Megadeth
Endgame

Megadeth - "Endgame"

Lately, the world of Thrash has become a joke: everyone is waiting for an album from the big names, especially in the Metallica-Megadeth-Slayer triangle, and it becomes a competition to see who can do better among them.

After the stone thrown by Metallica with "Death Magnetic", Slayer responded with the single "Psychopaty Red", and now we are waiting for the album "World Painted Blood," seeking an immediate comparison. Mustaine, on the other hand, claims that "Endgame" is superior to "Death Magnetic" and so on...

By now, none of these artists have anything concrete to say, given the glorious past each has behind them, so these latest albums are just something to please the fans, trying to make more music from their mold, rather than wanting to change the music, as was the case for "Rust in Peace," "Master of Puppets," or "Reign in Blood."

In the past year, we have three albums from each of these artists... Each with different stories and thus a different musical outcome...

Everyone knows the sad story of Metallica, and honestly, I've never believed in a possible comeback, Slayer, judging from the little I've heard, are now following the path of AC/DC, which is to constantly repeat themselves and always make the same song.

Then there are Megadeth, whose story restarted only a few years ago. After a few missteps, we are witnessing a gradual rise. We probably will never have the glorious 80s and 90s of Thrash again, but this is a sign that this musical genre is evolving, leaving a legacy to young bands while the historic ones slowly fade away.

Sooner or later, everyone has to leave, what matters is how you do it... And so far, Megadeth is making a more than dignified exit.

Comparisons with other works are inevitable, even though I've always hated them. What matters is making the comparison with the right things, and obviously, it's with the latest efforts of others, since with past works there's usually no comparison at all. "Endgame" is definitely a good listen compared to a "Death Magnetic" that disappoints on many fronts. Also because the Megadeth always come back in great shape.

An album that is, on the whole, well-crafted: the opening with "Dialectic Chaos" is an engaging instrumental intro, filled with layers of solos, just like that of "So far, So Good ...So what?". Then the album takes us to explore what is the Megadeth style, only much more refined as an obvious consequence of time. Solos that cut like blades and always amaze, riffs that recall previous works just like in "This Day We Fight!" the single "Headcrusher" or "1,320'" and other more modern things like "44 Minutes" or the title track "Endgame" before letting ourselves go to the fantastic ballad "The Hardest Part of Letting Go... Sealed with a Kiss".