Megadeth fans, rate their entire catalog here in this thread

[jnurp]

Ive been on a HUGE Megadeth kick lately. Its funny I pretty much threw them to the side for many years now all of a sudden its almost as if Im rediscovering the music, playing a lot of it for my 14 year old daughter showing her what her dad was into when he was 14. It had me thinking about their entire catalog and how I would rate each album.

here is my take, Im very interested in reading yours as well!

Peace Sells- it has to be #1, so many great riffs and Dave is fucking pissed off as hell probably still at Lars for kicking him out of Metallica. It has young angst with SICK riffs and great lyrics. I always come back to this album more than RIP, but its damn close.
Rust In Peace- an absolute masterpiece of guitar playing and riffage. i prefer the actual songs from Peace sell more however the musicianship and riffage is untouchable imo. Just great songs and great playing. Really love this album as well.
Countdown to Extinction- Great songs, a bit commercial sounding considering the previous material but it wasnt like Load commercial, they are still great thrash songs.
United Abominations I know this is a HUGELY unpopular placement but I really love this album. it has GREAT riffs and I truly feel that maves vox are super well done. The album is really solid I wish people would give it more of a chance it really grows on you.
So Far So Good So What- not anyones favorite maybe save for Jeff Young but an underrated album in their catalog imo. I love the songs and In my Darkest Hour has to be one of my favorite songs of all time.
Dystopia Hes back. Great songs and great riffs. Man this guy is creating such great metal at 54 years old. Its bananas.
Youthanasia some standout vintage Mave material in here.
The System Has Failed some solid material at times. A bit spotty but well done.
Cryptic Writings I love Trust I think its catchy as hell.
Thriteen Meh
Super Collider Meh
The World Needs a Hero Meh
Endgame hoenstly this album is a pile of shit

the last 4 could be interchanged at any point but I honestly feel that endgame is one of the worst albums ever. Just terribly uninspired music. Broderick really sucked the creative life out of that band.

[benjamin801]

Peace Sells - Definitely their best album IMO. Musically, it has my favorite Megadeth lead guitarist and drummer, showcased in breathtaking fashion. Lyrically, the ratio of good Mave (angry, intelligent, emotional) to bad Mave (attempted catchphrases/slogans, cheesy occult lyrics) is better than on most Megadeth albums.
Cryptic Writings - I know I am supposed to hate this album, but I actually really like it. Turns out that Dave Mustaine is actually pretty good at writing midtempo hard rock songs about interpersonal relationships, and I'd rather hear those than mediocre speed metal songs about politics. Also the production is soooooooo fucking good on this. Headphones album for sure.
Rust In Peace - This was my favorite Megadeth album for years. Then I realized I didn't find technical wizardry very interesting, and was more about songs. So now this album, for me, is basically Holy Wars/The Punishment Due, Lucretia, and 200bpm triplets created by me hitting the "skip track" button.
The System Has Failed - Best guitar tones this band ever had IMO. Not all the songs are good but the good ones are great. "Back in the Day" hits me hard because I'm just a sucker for first-person reminiscences from underground scene veterans (q.v. NOFX, "13 Stitches" and "The Desperation's Gone). Poland being back, however briefly was great too. Also, I wonder if Vinnie Colaiuta even remembers the weekend that he became the second greatest drummer in one of the greatest thrash bands of all time.

<gulf>

Countdown to Extinction and Youthanasia - it's easy to follow the stylistic shift from RiP, through these two, to CW. These are both really good albums, but I just don't like them as much. Maybe I've burned out on them.
Killing is My Business...And Apparently jnurp Hates Me! - The remix/remaster of this did wonders for it. The riffs and guitar work on this are just insane, the work of a young, angry guy with tons of talent and ideas.

<gulf>

Down here in the cesspool reside all the other albums. Many of them I couldn't get through even once. Just bad, bad ideas and bad songs: "Return to Hangar," "Crush 'Em," "Breadline," the poop goes on and on. Actually, So Far, So Good...So What! would be in the section above if not for the embarrassing Sex Pistols cover. I feel as though the songwriting has been getting a little stronger on the last couple albums, but Dave's voice is just unlistenable to me now.

[andvari7]

First off, by not acknowledging Risk, you forfeit any sort of credibility. Second:

1. Rust In Peace - The original, not remastered, version is the first Megadeth album I picked up, and it is my favorite. It represents what an irritated Dave Mustaine can do, when he's sober. The producer, Mike Clink, wasn't a total flake, and Marty and Nick (RIP) were on point. Junior wasn't the best bassist at the time, but he wasn't completely hopeless.

2. Peace Sells - It isn't as raw as the first album, but it was as good as Puppets, and that's high praise, coming from someone who says that the best album of those big Big 4 albums was Among the Living.

3. Countdown - It's a bit catchy, but it was a far cry better than a lot of albums from 1992. Those were creative times, and this album couldn't be made in 2016.

4. Killing Is My Business - "After getting fired from Metallica, all I remember is that I wanted blood. Theirs." - Dave Mustaine. The production let it down, but the album had more anger, more fire, than any other thrash album before, or possibly since, it.

5. Dystopia - Dave Mustaine works best when he isn't happy: his mother-in-law died during the recording of this album, the world became a less tolerable place to live, and everybody rightly hated Super Collider. Kiko made a great album better, and Dave will have a hard time finding Chris Adler's replacement, when Lamb of God goes full throttle again. Maybe Lombardo is up to it.

6. Endgame - LoMenzo was starting to click, but Chris Broderick didn't make things interesting. Decent songs, decent production, etc.

7. So Far, So Good...So What! - Iffy production, some weak songs, and a pathetic Sex Pistols cover. In My Darkest Hour was, however, Megadeth's Fade To Black, in every good way.

8. United Abominations - Back to form, or, at least, an attempt. I like this one, too, but the Ellefson lawsuit didn't really help with credibility.

9. Youthanasia - I actually like this one, but it was a bit too commercial for what I believe a Megadeth album should be. If they never play A Tout Le Monde again, it will be too often.

10. The System Has Failed - Great solo Dave album, okay Mega album. Dave agrees with this, but the label did not.

11. Cryptic Writings - The magic was going away, and it showed. It could have been a lot worse, and it was.

12. The World Needs A Hero - The album to wash away the filth of Risk didn't scrub hard enough. No wonder Megadeth broke up after its release.

13. Thir13en - Junior may have returned, but that doesn't mean that the album had the same, well, anything.

14. Risk - Never write an album, because Lars dares you to.

15. Super Collider - I have to explain this one: Risk was new and fresh, as far as bad ideas go. Super Collider had Risk as a model, and just ran with it.

[Gunslinger]

Rust in peace
Countdown
Youthanasia
Peace sells
Killing is my business
So far so good so what
The system has failed
Cryptic writings
United abominations

The rest I don't really care about. I really dislike everything past United abominations though

[Tortuga]

First off, the only remastered / Davefukked album that should be allowed in this poll is KIMB. Fuck the rest - especially what he did to In My Darkest Hour

The correct order is:
Peace Sells (less Stupidsticious, thank you ) - Everything else on this album helped fuking rule the 80s.
Killing is my Business (less boots, thank you ) - remastered ONLY - This has been HUGE on my own recent Megadeth kicks - the original vinyl copy was so bad it took me 20 years before I'd even listen to this, and then I found out how STELLAR tracks like Last Rites/Loved to Deth, Looking Down the Cross, Skull Beneath, and the title track were. No Fucking Around on this one, except for the stupid as shit Boots and Mechanix (I can't handle that after the Metallica version has been so big a part of my life)
Rust in Peace - HOLEY SHIT! 5 Magics, Tornado, Holy Wars, Hangar, and the rest. Seriously great.
Countdown - For many years, I thought Dave & co's guitar tones were shit. This one turned me around, got me off the Hetfield skoop as shite. Symphony is a brilliant masterpiece. Architecture, too. Love this one.
Cryptic Writings - Like the overall vibe. Great songs on this one.
Youthanasia - For me, not as many great songs as Cryptic. But a good album, nonetheless.
Hidden Treasures - 99 ways to Die, Angry Again, and Go to Hell
MD.45 - not technically a Megadeth album, especially since I like the Lee Ving version better. But it's my response and it's fucking correct
So Far, So Bad, So Die - just kidding, but this one slid big time after I got a bit older. I do like Hook in Mouth a lot, though. Liar, too.
(...a bunch of other albums)
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Risk

