Megadeth
So Far, So Good... So What!

THE REVIEW

After a stressful Saturday morning at the office, here I am at home. Given the awful weather, I settle back at the PC, and, of course, Windows Media Player starts: "So Far, So Good... So What!". It's one of my favorite albums and, although it doesn't reach the heights of masterpieces like "Rust In Peace", it deserves a review on DeBaser!

From the instrumental intro "Into The Lungs Of Hell", you are faced with pure thrash metal (although personally, I prefer to call it Speed): in three and a half minutes of pure music, it becomes clear that the band is in great form, with a precise and punctual rhythm section, and Mustaine and Young always accurate. Then comes the singing: "Set A World A Fire" is fantastic; every time I hear it, I think of that poem (or sonnet, call it what you will, in Italian, I was a failure) that said "S’ i’ fosse fuoco, arderei ‘l mondo"! I don’t think old Dave knows it, but who cares, the message isn’t different: Megadeth’s arsenal is unleashed. The song has a decidedly aggressive lyrics and Mustaine’s voice is fantastic, angry and clear at the same time. Then it's the turn of the Sex Pistols cover with special guest Steve Jones. Honestly, I don't particularly love punk, so I prefer this version to the original. Then begins the splendid lament of "Mary Jane": Mustaine gives his best, the song flows pleasantly, with lyrics seasoned with the usual sarcasm, our singer is in the grip of nightmares. But the main feature is the music, a redundant start, almost like a symphonic opera, a simple and, therefore, catchy rhythm: it sticks in your head, like almost all the band's songs, especially due to the rhythm change halfway through the song, with a series of short solos alternating with the voice: fantastic. After the vaguely prophetic flavor song and the crazy one, it's time for the ride "502", the suitable song for when you get stopped by the cops. The lyrics appear (and in my opinion, are) the result of one of the band's members’ boozy nights, spiced with high speed (ok, the message may not be positive, but today, who hasn’t lost points for the alcohol test or should consider themselves really lucky or doesn’t drive). The album continues with three more tracks: "In My Darkest Hour", where Mustaine offers a great vocal performance with a rough and angry voice (although I don't much like the part where he modifies it) and the band always plays at good levels, especially regarding speed. Then "Liar": fantastic, with a heart-pounding sound intro, a series of gratuitous insults directed at the entire world (ok, well maybe just at Metallica, but it’s old news by now) and screamed at monstrous speed. Finally, "Hook In Mouth", for me, the least inspired track of the album, although Megadeth confirms that they are in great shape, both with an engaging lyrics where "the New Ways' Evil Book of Rules" reminds me much of those political programs today so widespread, and under the strictly technical profile with an intense rhythm, while the two guitars alternate perfectly.

Conclusion: In this 1988, Megadeth tries to respond to the other metal bands, probably with an album in some ways inferior to "...And Justice For All", "Reign in Blood", or "Into The Pandemonium", but inferior, especially, to its predecessor "Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?". However, in my opinion, in "So Far, So Good... So What!" the elements are present, i.e., the acquired confidence by Mustaine in vocals and the now full harmony with Ellefson on bass, that will lead not only to "Rust In Peace", but confirm the group as one of the cornerstones of the genre. In short, fantastic: how can you not get hyped while listening to "502" while driving? Forget about the morning grind, I'm pumped for the evening: recommended album before going out for a night of revelry, maybe avoiding ending up in some "hunz" club.