How good is the new Megadeth? Well, lets just say that the music is so good that it greatly triumphs over more conservative lyrics. For a while I was conflicted about this record. Dave Mustaine has said some political statements that I find disturbing, especially when I listen to vintage Megadeth. While on the other hand, there are a lot things he says that I agree with. But for now let’s just focus on the song structure.
Dystopia musically is Dave Mustaine and crew at their best. The riffs are intimate, exciting and original, especially during the jams. Mustaine has this ability to write very original jam riffs during the solo section of his songs. Dystopia may be the best example of this in the entire Megadeth catalog. There isn’t one song that doesn’t work musically. This is the Megadeth album we’ve waiting for now for a couple of years. Especially after the boring blunder of 2013’s Super Collider. The title track is one of the strongest Megadeth songs ever and showcases and revived Mustaine taking the entire solo jam like in the old days. His playing hasn’t been tighter in a long time. Bullet to the Brain is truly a song of the evolution of the band. You can instantly hear a less subtle element of progressive metal with the syncopated versus. Poisonous Shadows is the albums centerpiece and most epic track. Personally I would like to hear and entire Megadeth album with the epic element attached. Not that they aren’t epic already. Conquer or Die is a brilliant instrumental that may be leading into what Dave Mustaine and crew have in mind for the next album.
Now, the lyrical subject matter is a mixed baggage. We all know that Dave Mustaine leans a little more to the right and it’s very apparent on this album. This may rub some fans the wrong way, it did at first for me anyways. That’s why I’ve spent such a long time before doing the review after the album came out. I was conflicted on obtaining it because at first I felt like it was right wing propaganda. I quickly realized thought, that while it’s a little to the right, generally this is a centrist political viewpoint album. The opening track is a perfect example. It’s entitled The Threat is Real and at first it really rubbed me the wrong way. But I started thinking more about it, he’s not really targeting a specific group, he’s just stating that the way the world is right now the threat is real; and it is. Everything is just chaotic and crazy without any leadership or rules. Well, that’s a perfect environment for a perfect heavy metal album and Dystopia doesn’t disappoint.
