Year: 2022
Total Time: 55:10
Label: Tradecraft/Universal
MEGADETH albums with an ellipsis in their title, must be taken very seriously. A work that we were waiting impatiently, knowing the special circumstances under which it was composed and recorded. On the one hand the pandemic, on the other hand the strained health of Dave Mustaine, somewhere in the middle the unpleasant story of Dave Ellefson and his removal from the band, “The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead” carries a special emotional – and not only – load. MEGADETH’s sixteenth official release is here, and that in itself is an undertaking worthy of respect.
The truth is that I was initially skeptical about the group’s potential and I didn’t want to be influenced by the singles the band released earlier this summer. So I chose to close my ears and slowly and agonizingly endure the long-awaited second day of September, so that I could buy the album and thus have the overall listening experience, along with its lyrical and visual aspects, which have always been part of the unique identity of the Americans and counted as something special to me.
“Dystopia” was an album with a positive sign, a work that was loved by the fans of the band, besides, it had to compete with the – let me say – “cheap” “Thirteen” and “Super Collider”. So the stakes are high, and let’s go straight away to see if Dave Mustaine is vindicated (not that he really needs it) after six years of silence.
Let’s begin with one of the best moments of the album, the title track. We travel musically to the modern Heavy era of “Youthanasia”, with an opening song, just as it should be. Nice groove (not a proper term for MEGADETH but that’s what it’s all about), “catchy” melodies, a hard rock from … another planet that gets us beautifully into the mood of the album.
And don’t forget that once MEGADETH (it’s been many years, it’s true) meant “war”, and they come to remind us of that a little bit with the most aggressive moments of the album “Life In Hell” and “Night Stalkers”. With upped gears, Dirk Verbeuren in the lead role and the guitar duo of Mustaine and Loureiro going wild, the album starts with 3/3 and very good prospects.
One of my favorite moments is “Dogs Of Chernobyl”, a track that starts atmospherically and evolves into a Heavy Metal anthem, with its mid tempo core interrupted by a wonderful, weird, fast finale, and Mustaine being a real “beast”, spitting lyrics incessantly. “This is how they die…”
We move on to “Sacrifice”, staccato melodic Heavy, “oriental flavour”, nice rhythm changes, convincing delivery. In the same vein the wonderful “Célebutante”, “Soldier On” and “Mission to Mars”, which although not bursting with originality, flow very pleasantly. Rhythmic, digestible, with beautiful solos and “catchy” choruses, they have their own distinct space and role in the album. I love “Mission To Mars”. It has something very unique for MEGADETH sound, a peaceful atmospheric quality and at the same time a heaviness that is so captivating… Unfolds perfectly from couplet to chorus, fun elements, a potential radio hit, well hidden, two tracks before the album closes.
Less good moments of “The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead”, but without being in any way fillers, are “Junkie” and “Killing Time”. They have scattered good elements, especially on a guitar level, and work to the benefit of the album’s coherence, without tiring.
In conclusion, an unexpectedly good work, a jewel of Dave Mustaine’s discography. With crystal production, compositional and executive impudence, MEGADETH’s new album outdoes its predecessor and – a prediction – will rank high in the preferences of the metal audience, when this year’s review will be completed.
Rating: 7,5/10
Editor: Kostas Kafritsas
Related Link: MEGADETH – Official Page
