After the 2013 “Super Collider” album, a lot of people thought that Megadeth’s days were numbered. But Dave Mustaine is like a classic Timex watch, he takes a licking and keeps on ticking. Now we have “Dystopia,” the 15th studio album from the thrash master himself and just when I thought I was out, damn if he doesn’t draw me back in.
Megadeth has been through its share of lineup changes over the years and once again Dave has done some housecleaning. Chris Broderick and Shawn Drover are gone, replaced by the technically proficient Kiko Loureiro on guitar and guest drummer Chris Adler. Of course, Dave has always been the meat and potatoes of Megadeth and co-founder David Ellefson provides a solid foundation on bass. The album kicks off with the blazing guitar riff of “The Threat Is Real” and we are off. The lead single “Dystopia” is next and is a nice melodic rocker. It seems from the start that the lineup works well together with plenty of guitar harmonies and battling back and forth between Dave and Kiko. Mustaine’s vocals are his typical growls and his lyrics cover the usual topics of grim politics and dystopian worldviews. He changes things up on this album with some nice acoustic interludes and the almost proggy feel of “Poisonous Shadows.” A standout is the instrumental track “Conquer Or Die!” with its acoustic beginnings building and building to searing guitars before backing down for a softer ending. Don’t miss the outstanding basslines on “Fatal Illusion” and the grooving hooks of “The Emperor.”
“Dystopia” is the best album Megadeth has put out in years and a total turn around from their last record. Dave’s worldviews may be all gloom and doom but the future of Megadeth is as bright as ever.
