MD.45 ‎– The Craving

MD.45 is a little curiosity in the Dave Mustaine history, a rip-roaring punk-metal adventure, which was little publicised. Just to clarify, this is the re-mastered version I have, with Dave on vocals. Maybe one day, I'll compare the two version of this album, but for now, it's all Dave.

First thing that strikes me is that this is far more fun than most of Megadeth's output. The songs are more upbeat and to the point than Dave's day job, less technical and more in-your-face. That said, it still sounds like Megadeth a BIT. "The Day The Music Died" could have come straight off Cryptic Writings, and the bridge reminds me a bit of a modern-day Megadeth song, something off of The System Has Failed, and I believe that, if this was released as a Megadeth single, it would've done very well, better than Trust probably.

"Fight Hate" starts with Take No Prisoners-style call and reply shouty vocals, and sounds like Mustaine's covering a Motorhead song. I also especially love the sitar midsection, akin to Holy Wars, and the more harsh "UGH"s Mustaine unleashes on this song, but the "Something's different" refrain grates a bit. But ironically, this song has some of the most megadeth-y lyrics, especially nowadays Megadeth, but the lyrics weren't written by Mustaine, they were written by Lee Ving.

After this, it all descends into mediocrity, Designer Behaviour has a baffling chorus which is annoying, while The Creed is not bad, but it starts out very boring and can't really pick up. It reminds me of something off of Youthanasia or Countdown, 2 of Megadeth's weakest records, but overall it's not bad. The rest of this album is all a bit non-descript, but good nonetheless. There's nothing remotely bad about these songs, but by now, the novelty of Mustaine playing this sort of stuff has worn off, and you may tend to get a bit sick of it. "No Pain" is the highlight of the second half of this album definitely, but even this still sounds the same to the rest of this stuff, just better executed. It's a nice, fast thrashy headbanger of a song and I really like it.

The bonus tracks are of absolutely no use to anyone. Chutney is unbelievably boring, it basically consists of Dave going "From my mother I am torn" over and over again and, although we're warned not to take Segue seriously, it's still pretty pointless, basically consisting of 3 little snippets or jams that Mustaine felt should've been on the album. That said, I would rather have these than the pointless live tracks or remixes which furnished the other re-masters. The third song, a version of The Creed, played by the Countdown-era line-up of Megadeth is fairly interesting. It is a different beast from the MD. 45 version, and is interesting to see, and is a nice inclusion on the disc, but it's still pretty boring.

In conclusion, this is a good album, if a bit samey. After a while, you might get bored but there is nothing bad about this record. Although a departure for Dave, it still has hints of Megadeth about it, and various songs are referenced. This is a good album to put on when your having a party or are getting drunk with friends. It's good old-fashioned headbanging music, and serves it's best purpose as background music, but not something to be held under close scrutiny. As a Megadeth album, it isn't essential, but can hold it's ground against most of the other albums. This should be near the bottom of your shopping list, but you should definitely buy it if you find a copy, because it still is a good listen.

Megadeth ‎– Risk

"This is Megadeth's St Anger!" or "This is when Megadeth sold out!" are two very common phrases that are stuck to this album. Is it as bad as everyone says? Is it truly the weakest point in Megadeth's career?

Of course it is. Compared to giants like Killing Is My Business or Rust in Peace, this album is a pile of pure shit. If you only like that type of music and refuse to expand on your variety, then yes, you'll despise this album. You'll hate the mellowness, you'll hate the softness, you'll hate the stadium rock, alternative, electronic, and basically any aspect that isn't thrash that "plagues" this album.

If you aren't stuck in the mentality that anything besides heavy metal is pure garbage, then you'd be surprised that this excellent rock album comes from one of the Big 4 of thrash metal.

The only really shitty song is Insomnia, that song is ridden with garbage vocals. Sure, Mustaine may not be Halford or anyone of that level per se, but jeepers fucking creepers. He sounds absolutely terrible here. He sounds like someone taking a strap on in the ass while having a choke hold performed on him.

So, what else is shitty about this album? It's a major downgrade. Oh, and I mean MAJOR. Just a few years before, they brought us the classic Youthanasia, couple years before that was Countdown to Extinction, then the thrash masterpiece Rust in Peace a couple years before that. I mean, it wasn't Rust in Peace to Risk in a year, you saw the progression happen over the course of nine years. However, from having nothing but songs and albums that hit the mark to having this? It was a major disappointment.

Even though it was a major disappointment, it is something very new and refreshing. There comes a point (for me at least) where hearing seventy renditions of Holy Wars... The Punishment Due becomes just totally dull and you crave something new. This album hits the spot for that occasion.

However, if you take away the frustration and the betrayal of them releasing this album, it still is fucking good. The positives? This has some INCREDIBLY strong songs. Wanderlust has a country feel to it, but it's probably the best song in the style of country I've ever heard. Crush Em is the shit, good stadium rock to get you pumped. Excellent sports arena anthem. Breadline is also a great song, I mean this album is just filled with really good songs. They're definitely strong releases under the Megadeth name. I mean, I'd listen to Wanderlust a hundred times opposed to the filler on Killing is my Business... And Business is Good! (looking at you Chosen Ones, you asshole) once.

Obvious by the previous paragraph, the album is really a total mixed bag. Everything from electronic and country to stadium rock, as well as everything in between. Of the twelve songs, only one of them is truly offensive to the ears. Open minded or not, Insomnia is pretty much worthless. The rest? Excellent for the most part.

Rumor even has it that Dave Mustaine hates this album. Untrue, he still regards it as a strong release, but just very unexpected for fans to hear. Unexpected it was, but satisfying it is.