Megadeth
Youthanasia

Megadeth – Youthanasia (1994)

Groove Metal.

Much has been said about this album. “It's soft, it's commercial, it's stripped down.” To understand an album like Youthanasia, we must consider three things: 1 - it was 1994, and the metal scene was at an all-time low, largely due to grunge. 2 - Thrash metal in particular had been releasing timeless masterpieces for about ten years and was starting to show signs of wear. 3 - Megadeth had changed their lineup three times, and finally, the group was showing total stability, a situation that influenced the group's compositional process in a "democratic" way. Dave Mustaine, as already in the previous "Countdown To Extinction," had loosened his grip on the songwriting, giving more space to his three comrades to utilize their compositional skills. What we end up listening to is an album that is absolutely heavy, angry, and mature. Reaching the end of the album gives the feeling of a clenched iron fist in front of our face. The band's sound had become compact, with slower songs, tight rhythms but never as extreme as in the legendary "Rust In Peace" (1990). The solos are present, but on two occasions, there's also room for a harmonica, showing us that the band isn't afraid to experiment, whether for recording demands or their own taste. The tracks, on more than one occasion, are almost danceable. This takes nothing away from the heaviness of the original sound but shows us how a band that started with the unsurpassable fusion metal of "Killing Is My Business" (1985) and "Peace Sells" (1986) can still surprise with an ever-evolving sound. Ellefson's bass, as always, does not disappoint, appearing solid, balanced, and with a regal taste. Menza plays groovy, pounding adeptly. Mustaine sings well, plays sharp solos but gives a little more space to Friedman in this regard. What can be said about Friedman? A seasoned professional, he carves out more than one spot in a work that nonetheless does not aim at individual virtuosity. 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." After this album, many things changed, and Megadeth never repeated this level, except starting from "The System Has Failed," dated 2004.