Th1rt3en [CD]

There seem to be two points on which no two Megadeth fans can totally agree - where the band's career started going off the rails and which album has since constituted a genuine return to form (if at all). Well, for my part I enjoyed 2004's `The System has Failed', it had a unified feel but equally importantly each individual song retained a certain distinctiveness. Did this all add up to a true comeback? I'd probably rate it as a partially successful return. I didn't check out `United Abominations' but there was a great deal of buzz surrounding `Endgame' - lots of `a return to their roots' claims and positive comparisons with the band's recorded pinnacle, `Rust in Peace'. With all this chatter the least I could do was check out what all the fuss was about and...I was left distinctly underwhelmed. Mustaine's vocals weren't quite right, they didn't sound like they scanned in places and sat uncomfortably in the mix. It didn't help that the song writing was also pretty average underlined by the fact the highlights were the fun but disposable `Head Crusher' (chorus of metal fans: `I wonder if it will sound like Fear Factory's `Edge Crusher'?), the great opening riff to `1,320' and the satisfyingly meaty `How the Story Ends' that sported an unrepresentatively decent chorus. That was about it, yes there was some impressive guitar work on the disc but it only hit home in fits and starts. I'm pleased to report that `Th1rt3en' is a far more consistent album than its predecessor and...wait for it...can be considered a return to decent form - although I must stress that it is still far more appropriate to compare this album to the conventionally hard rocking `Countdown to Extinction' rather than the technical metal meisterwerk `Rust in Peace'.

`Th1rt3en' may well be Megadeth's finest release in over 15 years but it is still far from perfect and does contain at least three or four filler tracks. It won't take Steven Hawking long to work out why this is the case - when was the last time Megadeth put 13 songs on one album? It also goes someway as to explain why some songs that were first written years ago appearing as demos, B sides and computer game soundtracks have been reworked and included here (sometimes to great effect I must add). The return of founding member David Ellefson will have had an influence on such decisions too of course. With such a mix of new and reworked material the album could have ended up sounding like a mismatch of ideas but actually this ends up being `Th1rt3en's surprising trump card - despite there being no overarching theme the songs sound perfectly at home next to one another and the real plus is that the album displays genuine variety. The other winning factor is that Dave's vocals are much improved on this release, almost certainly the best his voice has sounded since the 90's.

The first three songs are excellent and really grab your attention, particularly the pummelling and snottily abrasive `Whose Life (is it Anyways?)'. Things then get ever so slightly sleepy before the old school `Never Dead' and `New World Order' get things back on track. The cheesy as hell `Fast Lane' and `Wrecker' are both enjoyable, displaying some humour, while the catchy `Black Swan' and bittersweet ballad-paced title track add that all important variety.

A pleasant surprise - how many other bands have managed to release thirteen albums, let alone a thirteenth long player of this quality? With `Lulu' proving so repellent to metal fans everywhere will `Th1rt3en' reveal itself as truly `Deth Magnetic' - an irresistable force attracting disillusioned metalheads to its cause like just so many iron filings.

In 2010 when Megadeth were in the middle of 20th anniversary tour for metal masterpiece "Rust In Peace" as well as playing the album from start to finish most of the other material played was also older tracks from the likes of "Peace Sells", "So Far, So Good..So What? and "countdown To Extinction" only a couple of tracks from current album "Endgame" made the cut, this trend would continue during the Big Four Tour. Also original bassist Dave Ellefson was back in the band for the first time since 2001 and now we have album number 13 from Megadeth called "TH1RT3EN". To keep with the going back in time theme there's even new versions of old songs included.

Ellefson's returning influence can be heard on album opener "Sudden Death" as his bass opens the track alongside some tribal drumming a classic Megadeth guitar riff, the song is a great way to open the album and the playing is really tight throughout. The first single chosen was "Public Enemy No.1" which has a galloping riff and a snarling Mustaine, what more could you ask for? Interestingly "New World Order" is an old song, a demo version was originally included on the 2004 remaster of "Youthanasia"(so the classic megadeth line up of Mustaine, Friedman, Ellefson and Menza get a writing credit), the new version is newly recorded and of course newly produced giving it a new sheen. "Black Swan" came from the "United Abominations" sessions and has nothing to do with the film of the same name.

The song "Never Dead" is a stand out track with it's slow build up, it really has a feel of an old Megadeth track, the drums are great in this track and big credit must go to Shawn Drover who has really made that spot behind the kit his own and his playing with Ellefson is perfect. "Wrecker" is another great song that has a couple of great guitar solo's and sounds like Megadeth on top of their game almost revitalised. "We Are The People" has a guitar chugging along at times not unlike "train Of Consequences" from "Youthanasia". "Millennium of the Blind" originally also appeared on the 2004 remaster of "Youthanasia" as well, the song of course is reworked and is a longer finished version.

It would seem the 20th anniversary tour of "Rust In Peace" and the return of bassist Dave Ellefson has revitalised Dave Mustaine and giving him an appetite to revisit and explore his musical past while at the same time keeping the band sounding fresh. With this been the bands final album of a 3 album deal with Roadrunner Record's it will be interesting to see what there next step will be.

This absolutely amazing modern thrash record is definitely one of Megadeth's, and one of the best thrash records i've ever heard! it's no wonder it's beating lou reed and metallica in the charts (no surprises there, anyway!). Make sure you get this album!