Stooge It may seem a bit weird, but my introduction to many of the songs on this album came from seeing Megadeth’s Behind The Music special in 2001. Whenever there was a cool riff, lead, or instrumental section that was sampled for use in the program, most of the time it was lifted off of Peace Sells. Just getting a taste of the intro to “Good Mourning”, the head-banging riffing in “Wake Up Dead” or the ferocious lead section of “Bad Omen” was not nearly enough. The following Christmas, I made sure that this album was on my list (and, thus, under the tree).

The riffing is pretty tight on this one, just as fast-paced as much of their debut album. This time, the production is up to a higher standard. Unlike the occasional muddied-up sound that occurs on the debut’s faster cuts, the speed and precision in the likes of “The Conjuring”, “Devil’s Island”, and the ultra-intense “Black Friday” come through with crystal clarity. While making the popular “Wake Up Dead” and “Peace Sells”, well… pop!

The only real outlier among the tracks is their cover “I Ain’t Superstitious”. Though stylistically unlike the other tracks, I like this blues-rock cover. Compared to their debut’s take on “These Boots”, it feels much more of an honest cover as opposed to just having a laugh, and like many classic blues/rock songs, it serves as a good lauchpad for Mustaine and Poland as guitarists.

There are several instrumental excursions throughout that hint at the potential that this Poland/Samuelsson lineup had. This is well exemplified how tight the band sounds in “Bad Omen” and “My Last Words”. While the band sounds in high-form throughout the album, these tracks are often among the least talked-about here, but have grown greatly in popularity with me as the years have passed.

Although Mustaine was (and always will be) the songwriter, having such a strong band backing him is what allowed him to continue to expand the variety in song structure and the technicality from the debut album. While I’m still a big fan of So Far, So Good … So What?, I can’t help but wonder where a third album by the Chris/Gar lineup would have taken them.

This is definitely an essential thrash metal album.

Warthur Megadeth got some decent production in on this one, and it really does show, with the intricacies of the band's songwriting much more readily apparent than on the muzzy Killing Is My Business. Dave Mustaine's lyrics start getting a political edge to them but discusses the issues in question in vague enough terms that this isn't likely to irritate too many people - they certainly don't bug me, even though I think Dave's political views when you get down to specifics are pretty laughable - but let's not lose sight of the main reason this album kicks ass: it's a fast, angry thrash metal tour de force which proved that Megadeth possessed the musicianship to equal any of the other Big Four.

UMUR Peace Sells... But Who's Buying? is the 2nd full-length studio album by American thrash metal act Megadeth. The album was released in July 1986 by Capitol Records. The lineup is the same as the lineup that recorded "Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! (1985)". Peace Sells... But Who's Buying? was the album that really put Megadeth on the map and made sure that they are generally considered one of the greatest thrash metal acts on the scene. The colourful cartoonish looking Edward J. Repka cover artwork probably made the impact even grander.

The original version of the album contains 8 tracks and a full playing time of 36:16 minutes and while that may not seem like much I´d take quality over quantity any day. Most later reissues have contained various types of bonus material. Peace Sells... But Who's Buying? has seen various reissues through the years but since the remixed and remastered version was released in 2004, the original version has been out of print.

The music on the album is thrash metal with a melodic edge. Dave Mustaine´s attitude filled sneer is definitely an aquired taste, but I´ve never had any problems with his voice on the band´s studio recordings (as opposed to how terrible they usually sound live). The band are very well playing and especially the guitar solos really impress. Melodic shred fests of a high quality and entertainment level. Personally I find the songwriting a bit inconsistent and especially "Devil's Island" and the Willie Dixon cover track "I Ain't Superstitious" don´t do much for me. On the other hand there are strong tracks on the album too like the opening trio of tracks, "Wake Up Dead", "The Conjuring" and "Peace Sells" or tracks like "Good Mourning / Black Friday" and "Bad Omen".

The production is professional and for the time pretty powerful. It´s still very obviously an eighties sound production and there are some minor issues with the sound that prevents me from calling it really good.

There is no doubt that Peace Sells... But Who's Buying? is an essential listen to thrash metal fans and the album is by many deservedly called a "classic" thrash metal album. I still think the band needed to mature a bit more (and lay off the booze and the drugs) before they released their best albums, but Peace Sells... But Who's Buying? is definitely an album worth a listen. A 3.5 - 4 star rating is deserved.

bonnek After the somewhat disappointing debut Megadeth hit back like a sledgehammer. "Peace Sells" is a surprisingly mature Thrash metal album that dwarfed much of the surrounding competition. The quality and virtuosity drips from the album and the complexity and intelligence of the songwriting turns this into more then just a Thrash album for me. In fact I'd dare to call this a direct precursor of the Progressive Metal of the 90s.

Except for the annoying filler track "I ain't superstitious", the album consist of nothing but Megadeth essentials. The original album suffered from a somewhat 'thrash-y' production that drowned out much of the album's subtleties. The 2004 remix/remaster offers a good sound upgrade and, unlike some other items in the 2004 remaster series, it doesn't suffer from Dave's tendency for tempering with the original material.

'Nough said, if you don't own this album I won't speak with you again.

The Angry Scotsman Regarded as one of the thrash metal classics, this album certainly deserves the praise it receives.

It starts right off with a classic Megadeth song, "Wake Up Dead". It has all the Mustaine staples that we have come to expect. An unorthodox song structure, fast technical riffing, great guitar work and lots of solos. A unique, and amazingly well crafted song, just like every song on the album.

It should be no surprise that this is fairly complex and unusual (for metal) album considering the lead guitarist and drummer were originally from a jazz fusion band! Mustaine always did surround himself with great musicians. The drumming in particular is quite good on this album. His jazz influenced thrash drumming is superb, (though a bit toned down from the previous album) and adds an intriguing combo of feel and technicality.

The guitar work is amazing, though this shouldn't even need to be said. The riffing, the solos, the lead/rhythm work, it all is superb. More than the music itself, the songs are extremely well built. The structure and flow is great, and each song is unique. Also needless to say, Dave's vocals are not the best, (and can take some real getting used to) but are not too terrible, (sans that AWFUL chorus in Devil's Island). There is almost no filler or parts that drag.

Dave's vocals are merely adequate and sometimes are rough, the quality is quite low and can detract from the music. The re mastered version of Killing is My Business...did wonders, especially for the drumming. While thrashy, (and no doubt intense musically) it can lack a bit of power at times, not sure what this is due to though, most likely the production.

An excellent album. The music is near flawless in every way, and Mustaine really can be a brilliant songwriter, and not afraid to showcase some technical, (and even progressive) songwriting into thrash. His vocals are not the best but at least the lyrics are pretty intriguing.

Devil's Island is the weakest on the album, while standouts are Peace Sells, My Last Words, and I Ain't Superstitious, which is a cover of the original blues song and is really quite amazing. From the very first listen, it is obviously a blues song in its main riff and song structure, and actually works really well for metal. The second half is also one of the most intense parts on the whole CD!

Very Excellent album.

Four and a Half Stars

Stephen "Peace Sells..But Who's Buying" is the second effort by the American avenging thrash quartet, Megadeth, created on the ashes of an extreme drugs addiction. Mustaine stated in an article that it's very hard to record this album as guitarist Chris Poland and drummer Gar Samuelson found a hard time to show up at studio in time because of their heroin problems. Mustaine began showing his huge talent in writing songs, from a diverse lyrics covering spouse cheating, dealing with the devil, politic, prison, and Russian Roulette, to a multitude variety of musical pattern.

I'd say four best tracks here lies on the opener, "Wake Up Dead", a standard thrash track with flashy solos; the title track which dominated by a memorable bass intro and packed by the signature Megadeth riffage; "Devil's Island", an uptempo groove with a stampeding-horse riffs; and the closer, "My Last Words", which borrowed a typical Priest/Maiden heavy metal rhythm arrangement, and in my opinion, this is one of Megadeth's greatest tracks out of their entire career. The rest are pretty well-executed except the Willy Dixon cover, "I Ain't Superstitious", which left me wondering what the hell are they doing messing with this song. Though it ain't bad as it seems, but it's totally out of place and unnecessary.

"Peace Sells" is a giant step taken by the band, shouting to the world that the band now belongs in the big thrash league, competing with the names of Metallica, Anthrax, and Slayer. This album was also commercially sold well, claiming double platinums, and garnered them a horde of loyal fans. A true metal classic! is enough to sum up this album in four words.

Negoba Maybe the Best Thrash Album of All Time

Megadeth's Peace Sells is of course a classic thrash album, with virtually all metalheads knowing it forward and backward. It is a guitar junkie's paradise, a combination of speed, attitude, and feel that is simply some of the best metal I've ever heard. And though I am a Chris Poland fanboy, the credit for this monster goes #1 to Dave Mustaine and #2 to Gar Samuelson.

The leadership provided by Gar in early Megadeth is often overlooked, though Dave is quick to recognize him interviews. Gar basically set the tone for the entire band, giving the idea of stressing political lyrics, a more economical songwriting style (and often helped with arrangements), and unfortunately was the one who brought in the really heavy drugs. He brought in Poland, a monster talent with a monster habit. The band was a firestorm of chaos and it is only the phenomenal talent of the musicians that kept it together at all.

This recording sees the classic lineup essentially at their peak. Some of the songs and riffs had been in Dave's back catalog for some time. (The intro riff to Devil's island was the first thing the two Daves ever played together.) But hundreds of gigs together and a bigger budget allowed the second album to combine the raw energy and a refinement to a nice point.

Everyone has their favorite parts, but the instrumental aspects of "Wake Up Dead" are what hooked me when I first got this album and still capture me. The harmony leads, the mid solo, and most importantly the most break are just great. Right after "Diana," comes the most crushing riff I've ever heard, with Mustaine and Gar working together perfectally.

"I Ain't Superstitious" is the only weak part of the album, and it's a fun novelty. Every other track here is a metal classic. Poland and Mustaine's soloing works together quite well despite the fact that they are completely different players. Poland's legato runs contrast to the raw agression and the result is shred genius.

More words than necessary. Bottom Line is this is an absolute classic and masterpiece. I rate this as on nearly equal footing as Master of Puppets as perhaps the best metal album of all time.

Valarius ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’… The album where Megadeth truly became Megadeth.

After a terrible debut album, and yes, I mean absolutely awful-terrible, Dave Mustaine and co. get their act together and release an album worthy of the band who would become one of the genres finest.

Everything I hated about ‘Killing is My Business’ has been rectified on this record. The songs are a lot better and interesting, and the band has matured in the vocal department, in both lyrics and melody. The production has been given the steroid treatment too, meaning this time around you can actually hear the songs and the guitar solos, which sound better than the wailing-tinny sound of KIMB.

That’s not to say this album is perfect, but it definitely belongs in the collection of any Thrash Metal fan. Despite a couple of bland filler tracks, the record boosts some Megadeth classics, in particular, ‘Wake Up Dead’ and ‘Peace Sells’, and tracks like ‘Devil’s Island’, ‘Good Morning/Black Friday’ and ‘My Last Words’ all show a band who have developed and grown since their atrocious debut album.

