Megadeth – The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead

5 Stars

The album cover design from Derek Riggs with his beautifully intricate work as ever. It’s so much nicer to buy an album if the artwork is good, especially if you buy the vinyl. Derek Riggs has also worked on the Iron Maiden artwork.

Audio CD (paid link)

Through troubled waters Dave Mustaine has brought the beast that is his band back to the forefront of rock music.

The “Sick, The Dying… And the Dead” is Megadeth’s first album since “Dystopia” six years ago. During this time, David Mustaine has beaten cancer, so it’s somewhat of a joyous release. Although the album was supposed to be released in 2019, through obvious and not-so-obvious complications, there has been delay after delay. But at last, on Friday, 2nd September 2022, we got what we have all been waiting for, the chance to all rock out on some new Megadeth. Does the album disappoint after its long gestation period? Not for even a millisecond.

David Mustaine in full flight with flying V where he excels on the live stage, out front leading his troops.

The album opens with a tolling bell, then a street caller yelling for you to “Bring Out Your Dead.” After which, the Megadeth traditional dual riffing guitars take you into the title track, then the whole band break in at the one minute ten second mark. From here on, it’s chocks away—the band is flying.

David Mustaine commands central stage with his lead guitar slung low and the vocals set to growl. Brazilian guitarist Kiko Loureiro has been with David Mustaine since 2015, so sounds confident, aggressive and in control. Dirk Verbeuren is featured in the Megadeth lineup in the recording studio for the first time, doing a wonderful job battering his way along, bringing to mind a flexible Animal from the Muppets. The drive and power he brings to Megadeth are awesome to experience.

Back in the day when David Mustaine was an angry young man,
now he is an angry middle-aged rocker.

More new releases can be found by clicking here

For the recording of this collection of songs, Steve Di Giorgio brought his wealth of experience in the bass guitar department to the Megadeth ranks. He is currently the bass player with Testament, but his CV is magnificent and long. However, James LoMenzo has returned to the Megadeth ranks since the recording of this album and will be with the band as they head out on the road.

This album is Megadeth’s sixteenth, released on David Mustaine’s Tradecraft Record Label. David Mustaine and Chris Rakestraw have produced the album, so it’s pretty much the complete head-banging package.

In all, you get battered by twelve hard rockin’ monster songs plus two sonic bonus tracks. David Mustaine either writes or co-writes all of the twelve numbers; the two bonus tracks are covers of the Dead Kennedy’s ‘Police Truck,’ during which Jello Biafra could never have imagined the heavy reckoning his song would get in Megadeth’s hands, the music being treated as a brutal weapon.

Delightfully, the other bonus track is a cover of Sammy Hagar’s flag bearer, ‘This Planet’s on Fire (Burn in Hell),’ with Sammy Hagar guesting on vocals. To be honest, the price of the CD is justified just for this wonderfully over-the-top version. The guitar solos from Mustaine and Loureiro will have many an air guitar ripped from its sheath.

Steady girls. Kiko Loureiro has ruffled a few feathers amongst
Megadeth’s female fans.

Amongst the other songs that stand out from all the other highlights, I have to include ‘Night Stalker’ with its electrifying riff and guest vocals from Ice T. “It’s about the 160th Battalion with the US Army and its black-ops helicopters that go in at night.”

‘Killing Time’ is all about a former girlfriend of Mustaine’s. Listen to the lyrics and make your own mind up. I did, and I can think of some others it applies to.

‘Dogs of Chernobyl’ is not about the Ukraine War but merely a love song to the wonders of medical science that allowed Mustaine to make a rapid and complete recovery from throat cancer. Mustaine’s treating radiologist, Tony Cmelak, gets a lyric credit for his contributions of a couple of phrases and information about the radiation poisoning when everyone got sick at Chernobyl. Who said heavy metal could not be informative and compassionate?

Click here to ramble through the archives

There are also a couple of pure burners on the album. ‘Celebutante’ and ‘We’ll Be Back’ will slay them on the live stage. Bring it on. These are not two-minute blitzkriegs but a prolonged battering to rock your body.

‘Mission to Mars’ is Megadeth’s clever dip into the realms of space rock, with excellent sound effects and clever lyrics. ‘Rusting in Peace’ with a touch of ‘Space Oddity,’ it still rocks like a mother, with Kirk Verbeuren on the drums excelling. This is going to be interesting live.

James LoMenzo, Megadeth’s returning bass player. For all you
readers of Hello magazine, he is also the James LoMenzo who
starred in the Amazing Race on CBS.

There’s over an hour of head bangin’ glory on this collection.

Only time will tell whether this will be considered a Megadeth classic, but I know where my money is.

Megadeth on The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead

David Mustaine- Lead Guitar and Vocals.

Kiko Loureiro – Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals and Flute on Night Stalker

Dirk Verbeuren – Drums

Steve Di Giorgio- Bass Guitar

Brandon Ray – Additional Vocals

Eric Draken Percussion

Roger Lima – Keyboards and Effects

Iced T – Vocals on Night Stalkers

Sammy Hagar – Guest Vocals on This Planet’s On Fire

This is either Dirk Verbeuren or Animal from the Muppet Show.

Songs

The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead

Life in Hell

Night Stalkers (Featuring Iced T)

Dogs of Chernobyl

Sacrifice

Junkie

Psychopathy

Killing Time

Soldier On

Celebutante

Mission to Bars

We’ll Be Back

Bonus Tracks

Police Truck, Dead Kennedy’s Cover

This Planet’s On Fire (Burn in Hell), Sammy Hagar Cover featuring Sammy Hagar

Take a bow, Dirk Verbeuren; it must be some workout regime you go through to get fit enough to batter the drums for a Megadeth set of pure rampage.

An early promotion for the new album,
mixing the past with the present.

The man in black at work, breaking out the Megadeth riffs and solos.

Sawadee Khrap Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok).

Megadeth looking mean, fit, and ready to rock you. From Left to right: James, Dirk, David and Kiko.

Written by Mott the Dog

Remember to visit and subscribe to Mott’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1003417143122919/

More new releases can be found by clicking here

Click here to ramble through the archives

Previous Article

Michael Monroe – I Live Too Fast To Die Young

Next Article

Ozzy Osbourne – Patient Number Nine

You might be interested in …

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *