reckoning day”
Reckoning Day Video
The first single, Train Of Consequences, has another great instrumental, something that I'll repeat a lot throughout this review.
Train Of Consequences Video
Where I liked the drumming at the end of Reckoning Day, I just about loved Menza's work at the beginning of Addicted To Chaos. Mustaine's singing is intense on this one, it's almost like he's pouring all his energy on the lyrics to make you feel what he's saying. Great track.
A Tout Le Monde is a farewell song with the chorus sung in French. It is much slower than the previous songs. The newer version that's on their United Abominations album is very popular here in Quebec. It gets a lot of airplay time on the music channels over here. School shooter Kimveer Gill apparently listened to this song all the time. I didn't like it the first time I heard it (the recent version), but it's a great song.
A Tout Le Monde Video
Elysian Fields is the strongest song of this album on the lyrics' point of view. Mythology always goes well with metal bands. Why is that?
The Killing Road is a track about the hard life on the road when it comes to touring. The guitar riff on this one is just sick.
The great instrumentals continue with Blood Of Heroes. I interpreted the lyrics to mean that Megadeth is still here, “they never die.” The orchestra at the beginning is a nice touch.
On Family Tree, Mustaine's voice has a darker tone. Understandable since the song is about incest.
“Let me show you how, I love you
It's our secret, you and me
But keep it in the family tree
The secret of the family tree”
Like Addicted To Chaos, the title track – Youthanasia – has pretty good drumming in the beginning. The guitars are great too. It starts slow but the tempo picks up after the third verse. Good lyrics also.
I didn't really like the chorus on I Thought I Knew It All. Every line was repeated as if to create a echo effect. It didn't impress me much. But it's a pretty good song overall.
Black Curtains is a song about death. The guitars shine on this one. As a matter of fact, this album is just great for guitar lovers. Every song has a good riff.
Finally, Youthanasia ends with Victory which has the best guitar solo of the album. The songwriting is pretty smart here as every line contains the title of old Megadeth tracks. There are several ways to interpret this song but I'll take it as that as much as they've been through, they've survived, and they can only get better (“Not even close / to overdose”).
Overall, this is a great album. It isn't on my must-buy list mostly because I found it too slow for my taste. The instrumentals are great, but I didn't really find headbanging stuff. Instrumentals are great, lyrics are great on a couple of songs, pretty basic on others. So, in the end, I give Youthanasia a 4.9/5. There just isn't that 'oomph' factor to make it perfect. You won't be headbanging but you'll definitely play some air guitar after a couple of listens.
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