[EndTime]

Rust in Peace
Peace Sells
Killing is my Business
So far so good
Dystopia
Countdown

I will say Dystopia is very good, but the first 4 are just a little more a part of my early DNA. I think it's a stronger album than so far so good so what. But ...
.I haven't heard any other Megadeth album in its entirety besides these 6. Maybe I heard Youthanasia, but can't remember

[Maddnotez]

I am probably not qualified enough to post here but I may need to go back to rediscover them as well.

I would have to say Peace Sells #1 for sure because that is the only one I really jammed out hard to and after they went on the sort of commercial thing I was on the Metallica train for a bit.

Then I started listening to death metal, thought I was cool and said both Metallica and Megadeth suck now.

Dave can surely Rip the guitar. Even though he may be weird and have problems I think he seems like a pretty awesome guy. I don't really twit much but I do have a twitter I made to follow a game and I currently follow Dave and Ice-T on there.

Will be listening to some Megadeth today at work \m/

[Anomaly]

I'll rate the ones I've listened a fair bit to, which is most of them:

Killing Is My Business: Good debut, but suffers quite a bit from poor production. 7 out of 10

Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?: My all time fav Megadeth album. Just a great pissed off sounding album that has some of the catchiest and heaviest riffs ever. "The Conjuring" is a damn masterpiece of a song and my fav Megadeth song, just one great riff after another and some great lyrics as well. The whole album kicks ass though, and the production is very solid for the time. 10/10

So far So Good... So What: Has some great standout tracks, like "Hook In Mouth", "Set The World Afire" and 'In My Darkest Hour" but also has a few weak tracks including the Sex Pistols cover, anarchy in the UK, 502, Liar.... The production is drenched in reverb on the original which hurts the mix. Jeff Young ain't got nothing on Chris Poland as a guitarist. 8/10

Rust In Peace: Very solid album, a real speed metal masterpiece. I love it almost as much as Peace Sells, but I feel it doesn't quite have the soul. It's a very stiff, precise sounding album, which some might like, but I liked the punk attitude of Peace Sells more. Still gets rated up there with PSBWB 10/10

Countdown: Good album. more medlodic songwriting. Kinda like Megadeth's black album. I think this was my introduction to the band. Marty's guitar playing is pretty awesome here. 9/10

Youthanasia: Going further down the melodic direction. Some good songs, some bad. 7.5/10

Cryptic Writings: One of the first albums I heard from Megadeth, i really loved it when it was released. I think of it as a great pop metal album 8/10

Risk: Terrible. 5/10

The World Needs a Hero: terrible as well: 5/10

The System Has failed: good album from Dave, but not much to say about it. Love "The Scorpion" 7.5/10

...The Drover and Broderick era was just a blur of shit to me, didn't care for any of it.

Dystopia: A great comeback album from Dave. I wasn't expecting an album this good from Dave at this point in his career, but he has surprised me. Alot of great tracks on this album. 8/10


I didn't put them in best to worst order, i just gave them all a 1 to 10 rating instead.

[JiveTurkey]

Anything with Poland; godly. Even the System Has Failed is excellent in a more melodic-Megadeth sort of way. Friedman is a close second but heavily tarnished by some of Cryptic Writings and all of Risk. Al Pitrelli, Drover and Broderick=Megadeth's garbage eras. Kiko era has started off amazing and I am very excited to see what happens next.

[Ostinato Rubato]

1. Kill'em All
2. Rust in Peace
3. Peace Sells
4. Countdown

etc

[Tortuga]

Kill em what?

[Ostinato Rubato]

[Tortuga]

Yeah, I see what you did there. I just disagree out of principal. Megadeth is a totally different band than Metallica.

[Ostinato Rubato]

Well what I'm really saying is Kill'em All was Metallica's best album, cause Mave was writing on it.

For me it's between Peace Sells and Rust in Peace for #1.

[JiveTurkey]

Well what I'm really saying is Kill'em All was Metallica's best album, cause Mave was writing on it.

For me it's between Peace Sells and Rust in Peace for #1.

I assume you haven't heard MoP then

[Tortuga]

Well what I'm really saying is Kill'em All was Metallica's best album, cause Mave was writing on it.

For me it's between Peace Sells and Rust in Peace for #1.

I assume you haven't heard MoP then

Yeah, just who are you, anyway?

[Anomaly]

Anything with Poland; godly. Even the System Has Failed is excellent in a more melodic-Megadeth sort of way. Friedman is a close second but heavily tarnished by some of Cryptic Writings and all of Risk. Al Pitrelli, Drover and Broderick=Megadeth's garbage eras. Kiko era has started off amazing and I am very excited to see what happens next.

Chris Poland's guitar playing is the best part of "The System Has Failed".

[jnurp]

im LOVING Dystopia lately. His vox have gotten so good and well done in the studio now. I dont know if its because his larynx has aged well or that he stopped smoking or he stopped acting like a douchebag but he sounds amazing now. The title track is so catchy and well done. Its just fantastic to see guys in their 50's, old enough to be grand dads producing such classic metal like this. This Kiko guy is the best thing to happen to Mave since marty. Hes unreal, never overplays and enhances every single track with taste.

[benjamin801]

OK FINE I WILL LISTEN TO DYSTOPIA.

[VTM]

I lost interest in Megadeth after Countdown to Extinction, but that MD.45 album has always stuck with me as it's probably the worst thing I have ever heard. Phony, bland, and sterile as fuck with lol lyrics like: "Do you remember I love Lucy" and "I was going to a party to meet some of my friends".



Anyway, my mini list:
Countdown to Extinction
Peace Sells
Rust In Peace

[Mamberg Jr]

First off, the only remastered / Davefukked album that should be allowed in this poll is KIMB. Fuck the rest - especially what he did to In My Darkest Hour

The correct order is:
Peace Sells (less Stupidsticious, thank you ) - Everything else on this album helped fuking rule the 80s.
Killing is my Business (less boots, thank you ) - remastered ONLY - This has been HUGE on my own recent Megadeth kicks - the original vinyl copy was so bad it took me 20 years before I'd even listen to this, and then I found out how STELLAR tracks like Last Rites/Loved to Deth, Looking Down the Cross, Skull Beneath, and the title track were. No Fucking Around on this one, except for the stupid as shit Boots and Mechanix (I can't handle that after the Metallica version has been so big a part of my life)
Rust in Peace - HOLEY SHIT! 5 Magics, Tornado, Holy Wars, Hangar, and the rest. Seriously great.
Countdown - For many years, I thought Dave & co's guitar tones were shit. This one turned me around, got me off the Hetfield skoop as shite. Symphony is a brilliant masterpiece. Architecture, too. Love this one.
Cryptic Writings - Like the overall vibe. Great songs on this one.
Youthanasia - For me, not as many great songs as Cryptic. But a good album, nonetheless.
Hidden Treasures - 99 ways to Die, Angry Again, and Go to Hell
MD.45 - not technically a Megadeth album, especially since I like the Lee Ving version better. But it's my response and it's fucking correct
So Far, So Bad, So Die - just kidding, but this one slid big time after I got a bit older. I do like Hook in Mouth a lot, though. Liar, too.
(...a bunch of other albums)
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Risk

First off, bump.
Second, Mechanix is great dude I don't know what your talking about.

[The Hiryuu]

This was tough. From 4 on down and before the last three I rearranged a bunch of times. I'm surprised I missed this thread the first time around, considering how much of a fanboy I am/was.

