MEGADETH — Countdown to Extinction (review)

MEGADETH — Countdown to Extinction album cover Album · 1992 · Heavy Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
Stooge
I hate to do a comparison to Metallica, but I consider Countdown To Extinction to be their personal Black Album. While Dave Mustaine often dislikes comparisons to his old band, I don’t think he’d mind if I give him the upper hand with this one.

This album is filled with several accessible tracks, with perhaps “Symphony of Destruction” being the most radio friendly. We are also treated to “Sweating Bullets”, featuring a great melodic intro, which is driven by Nick Menza’s thundering drums, and one of Megadeth’s most recognizable verses, starting from the popular “Hello me… Meet the real me” line. The songs “Foreclosure of a Dream” and “Countdown To Extinction” also rank up there in terms of radio-friendliness.

While Countdown is quite an accessible album, it is still done on Mustaine’s terms. Most of the songs wouldn’t be confused with something you’d find on Peace Sells or even Rust In Peace, but they stay faithful to the Megadeth sound. Tracks such as “High Speed Dirt”, and “Skin O’ My Teeth”, which is my favorite song on the album, pretty much follow the familiar thrash metal sound, as does “Architecture of Aggression” to a lesser extent.

This album is not without it’s weaker tracks. “Psychotron”, “Captive Honor”, and “This Was My Life” don’t do much for me.

A good album, Just not quite as good as some of their previous efforts.
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UMUR wrote:
more than 2 years ago
Personally I think it´s a masterpiece, but it´s been a while so let´s see what my rating ends on when I get to reviewing the album.
Coffin Joe wrote:
more than 2 years ago
This was my first metal cd, so clearly I hold this one in high regards 4/5
Time Signature wrote:
more than 2 years ago
I really like this album, too. There are some amazing guitar solos on it.
UMUR wrote:
more than 2 years ago
This album has a special place in my collection. One of those albums that I would call "the soundtrack to my youth", so needless to say my rating will be much higher. Good review as always of course.
The Angry Scotsman wrote:
more than 2 years ago
Great review! I agree that this is better than Metallica's Black Album, and while it is much more accessible, as you said it is still Megadeth.

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