Albums Ranked: Megadeth
Megadeth are a band that for many years was always in my top 3 and have had a profound influence on me. I was the guy that if anyone brought up Metallica I was sure to let everyone know Megadeth was better. Despite their average album ranking isn’t all that far apart. Although Metallica might be considered the most consequential thrash metal band, Dave Mustaine would probably be the most consequential thrash metal musician and the Father of the genre having affect on early Metallica and every other early thrash band influenced by them during his time with the band or by many songs he contributed to their early albums. With all that said, Megadeth is one of the big four for a good reason and hugely important for thrash metal and everything to follow.
How this works; Songs are rated on a 5 star rating with each star having a value that is averaged together for the album rating. Average album rating will equal the band’s rating
1 star=0, I hate it! The world would be better off without this.
2 stars=25, I don’t like it but it could be worse
3 stars= 50, decent song but not special
4 stars=75, good song but is missing something that might make it amazing
5 stars=100, Amazing!
Live albums, demos, cover albums and EP’s are not included.
Note: Popular doesn’t mean great and importance doesn’t mean it’s good either. A chart topping song only means it is watered down enough for a mainstream audience.
#16
Risk - 60.41666%
Well this shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. Risk has always been known as Megadeth’s worst, but it’s not even what I would call “bad”. It’s just not great. Despite being a low ranked album there aren’t any songs that I rank lower than 3 stars, but those 3 star songs are most of the album. It’s also really more of a rock album than a metal album although it still has some metal.
The Good - “Prince of Darkness” is the only 5 star songs on the album, although there are a few 4’s as well such as “Seven” and “Time: The Beginning”, a hard rock and acoustic rock song respectively.
The Bad - Again nothing really terrible but some of these songs might be better suited for the likes of Bon Jovi
#15
Super Collider - 65.9
This is another album that seems to disappoint pretty universally. Much like Risk, it doesn’t have an real terrible songs, but a lot of mediocre ones. It’s more of a metal album than Risk, but still has a decent amount of hard rock, and certainly no thrash not that Megadeth can’t right good songs outside that genera
The Good - “Dance in the Rain” was the only song I rated as 5 stars.
The Bad - It seems like even the good songs on the albums can’t stay consistent. I find even when I’m enjoying a song it to changes gears in some ways that keeps the track from having a higher score. The title track "Super Collider” is by far my least favorite song on the album with me giving it only 2 stars. When the title track is this bad, that is a bad sign of the mindset behind the whole album. It’s a generic hard rock song with nothing of interest in it.
#14
The World Needs a Hero - 66.666%
This album is fairly consistently Heavy Metal with a lot of average songs and a handful that standout. Unfortunately out of the stand out songs, some of those stand out for being bad. I’m not saying this is a bad album, but there are certainly songs I’d likely skip.
The Good - Two great songs come out of this album. First “Dread in the Fugitive Mind” is a fantastic song and a favorite of mine from Megadeth. Second, “Moto Psycho” which was their single from the album, but despite has a good groove. “Return to Hanger” is also good which reminds us of a time when Megadeth was in their prime. The song hits on our nostalgia and is solid in its own right.
The Bad - “10,000 Times Goodbye” is probably the worst of all of Dave’s break up songs. The whole voice mail thing is really crap and the song would have only been mediocre without it. The song “When” is also a copy of “Am I Evil" and not nearly as good. Where Metallica did a great cover of the Diamond Head’s Original, Megadeth here just rips it off. Both of the songs here I only gave 2 stars.
#13
Th1rt3en - 71.15%
Coincidentally Megadeth’s 13th album Th1rt3en happens to rank #13. This album as with many of the 21st century Megadeth albums suffers from being to formulaic. I guess after some experimenting it was time to get back to sticking what you know, Out of what I would consider the formulaic Megadeth albums Th1rt3n manages to be the most bland. Perhaps it would be a perfectly good album if not compared to their best work, but this is not Dave’s best.
The Good - “Never Dead” and “Public Enemy No. 1” and “Black Swan” are perhaps the best tracks on the album. The opening of “Black Swan” is probably the best part of the album and actually feels special and less forced.
The Bad - A lot of the songs on the album are just formulaic or uninspired. It feels like an album where Dave went into the studio and sat down to write it rather than having anything special that would call him to record. Some of the tracks are from older material and I can see why it didn’t get used then.
#12
United Abominations - 72.72%
I remember liking this album a lot when it came out, but it didn’t quite become a classic for me. The album kicks off with its best tracks at the front and slowly dies off to mediocrity by the end of the album with the exception of the new version of “À Tout le Monde”. Some of the best tracks are probably more memorable than some of the best from albums that made it higher on this list, but there are plenty of forgettable songs on this one as well.
The Good - The album starts strong with “Sleepwalker”. “Washington is Next” is an absolutely kick ass song and the best from the new songs. “Never Walk Alone...A Call to Arms” is also great. “À Tout le Monde” is every bit as good as it was when first released with this new version featuring Cristina Scabbia on guest vocals.