Rust In Peace - Bast megadeaths evar
Peace Sells - Super cool, Chris and Gar do a lot of really interesting things.
Countdown to Extinction - Megadeth's Black Album in more ways than one.
Youthanasia - Does commercial slightly worse than Countdown, but still solid AF. Including Crown of Worms on this would've put it over Countdown for me.
Hidden Treasures - A B-sides album that makes you question why most of the songs were B-sides.
Killing Is My Business - I know most of the budget for this went to cocaine, but I honestly don't know if that's a bad thing. Sure, it sounds like it was recorded in a basement, but there's a ferocity to it they never quite reached again (They came very close with MUCH cleaner [pun unintended] performances and production later, so it definitely balanced out)
So Far So Good So What - Solid B/B+ album hidden under a blanket of reverb and cocaine.
Endgame - I feel pretty much the way about Endgame that OP feels about United Abominations. It felt like Mave was excited to have Broderick in the band to throw solo ideas at. Like a kid getting a new toy.
Cryptic Writings - Countdown did the metal elements a bit better, but it did the pop elements better than Risk. Vortex is a hell of a twister riff, and I weirdly enjoy Trust and Almost Honest in ways I shouldn't. Fuck I'm Not Your Stepping Stone...err, I'll Get Even, though.
Dystopia - I have a weird relationship with this album. If I haven't listened to it, I'll be hard pressed to remember anything from it, but while it's playing, I'm blown away. Some of it could be from being an unabashed Kiko fanboy, though. A few more spins might bump this up a few places.
The System Has Failed - Good comeback, a little inconsistent. Vinnie Colaiuta plays metal like he was born for it. And Chris Poland is excellent and unique. But there's a lot of filler, and some of the vocal harmonies get grating. Probably a result of Mave being lazy and using pitchshifted copies of his original performances as a timesaver. And the lack of Ellefson (Or even J-Lo.) And the session bassist was pretty bland, I wish he had found James MacDonough in time to get him on the album.
Risk - The years have been more favorable to it. I hated it when it came out because Megadeth, even after Cryptic Writings came out, I still expected it to have more of an edge than it did. But honestly, if you look at it as a pop-rock album, it's decent to good songwriting with some hacked-out vocals on top. If Mave hired someone else to sing and released it under a non-Megadeth name it could've had some traction. I still like most of the other stuff better, but I don't hate this NEARLY as much as I used to.
United Abominations - There's a couple of standout moments (Sleepwalker, the harmony section in Burnt Ice), but overall it's very forgettable. And as much as I loved Glen Drover playing with King Diamond, he just never felt quite right in Megadeth. Weirdly enough, my favorite song from the UA sessions ended up on ThOnertThreeen, and I liked the version with Drover on it better, completely contradictory to both my feelins on Drover in Megadeth and that garbage album.
Capitol Punishment - I'm counting this just because of Kill the King and Dread and the Fugitive Mind, and an excuse to push the following three albums lower. I'm ranking it this low because those were the only two actual new songs on it. And because most of TWNAH was meant to be part of it too, before Mave's falling out with Capitol. I like those two songs a lot, though.
The World Needs a Hero - Dread and the Fugitive Mind and Return to Hangar are basically the only good songs on it, and the former was on Capitol Punishment first.
ThOnertThreeen - Half of the album is basically Hidden Treasures part 2, and the "new" songs for the album are completely unremarkable. And the songs that existed before all sounded better before Johnny K got his grubby bro-rock hands all over them. The super flubby muddy production doesn't do it any favors. Just feels completely phoned in on all levels.
Supercollider - One of the worst pieces of shit I've ever heard. This is borderline St. Anger levels of terribad.

[The Hiryuu]

First off, bump.
Second, Mechanix is great dude I don't know what your talking about.

Yeah. Mechanix ruined the Four Horsemen for me, if anything. The Metallica version just drags in comparison, and the added sections are superfluous.

[redeyes]

Rust in Peace
Peace Sells
Killing is my Business
So far so good
Dystopia
Countdown

I will say Dystopia is very good, but the first 4 are just a little more a part of my early DNA. I think it's a stronger album than so far so good so what. But ...
.I haven't heard any other Megadeth album in its entirety besides these 6. Maybe I heard Youthanasia, but can't remember

Hey look, you saved me a bunch of keyboarding. Nailed my opinion.

[redeyes]

and yeah Dystopia is REALLY good and a huge surprise after a bunch of trash stuffs

recent Metal albums from the old school crew are really hitting the mark for me