Overall this is far from Megadeth’s best work, with most of my positive views coming from the fact that this is such a huge improvement from their first album, but it has its moment and is an album worth owning. If for no other reason, then get it for the artwork, probably one of Metals most memorable front covers.

muerte_inoxia It´s really difficult to find an album played with so much ferocity than this. Megadeth was recently completed with fusion masters Chris Poland and magnificent Gar Samuelson, both making Megadeth to play at the top of their game. One feels that Mustaine is set to obliterate his previous work with Metallica and set to make his mark on the speed metal (Thrash)world. The re-mastered version really improved the sound quality (which wasn´t all that bad, but now you can really feel all the instruments). The Poland/Mustaine duet is really impressive, Samuelson drumming it´s the best Megadeth ever had (even though I´m a Menza fan) and Ellefson is yet to prove his best game on future Megadeths´albums. Seminal work.

FusionKing Now, this is one vicious little album! Peace Sells... was the album that got me into the greatness of Megadeth, purely because, although it is imperfect in some small ways, it has everything that one could want from a slice of good, traditional thrash metal. The riffage is brutal, yet melodic, the solos are relentless, the production is very slightly tinny and echoing, giving an epic, metallic feel and Old Nick and the rest of the dark side gets a good mentioning throughout the lyrics! Dave's vocals are a little sketchy here and there but are by no means offputting at any point. My personal high points for this record are as follows: The Conjuring- Dark, eerie tale of a pact with the devil. Brilliantly atmospheric ringing tones in the guitars at the opening, the immensity of the riffs and solos goes without saying: Peace Sells- Great anti social epic. The lyrics pertaining to the irritating side of politics and society will put an understanding grin on your face in no time and the second half of the song is just made for a good shout and headbang to!: Bad Omen- Basically, this song is about a black magic induced orgy. (Two of the best metal topics side by side; satan and hedonism!)The solo on this is ludicrously fast and the extreme melody truly is one to singe your ears with: My Last Words- This track is dedicated to guns and gambling your life away! Very fast and tuneful throughout and a nice, explosive end to the album. Other things to look for: Wake Up Dead has a great riff with the essence of Ritchie Blackmore turning brutal half way through the track: If you are bemused by seiously nasty lyrics, then check out Black Friday. The topic...a serial killer, need I say more?: And finally, I Ain't Suprstitious, if you are into covers. All in all, this album is a must for the Megadeth newbie and collector.

ydewata This second output from Dave and co., seem to be different in direction musically compared to the first one. The music has taken its shape in due course, and the musicianship is tight. The elements of raw is there but it cannot hide the improved skills managed by Mustaine, Ellefson, Poland, and Samuelson. If you want to start your Megadeth thing, I would suggest this is the first to start instead of Killing is My Business.

I would say highlights are "The Conjuring", "Wake Up Dead", "My Last Words" and the title track itself. In this album, you can't help but notice that Mustaine did some melodic solos too.

metalmillennium Megadeth were beginning to receive quite a following around the time of this album, which put them up there in the success charts with Metallica, Slayer, and Anthrax. This follow-up release is much more controlled than the raw debut, and it shows promising sense of a progressing band. Megadeth are luckily aided by a better production manager this time around and not to mention set of musicians. Guitarist Chris Poland is added to the line-up, and he is one of the dominant forces in making this a successful album.

"Wake Up Dead" is a killer opener, with some slashing fret work from both Mustaine and Poland. "The Conjuring" is very strong; check the grinding, powerful riff at around the 2:55 mark. The title track got 'Deth a little MTV exposure, but who cares..it kicks ass! "Devil's Island" is an often over-looked track with its thumping bass and excellent rhythm guitar action. Don't miss Poland's axe work at the 3:51 mark. The album's top highlight is without a doubt "Good Morning..Black Friday." Poland's guitar intro before the vocals kick in is amazing--some of his most mature and interesting riffs to date.

This is a great Thrash album with much better production and musicianship from an ever improving band (until recently). The chemistry between Poland and Mustaine is not quite as powerful as the later Friedman-Mustaine kinship, but this proves to be a fun album that holds up well on repeated listens. Add Peace Sells to your ever-growing collection.