MEGADETH — The World Needs a Hero (review)

MEGADETH — The World Needs a Hero album cover Album · 2001 · Thrash Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
Kingcrimsonprog
Megadeth’s The World Needs A Hero was the band’s ninth studio album and was released back in 2001, it was the last album the band did with original bassist Dave Ellefson until 2011′s Th1rt3en album, and holds an interesting place within the Megadeth catalogue; as it can either be viewed as the final album in a series of disappointing non-thrash albums which the band started making in the nineties, or as the first album in the series of increasingly impressive return to form records that the band started releasing in the noughties.

At the time, many fans were delighted with how aggressive and heavy this album is compared to its almost universally panned predecessor Risk and pleased to hear tracks from the album live. Fans who got into the band later, such as off the back of 2009′s phenomenal Endgame record may not understand what all the fuss is about however, as the songwriting is much slower, the production is cleaner and lighter, the guitar tones are less crunchy and whilst the direction of the album is certainly metal, it arguably isn’t all that thrash. It is not unrealistic to imagine that this album will become more and more overlooked as time passes.

If anyone can overcome this, they well find a superb and well written Megadeth album, largely devoid of filler and full of superb guitar work, vocal melodies and intelligent song structuring. The level of musicianship is very high, drummer Jimmy DeGrasso puts down a magical performance and Dave’s vocals are fairly impressive throughout.

Highlights include ‘Dread And The Fugitive Mind,’ ‘Return To Hanger,’ and ‘Burning Bridges,’ all of which are impressive and memorable songs and definitely worth any Megadeth fan’s time.

There are some overproduced moments and questionable spoken word additions that won’t be to everyone’s taste but the good far outweighs the bad on The World Needs A Hero, and I would urge new fans not to overlook this record, perhaps less and less of it is finding its way onto Megadeth live setlists and compilation albums these days but that will just help you not to get sick of it.

Overall, this is a very good album that ought not be forgotten, just because the band’s earlier and later work was so good.
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