Megadeth – The Sick, the Dying…and the Dead!

The course of the world has changed drastically since Megadeth released their last studio album, Dystopia (2016). For one, there was the COVID-19 pandemic and mass political unrest (Both of which were arguably foreshadowed on Dystopia, but we’ll hop down that rabbit hole another day.) These factors alone would ideally fuel the fire for a ripping, old school Megadeth album. Couple that with Dave Mustaine’s cancer battle and the unceremonious departure of David Ellefson, and you’ve got a powder keg waiting to explode. That said, going into Megadeth’s 16th studio album, The Sick, the Dying…and the Dead!, I kept my expectations reasonably low.

While the thrash titans’ 80s and early 90s output is nothing short of legendary, their efforts since have been a mixed bag at best. Sure, The System Has Failed (2004) and Endgame (2009) are solid 2000s thrash outings, but in the scope of Megadeth’s catalog, they pale in comparison to *insert 1985-1994 release here*. Even Dystopia, their strongest since Endgame (I don’t think many would disagree.), is merely “good” by Megadeth standards. The point is, we know what brilliance Dave Mustaine is capable of based off past releases, but we are also well acquainted with his current songwriting comfort zone.

This aforementioned brilliance rears its rattled head on many cuts throughout TSTDATD. Surprisingly enough, two of the strongest songs on here happen to be the ones released as advance singles, “We’ll Be Back” and “Night Stalkers”: A pair of violent, savage thrashers that throw it back to the Rust in Peace days. Had the entire album sounded like this, it would’ve been a shoe-in for “album of the year”. But alas, Mustaine has more to prove in his advanced age than churning out high speed mosh riffs. Other highlights include the opening title track, which channels the headier side of Countdown to Extinction, the galloping anthem that is “Soldier On!”, and the Diamond Head gone thrash attack of “Célebutante”.

On the opposite end of these standouts are a collection of songs that never really deviate from the status quo (Please send my regards to Mr. Rossi and Mr. Parfitt (R.I.P.).) “Dogs of Chernobyl”, “Sacrifice”, and “Killing Time” mediocrely stride the line between heavy and thrash metal, not bringing much to the table aside from some tasty leads and occasional techy/prog showmanship; which by the way, for a band who was once known for their virtuosity, they’ve sure scaled that down big time. I’m not sure what the bigger disappointment is: Megadeth’s lack of instrumental virtuosity in 2022, or the inclusion of “Mission to Mars”.

I’m sorry Mr. Mustaine, but you have no place to criticize your old bandmate for adding a bass intro to one of the more palatable songs on Super Collider, only to then add a glorified Super Collider leftover to this album. And don’t even get me started on the lyrics: “I wanna be an astronaut.” “I hang with the man on the moon.” Really? And to think this was the same pen that wrote the lyrics for “Holy Wars…The Punishment Due” and “Countdown to Extinction”. If half of this album weren’t semi-enjoyable, I’d be lamenting how the mighty have fallen.

All in all, TSTDATD is far from Megadeth’s worst album, but it’s far from their best too. It is what it is: Just another Megadeth album; one that will help them coast by from package tour to package tour, playing to the summer amphitheater crowd who doesn’t mind hearing the same 10 greatest hits every year. One might view it as a “sad ending” for one of thrash’s most revolutionary bands, but hey, it could always be worse. They could be Metallica!

6 out of 10

Label: Universal Music Group

Genre: Thrash Metal

For fans of: Metallica, Testament, Anthrax