They have been a staple of the thrash metal scene for decades and a huge influence on modern metal bands everywhere. Their face-melting, bone-crushing, take no prisoners attitude and music had propelled them to their rightful status as heavy metal legends. Now, Megadeth has released their thirteenth studio album, a follow-up to the critically acclaimed Endgame. Th1rt3en, though the title’s stylization may be an eyesore for some, is nothing short of what we’d expect from the hailed Dave Mustaine and his men, and it is one of the best metal albums released this year.The opening track, “Sudden Death,” is dripping with guitar shredding that had seemed to die out with the onslaught of new metal acts. This track is nothing short of perfect, and illustrates Mustaine’s “ability to pen smart, succinct and thrillingly powerful metal anthems,” as quoted by Dom Lawson of the UK’s The Guardian. It is a strong opening track, and is one of the strongest songs on the album. The next track, however, is a slight fall from the previous one. ”Public Enemy No. 1” has an opening riff that bears a striking resemblance to the classic Megadeth track “Tears in a Vial.” It may seem like Mustaine had decided to simply recycle an old riff into a new song, as some bands are more than guilty of doing, but at least the track is a good one. The soloing heard from Mustaine and his guitar counterpart Chris Broderick is pure quality from start to finish. This track has been released as a single and has a music video to boot, but it may not have been the best choice for the thrashers to pick as such. The next track, another released single, is definitely a step up from the previous track. “Whose Life (Is it Anyways?)” is not only a witty play on the hilarious ABC improv show, it is also an anthem for every metalhead, social reject, and street rat who feels judged and marginalized by their peers and surrounding company. Though cliché in the metal world, Mustaine’s gift for writing well thought-out lyrics holds this song above many of the youth anthems metal bands have penned down. Lyrics such as “You tell me how to live but who asked you anyway?” and “You’re just in time/to get inside my head” will ring true to many disenfranchised youth and will certainly find their way to Facebook statuses across the globe.
The next two tracks are a slightly slower change of pace from the previous tracks. “We the People” is yet another song dedicated to Mustaine’s political commentary that he’s most famous for. Never at a loss for words, the redheaded guitarist had a few choice words for our government. Lyrics such as “our founding fathers are rolling in their graves” and “violate your rights, no more equality” illustrate his distaste for what this country’s going through, and are expected lines from our articulate thrasher. The next track, “Guns, Drugs, & Money,” is an intense song that seems to reference the infamous drug cartels in Mexico. The song is definitely not a shallow one, with lyrics such as “poverty will turn the life of any good man bad” that would surely provoke some thoughts and incite some conversations about what’s going on down south. The following track, “Never Dead,” opens up with a march-style rhythm on
Shawn Drover’s snare, reminiscent of a military drum. Starting off relatively soft, and utilizing a crescendo as the guitars make their entrance, the track is an intense machine-gun firestorm that will surely be a staple for Megadeth’s live shows. “New World Order” has an anthem feel to it, with a memorable riff and licks very reminiscent of their eighties thrash metal days. Though not the strongest track on the album, it is a strong song overall and will become a classic among Megadeth fans.
For the next track, “Fast Lane,” the machine-gun double-bass drums drive the whole song and is pretty much the only memorable thing about the track. Though it isn’t horrible, and the soloing is yet again pure genius, the overall riffs and licks are blasé and wouldn’t exactly stick to you after listening to the whole album. “Black Swan” is an immediate favorite upon the first few seconds. With a mind-blowing opening riff and a hooky melody to boot, the track stands out on the record. Though it has appeared as a bonus track for their album United Abominations, the boys decided to stick it on this album. And, according to bassist Dave Ellefson, the track has nothing to do with the 2010 movie of the same name. The imagery is stupendous in the lyrics; “Just like a churchyard shadow, there’s nothing left to see” and “It’s only there to terrify my mind, a black swan keeps haunting me” paint a chilling picture for listeners and will hook you in from start to finish. “Wrecker” is another relatable track, with lyrics obscure enough to entice the listener to think of his/her own situations or past experiences upon hearing Mustaine’s words. A song about someone who has destroyed your life, the track will strike a cord with fans.
Opening with a gorgeous guitar solo, “Millennium of the Blind” has a feel to it that would be synonymous with many Slayer tracks, except with a beautiful guitar melody and an easy tempo. The guitar work is nothing short of genius, and it puts so many metal acts, old and new, to shame. “Deadly Nightshade” is another riff-laden track, though verging on being a filler track. It is still a strong track all around, and features Ellefson’s signature bass playing that fans love to hear. And finally, the ending track, aptly titled “13.” It’s acoustic guitar intro is pleasing to the ear, and the entrance of the electric guitar layered together creates a gorgeous storm of melodies that entice and draw the listener in. Mustaine’s gruff, growling vocals fit the song perfectly, and molds together when the tone shifts from the acoustic/electric layering to a full fledged guitar solo magnum opus. Ending with a lovely acoustic guitar melody, it is a brilliant way to end a brilliant album.
In short, Th1rt3en is an amazing album and is more than worthy of a trip to your local record store. Mustaine, as quoted by Metal Hammer, said “I think fans are going to be able to expect a very exciting record. With David Ellefson coming back, it brought back the classic sound, but also with the progress that we made with Shawn Drover and Chris Broderick.” The fiery guitarist was correct; the album was nothing short of exciting, and will draw in fans old and new when they tour this coming year.
