Megadeth – Dystopia

Highly recommended!

My copy has the 'Made in Czech Republic' sticker. Sound-wise, it is a dramatic improvement over the brickwalled CD pressing (foobar2000 normalized the CD rip to -12dB, LOL). The pressing is quiet, sound is dynamic, and distortions are missing.

Too fast, drum thundering and repetitious for me. Guess I'm off the metal bandwagon then.This Euro pressing you guys are talking about doesn't sound that great to me. The US must be pure garbage. Megadeth can do better and the Sick Dying & Dead proves it.

Quite good album from Megadeth, but not the best.
CD sounds quite good as well

i find it quite funny/cool they offered a card for a free copy of the vinyl pressing on the cd edition. now hearing reviews the vinyl sucks/cd sounds better... were they trolling us?

Got this copy because people saying it was clear of pops and clicks. Not my copy last 3 songs on side is bad. More noticed at Is quiet spots.
Sound otherwise is good. But I expected better and free of the pops and clicks.

There is no denying that Megadeth – Mustaine and the brand – remain a force to be reckoned with in the metal community, especially for those of us that have spent nearly 3 decades following their career and lapping up every ounce of metal forged. But along with all of the glory has come the frustration with stylistic changes and more significantly … the dreaded line-up changes. The 2014 departure of drummer Shawn Drover and guitarist Chris Broderick – who were excellent at their trade and went on to form Act of Defiance – was the latest disruption that threatened to put the proverbial “nail in the coffin” to Mustaine’s Megadeth machine …and all this over fans ranting over wanting a reformation with Menza and Friedman. Seriously? Having seen both Drover and Broderick on the Rust In Peace anniversary tour a few years ago, these guys gelled with Ellefson and Mustaine and more than carried their weight in metal. But Mustaine has never been one to give up easily in the face of adversity and it seems there has always been a bevy of talented musicians ready to answer the call to serve in the Megadeth army. Enter Kiko Loureio (Angra) and Chris Adler (Lamb of God). These guys were more than willing to bring their own enthusiastic and talented skills to the aid of the venerable, yet resilient Mustaine. Following in the trend of current dystopian movies/themes whilst still treading in the familiar waters of Megadeth political and sociological commentary, Dystopia not only delivers a blistering performance by the new band but it also hearkens back to the early years where thrash ruled the day – this one feels a lot like the Rust In Peace era, but there is more as well.

It’s rare that I listen to pre-release material because I find that it often taints the pure virgin listening experience of a new “record.” But with all of the hype about the return to thrash/guitar-driven metal, I could not resist the temptation to sample “Dystopia,” “Fatal Illusion” and the brilliant “The Threat Is Real.” The catchy riffs are there, the shred is there, and Adler more than s the Megadeth drumming legacy. Plus, Ellefson really delivers on this record – some tasty leads on his part (“Fatal Illusion” for example) and more than just a ing role this time around. The scathing (and semi-prophetic) lyrics continue (“Lying in State”) but this time the riffs, speed and intensity are there to back them up. While there is nothing new - this stuff reeks of Peace Sells meets Rust In Peace – Megadeth sounds vital and rejuvenated which to me is more than just fine. I found Super Collider to be a bit tedious with the experimentation, differing styles, sound-bites and such and just a bit too much like Youthanasia in that regard. The songs are shorter – but they hit hard and fast. Hints of Countdown show up here on “Post American World” – a song that has the “Symphony of Destruction” riff/vibe – and there are a few mellower elements here as well. “Poisonous Shadows” is the longest and most progressive song – and certainly one of the most thought provoking – and features some classical moments and a piano epilogue which segues nicely into the expressive and neoclassical instrumental “Conquer or Die.” The cover of Fear’s “Foreign Policy” concludes 45 minutes of pace, push and peace? – definitely a metal album folks … for metal folks.

In addition to the CD and mp3 versions, there is a red vinyl version - which I can’t wait to explore - and the amazing “Terminator meets Megadeth” cover artwork lithograph (signed by Mustaine). Not only is Dystopia a Megadeth “call to arms” and a return to form, it is a bold declaration of metal defiance in an era of computer driven drivel – the threat is real indeed!!

Anyone selling this cassette ? i am interested in buying

I'm not ever big on "new" albums from rock groups that had their golden age of creativity in the 80s/90s, but Dystopia is a pretty focused effort. If I'm comparing this to everything Megadeth put out up to Youthanasia, it isn't quite up to that level for me, though I do think it's better than Cryptic Writings (and probably anything that came after that). Not many of these songs are going to burn down the singles charts with their hooks, maybe with the exception of Post American World (my favorite track), but the entire album is very consistent and definitely sets a mood. There is some epic shredding on this record, no doubt. The cover is also insanely cool!

3.75/5

My version came with a promo in which if you bought the CD, you would also get sent a vinyl copy as soon as you submitted the code on a website. It shot up the price, but it was worth it.

Kickass album from start to finish, one of their best and sounds great!!!