Megadeth
The World Needs A Hero

By Chuck Moe
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Sanctuary Records - 06076 84503-2

 

  Megadeth’s newest release The World Needs A Hero brings Dave Mustain and company, along with a new guitarist, back to the forefront of thrash and metal. Not only is Dave back with new galloping riffs and hooks, but he’s also angry again, and when Dave’s pissed, the music is better. Marty Friedman left after the previous release of Risk, so Dave enlisted the help of former Savatage guitarist Al Pitrelli to round out David Ellefson’s bass playing and Jimmy Degrasso’s drumming. Unlike the disappointing Risk, The World Needs A Hero, intentionally calls back to the earlier styles of Rust In Peace, and Countdown To Extinction. Megadeth’s last two releases were produced by Dann Huff (Cryptic Writings and Risk) and they both received lukewarm acceptance. Dave, wisely decided to take over as the head producer of this release and hopefully any future productions. It’s as if Dave decided to let the proverbial hair down, and get back to the root’s of what made Megadeth great. Along with Dave’s signature licks, Pitrelli alternates solos with great adaptation to Dave. When word first arrived of Al’s arrival, I was worried that his years of playing a more progressive rock style with Savatage would cause some incompatibility with Megadeth’s harder sound. All that worry for nothing, because the two sound great together and I would imagine that the combination will improve even more over time.  Jimmy Degrasso fits in nicely and plays with a ferocious double kick that belongs with Megadeth’s stlye. Even, David Ellefson’s bass playing has come out of the box he has seem held in previous albums.

The first half of the album includes a few radio friendly tracks (at least Megadeth’s version of friendly) and some tracks reminiscent of Countdown To Extinction and Youthanasia. Notable songs from this half include “Disconnect”, “The World Needs A Hero”, and “Burning Bridges.” The second half of the album is where things really get cooking starting with “Recipe For Hate … Warhorse.”   A two part song that begins with Dave’s snarly growl of anger, isolation, and betrayal, that culminates into a jackhammer like riffs that emulate his anger and isolation. Fast forward to track nine and you have what I believe will be a classic ‘Deth song entitled, “Dread and The Fugitive Mind” that features some of the grooviest machine gun riffs I’ve heard in awhile. The next track, “Silent Scorn” is a nice instrumental prelude leading into “Return to Hanger.”  This is Megadeth’s answer to the older fans craving for song’s like the classic “Hanger 18” off Rust In Peace. Here Dave proves that Megadeth can still play as fast as the rest of them…pure headbanging trauma! The last track “When” is where Dave’s anger is truly illustrated. If you thought Alanis Morrisette had bitter relationship issues…well, you ain’t heard ‘nothin yet. For example, “I wish you death and suffering/Misery to spare/Time to rehearse your pain/Face the last enemy/I am the last thing you will know/The last thing you will see/I see your death surrounding me/I know you, yes I do/I know you.”   Half way through the song, a change occurs into what seems like a remake of the song “Am I Evil,” (a big cover tune made popular by Metallica). It’s not exactly the same, but close enough that you could replace the words and it would still sound right. Shortly after, Mustaine pulls off a killer solo backed by a heavy dose of pounding rhythm. A good song to end a great album.

If you, like others, felt burnt by Megadeth’s previous release of Risk and have been holding back on this release, don’t wait any longer. This is what thrash/speed metal is supposed to be. It’s not rap metal, or hip/hop metal, or whatever they call the new metal. It’s Megadeth metal, “often imitated, never duplicated” and don’t forget, Dave’s angry again.

Enjoyment: 91

Sound Quality: 87