Th1rt3en

iTunes Review

Megadeth’s lucky 13th studio album brings founding members Dave Mustaine and bassist Dave Ellefson together for the first time in 10 years. This reunion ensures the band is true to its roots. Enthusiasm reigns in the fresh grooves of the Al Capone–inspired “Public Enemy No. 1,” where the solos are both dexterous and heavily melodic. Megadeth has always been a cut above the metal crowd, and tracks such as “Sudden Death,” “We the People,” and “Guns, Drugs & Money” growl with both forward-moving riffs and a sense of hard rock history. The group’s roots in Dio, Alice Cooper, Montrose, Judas Priest, and others can be heard in its assurance and sense of ambition. Where other shredders often lose sight of the tune, Megadeth never sacrifices melody at the expense of speed or heaviness. “New World Order” is futuristic and classic. “Black Swan” carefully sculpts its riff to bring out the best in the rhythm section. Megadeth’s members are experienced pros who can run circles around the competition in their sleep. That the group still adheres to the standards of excellence it invented 25-plus years ago is the reason it’s still the band to beat.