The Bad - By track six the songs all go down to only three stars with the exception of “À Tout le Monde”. They aren’t bad songs, but they also aren’t all that special.
#11
Dystopia - 84.09%
I wouldn’t call Dystopia one of the best Megadeth albums, but it is certainly one of the heaviest. It directly followed Supercollider so it was a move in a positive direction from there. Although there are some good songs on the album I find it less memorable compared to many others.
The Good - Among the best songs are the title track “Dystopia”. “Lying in State” is another of top tracks that I like the most. “Poisonous Shadows” is the most symphonic of anything from Megadeth and is really cool.
The Bad - I don’t think most of the songs on this album are all that memorable. I’m not a big fan of the closing tracks with both “The Emperor” and the Fear cover “Foreign Policy” only get 3 stars each.
#10
The Sick, The Dying… and the Dead! - 84.09%
Tied with Megadeth’s previous album Dystopia, out of the two I prefer this one. The songs are all around more memorable and the ones I like the most I prefer to the best tracks of Dystopia.
The Good - There are a lot of good songs on this album my top three picks might be "Night Stalkers” featuring Ice-T oddly enough, “We’re be Beck”, and “Soldier On”, but I also really liked “Mission to Mars” and ‘Dogs of Chernobyl”, and the title track also got five stars from me.
The Bad - Nothing terrible here, but a few songs in the middle of the album are less memorable such as “Junkie” and “Killing Time”. Also “Psychopathy” which I didn’t average in for the album as it is really an intro track for “Killing Time”.
#9
Cryptic Writings- 85.41%
This is the first album in the Megadeth Ranks that really kick up to another level with a significant jump in ratings. As with a lot of the other mid 90’s Megadeth albums this one is a bit more mellow over all, but still has some killer songs.
The Good - “Trust” has become a staple of Megadeth’s set list, and “She-Wolf” certainly makes most lists of greatest Megadeth songs with it’s closing harmonies being some of Megadeth’s best. The album closes out with fast pace “Vortex” and “FFF” which the only song I’d call thrash metal on the album. Perhaps one that gets overlooked more often, but one of my favorites from the album is “Secrete Place”.
The Bad - Nothing terrible on this album, but tracks like “Have Cool, Will Travel”, “Mastermind”. aren’t so special. If not for the outro I would put “Use the Man” in that list, but the outro always makes me forget that it’s a somewhat boring song otherwise.
#8
The System has Failed - 88.63%
Prior to this album Dave Mustaine had nerve damage to his arm and could no longer play guitar. He had to essentially relearn how to play but at time it was thought that Megadeth may not return. This album was the first after and launches what I consider the modern era of Megadeth. Not only did Dave return, but he returned with an album that surpassed the previous few and marked a general return to a more hard hitting Megadeth after a few albums that were less so.
The Good - “Kick the Chair” is a great thrasher. “Die Dead Enough” is a good more melodic one. Out of the album though, “Back in The Day” is my favorite, and one of my favorite Megadeth songs period. “Of Mice and Men” is also fantastic and the chorus hypnotically so.
The Bad - “Something That I’m Not” is the only 3 song track on the album, it’s not bad but the weakest on the album in my opinion.
#7
So Far, So Good…So What! - 90.625%
Megadeth’s third album and one that is often overlooked as it is came out between more classic line ups of the band and better albums. This album is, however, worthy album in the classic era of Megadeth even if not their best work.
The Good - The albums opens with a full out shredding attack with “Into the Lungs of Hell” followed by “Set The World Afire” a great thrasher. “In My Darkest Hour” has become the most classic from the album. “Mary Jane” and “Hook in Mouth” are also killer tracks
The Bad - Nothing bad here. The other tracks I didn’t mention are all still 4 stars including the cover of “Anarchy in the U.K.”
#6
Endgame - 90.9%
Out of the modern era of Megadeth, Endgame ranks as the best. I also think the fans often overlook the modern albums, but this album is very good and worth some attention.
The Good - This album is full of great riffing, great melodies, and great leads. If I listed the great songs on this album we would be here for quite some time. I think the album has some of their most aggressive sounding songs out of any time for the band with songs like “This Day We Fight"!” and “Headcrusher”. As being partial to more melodic music in general “44 Minutes” is one of my favorites for harmonies in the chorus.
The Bad - I don’t think there are any bad songs on this album. “The Hardest Part of Letting Go... Sealed with a Kiss” is a song that I used to not like all that much. I think mostly because it is a bit of an odd ball compared to others on the albums. With that said on more recent relistens it went from a 2 star to a 4 which actually pushed this album up in the rank by quite a bit, and I think it is worthy of it.
#5
Youthanasia - 91.666%
Youthanasia is an absolutely fantastic album despite being a more mellow Megadeth album. This album similar to other albums from a lot of thrash bands in the mid 90s is more of a strait Heavy Metal album void of thrash with the exception of the final track “Victory” which is still very melodic and mellow. What the album lacks in aggression it makes up for with great melodies, harmonies and choruses.
