Criticized by fans but praised by critics.
A play on words that captures the essence of the arrival of Youthanasia.
Released (without being washed though...) back in Halloween of 1994, the album follows a slightly less speed line than its predecessors.
Mustaine had already recreated a slower, heavier sound starting with “Countdown to Extinction,” trying to counter the grunge wave that was dominating the music scene at the time. This album is indeed the continuation of the “anti-grunge war,” resulting in a more elaborated sound.
The more traditional fans, the true “defenders,” were a bit disappointed as they expected the band's sixth work to be some sort of sacred return to the speeds of “Rust in Peace” or at least something approaching the initial raw speed metal. The critics in general and other bands, on the other hand, acclaimed the album, especially for the context, praising Dave, who leads the stellar ‘Deth line-up, with mister Friedman on the six strings, Ellefson on bass, and drummer Menza.
The album is fluid and easy to listen to, yet musically complex at the same time. The influences present are moderately relevant to hard rock but never neglect the thrash spirit. The sound is always that of Mustaine's home, with guitars reigning over the scene and an impeccable rhythmic base, though not threatening from the double pedal's point of view.
The founder of the thrash metal band is the undisputed protagonist of the CD: with his unmistakable voice and extraordinary guitar skills, he perfectly assumes the role of frontman, creating sharp and explicit solos and riffs together with Marty’s genius, while also following a more classic metal sound.
Opening the dances is “Reckoning Day”, which thunders and almost never stops, confirming itself as one of the most beautiful and driven songs on the album. From the distorted “Train of Consequences”, the album’s prevailing style begins to emerge: presumptuous, scratchy, and scorching! “The Killing Road” along with the flamboyant “Family Tree” and the semi-ballad “A Tout le Monde” complete the frame of the most interesting tracks.
The remaining episodes provide additional proof of the band’s skill and mastery in delivering excellent music and conclude a good album, produced by Mustaine. The wit, sarcasm, irreverence, and critique all encapsulated in a metal album, as only Megadeth can do.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Train of Consequences (03:27)
I'm doing you a favor
As I'm taking all your money
I guess I should feel sorry
But I don't even trust me
There's bad news creeping up
And you feel a sudden chill
How do you do? My name is Trouble
I'm coming in for the kill...
And you know I will
Set the ball a-rollin
I'll be clicking off the miles
On the train of consequences
My boxcar life o' style
My thinking is derailed
I'm tied up to the tracks
The train of consequences
There ain't no turning back
No horse ever ran as fast
As the money that you bet
I'm blowing all my cards
And I play them to my chest
Life's fabric is corrupt
Shot through with corroded thread
As for me I hocked my brains
Packed my bag and headed West
02 Addicted to Chaos (05:26)
Only yesterday they told me you were gone
All these normal people, will I find another one?
Monkey on my back, Aching in my bones
I forgot you said "One day you'll walk alone"
I said I need you, does that make me wrong?
Am I a weak man, are you feeling strong?
My heart was blackened, It's bloody red
A hole in my heart, a hole in my head?
Who will help me up?
Where's the helping hand?
Will you turn on me?
Is this my final stand?
In a dream I cannot see
Tangled abstract fallacy
Random turmoil builds in me
I'm addicted
addicted to chaos
Lights shined on my path, Turn bad days into good
Turn breakdowns into blocks, I smashed 'em Cause I could
My brain was Labored, My head would spin
Don't let me down, don't give up, don't give in
The rain comes down, cold wind blows
The plans we made are back up on the road
Turn up my collar, welcome the unknown
Remember that you said "One day you'll walk alone"
Who will help me up?
Where's the helping hand?
Will you turn on me?
Is this my final stand?
In a dream I cannot see
Tangled abstract fallacy
Random turmoil builds in me
I'm addicted to chaos
[SOLO]
Who will help me up?
Where's the helping hand?
Will you turn on me?
Is this my final stand?
In a dream I cannot see
Tangled abstract fallacy
Random turmoil builds in me
builds
builds
builds
In a dream I cannot see
Tangled abstract fallacy
Random turmoil builds in me
I'm addicted
I'm addicted to chaos
Addicted
Addicted
To chaos
To chaos
Addicted to chaos
To chaos
03 I Thought I Knew It All (03:44)
Somewhere there's a reason
Why things go like they do
Somewhere there's a reason
Why somethings just fall through
We don't always see them
For what they really are
But I know there's a reason,
Just can't see it from this far
Maybe I don't like it, but I have no choice
I know that somewhere, someone hears my voice
I thought I knew it all
I thought I had it made
How could it end this way?
I thought I knew
Somewhere there's a reason
Why things don't go my way
Somewhere there's a reason
That I cannot explain
Just like the change of season,
Just may not be my turn
But I know there's a reason,
The lesson's mine to learn
04 À tout le monde (04:27)
Don't remember where I was
I realized life was a game
The more seriously I took things
The harder the rules became
I had no idea what it'd cost
My life passed before my eyes
When I found out how little I accomplished
All my plans denied
So as you read this know my friends
I'd love to stay with you all
Please smile when you think of me
My body's gone that's all
A tout le monde
A tous mes amis
Je vous aime
Je dois partir
These are the last words I'll ever speak
And they'll set me free
If my heart (If my heart) was still alive (was still alive)
I know it would surely break
(And my memories left with you)
There's nothing more to say
Moving on is a simple thing
What it leaves behind is hard
You know the sleeping feel no more pain
And the living are scarred
A tout le monde
A tous mes amis
Je vous aime
Je dois partir
These are the last words I'll ever speak
And they'll set me free
So as you read this know my friends
I'd love to stay with you all
Please smile, smile when you think about me
My body's gone that's all
A tout le monde (A tout le monde)
A tous mes amis (A tous mes amis)
Je vous aime (Je vous aime)
Je dois partir (Je dois partir)
These are the last words I'll ever speak
And they'll set me free
[x2]
These are the last words I'll ever speak
And they'll set me free
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Other reviews
By metalselo
"Youthanasia is one of those albums that definitively marked the fall of Mustaine & co."
"From a technical point of view, although Megadeth are good musicians, 'Youthanasia' is truly scandalous."
By FlavioMetal
Reaching the end of the album gives the feeling of a clenched iron fist in front of our face.
Megadeth specifically built a studio in Phoenix, Arizona for the album’s recording, and for enthusiasts, it is possible to follow almost the entire recording process in the documentary ‘EVOLVER – THE MAKING OF YOUTHANASIA.’