The Good - “Train of Consequences” is one of my favorites from the album. The now heartfelt classic “A Tout le Monde” must also be mentioned.
The Bad - I wouldn’t say anything on this album is bad unless you hate melodic metal and are a cave man thrash purist. Even the weaker tracks on the album are great songs.
#4
Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying? - 93.75%
Peace Sells is a thrash metal classic and a must have for any thrasher. The album is a technical and thrashy shred fest full riffs that groove. This is Megadeth’s second album. It keeps the dark aggression of their first album while being much more technical.
The Good - I’m partial to “Devil’s Island” which combines a classic Maiden style gallop with thrash metal aggression. “Good Mourning/Black Friday” absolutely crushes and is maybe my favorite from the album and completely underrated. I would put it as top tier that can stand up to any thrash song. I believe this is one of the songs Dave has left behind with his more Christian leanings over the years. “Bad Omen” is absolutely killer as well, and again another song that doesn’t get enough attention. The album closes with “My Last Words” which is another banger and again an underrated song that deserves more praise.
The Bad - The Willie Dixon cover “I Ain't Superstitious” seems very much a filler track and unnecessary. It is the sole reason this album doesn’t get a 100%.
#3
Rust in Peace - 94.444
My personal favorite Megadeth album, and one of my all time favorites. Rust in Peace is one of the greatest metal albums ever written. It is a technical thrash metal masterpiece. So why isn’t this album #1 and 100%… well I blame Dave Ellefson as he wrote the single track that isn’t 5 stars, “Dawn Patrol”. It’s a filler song that is boring and does nothing for the album except bring down the level of awesomeness. Megadeth had an magical line up with Marty Friedman and Nick Menza.
The Good - Every song on this - “Dawn Patrol” is absolutely fantastic. It would be hard to pick a favorite, but “Tornado of Souls” is incredible, and “Take No Prisoners” is one of the most kick ass thrashers ever written. “Holy Wars…”, “Rust in Peace…” and “Five Magics” are technical masterpieces. I also must name “Hanger 18” which is a worthy Megadeth staple. “Poison Was the Cure” is one that gets overlooked, but it is a great song only outshined by some of the greatest metal songs ever written along side it.
The Bad - “Dawn Patrol”. It actually pisses me off a great deal that this song is even on the album tarnishing what otherwise could contend for greatest album ever written by any band.
#2
Countdown to Extinction - 97.727%
This album is Megadeth’s most commercial success and was the first of their albums to be more radio friendly. The album still features some thrashers, but is more of a Heavy Metal album. Many of the songs are more singalongable and more mid tempo hints the more commercial success. This doesn’t mean the album is any less great in the Megadeth catalogue only that it excels in different areas. This album features some of Megadeth’s catchiest and most memorable songs and overall is both heavy and melodic with great writing, riffing, and harmonies.
The Good - This album is fantastic beginning to end with some of their best known songs like “Symphony of Destruction” and “Seating Bullets”. I’d put “Countdown to Extinction” and “Ashes in Your Mouth” as maybe the best songs on the album.
The Bad - I would call anything on this bad, but it’s not a thrasher if that is more your thing.
#1
“Killing is my Business… And Business is Good! - 100%
Holy Fuck! This album is a chaotic of onslaught of thrash metal carnage. Dare I say this is the most Thrash Metal album ever written. The riffs are jarring and jerky in the best possible way complemented with anger fueled speed yet somehow grooves. Before hearing this album my introduction into the world of thrash was limited with Metallica’s Kill em’ All previously blowing me away, being my first introduction to thrash metal. Then I hear this album and was in complete shock that a band could be so fast and aggressive. There are many albums that are faster, darker, heavier, but I don’t think there is a single album more thrash then this masterpiece. The fact is that most of Metallica’s thrashiest songs are written by Dave, and during his time in early Metallica they inspired the earliest thrash bands to follow. Despite this album not being the earliest released thrash album, I believe it represents thrash in its purist and most original form as it was the first album from Dave. As much as Tony Iommi can bee seen as the father of Heavy Metal, Dave Mustaine can be seen as the Father of Thrash.
The Good - This album is a perfect thrash album beginning to end, a chaotic thrashterpiece.
The Bad - There’s nothing bad to be found on this album unless your a pussy… Actually after listening to this album in full just now… I think I need a lie down… this album is intense. Listening to this album is like having a thousand angry bees swarming in your head and I’ve just been shaking them senseless.
Bonus Album
Hidden Treasures - 96.875%
Hidden Treasures takes song releases in various places such as movie sound tracks and tribute albums. It has covers of Alice Cooper, Black Sabbath, and Sex Pistols as well as originals. Despite not being a normal studio album and more of a compilation, this is a fantastic album
The Good - My favorites would be “Angry Again” “99 Ways to Die” and “Diadems. The covers are all solid versions
The Bad - Nothing bad on this album. “Go to Hell” was the only song I didn’t give 5 stars.
