80s vs 90s Megadeth

Which decade of Deth do you prefer and why? 

Although as a thrash fan I enjoy their first 3 (SFSGSW is oddly underrated), I’ve gotta go 90s. Risk is better left forgotten, but RiP is their magnum opus, and CtE, Youthanasia, and CW are all good albums. I find their songs grab me more during this era than any other point in their history, with a few exceptions. I think their songwriting was tighter then.

90s for sure. 

Countdown is my personal favorite followed by Rust In Peace.

Youthanasia was their melodic metal high point IMO.

Cryptic was all over the place, but still really good.

Risk was an experiment that's pretty good for what it is. I like it. Glad they got back to "Business" (sorry, had to) after that though!

Risk has its moments. (It’s better than St. Canker Sore). 

I really like the more melodic, sing-songy Deth. It’s probably why I wasn’t that impressed with Endgame as a whole but liked Super Collider more than most.

90's for me as well, but it might be b/c I didn't hear either of the first 2 albums until a few years ago. For me it was RiP, Countdown, Youthanasia and CR that were staples for me. I think I listened to Risk once or twice. 

IMHO, there are AWESOME songs on the first 3 albums, some are even in my top 5-10 favourites, but the writing seems really inconsistent. There are quite a few songs that sound like a high school garage band. I can't believe they recorded some of those juvenile guitar solos when they were also playing awesome ones!

Yeah Metallica's St. Anger was an example of a failed experiment. Can't believe they released that. They've been lagging behind Megadeth since the early 90s anyway. 
I'm still a huge Metallica fan though! 

Risk is an experiment that worked out ok for what it is.

I didn't care as much for Thirteen. Just seems like it was kind of thrown together or something. 

Come to think of it, so does Super Collider. It's a decent enough album. Just kind of "bland" or whatever. It has its moments, though.

Those 3 are pretty much my least favorite Megadeth releases.

A lot of their recent work (post-UA) is fine to me when it’s on, but then I kinda forget it. There are exceptions, though. (E.g. Built for War, Headcrusher, Black Swan).

I really like Endgame. Listened to that one a LOT back when it came out. 

Didn't care as much for the next couple.

Dystopia was a big step in the right direction, and a pretty good album, but I really don't revisit it too often for some reason. I'll listen to it again soon. It's been a while.

The new one is killer, though. I like it better every time I hear it.

I'm the same: Dystopia is a solid, solid album, and when I'm listening to it I really enjoy it. But I don't find myself returning to it; I'm wondering if it maybe doesn't grab me emotionally.

I need to spin Dystopia again, as well. It’s been a while. 

I don’t think 80s Deth holds a candle to 80s Metallica. But I don’t think 90s Metallica holds a candle to 90s Deth. And I think Deth has been better overall this millennium, although I did enjoy both Death Magnetic and Hardwired. The best record from the big 4 this millennium actually goes to Anthrax with Worship Music.

I will say that I’ve seen both bands live and I found Metallica more entertaining.

Sevenoneself wrote:I'm the same: Dystopia is a solid, solid album, and when I'm listening to it I really enjoy it. But I don't find myself returning to it; I'm wondering if it maybe doesn't grab me emotionally.

Good point. Maybe it's the same with me. No real emotional investment. Doesn't mean it can't happen at some point down the line, though.

I will say that Fatal Illusion is always getting stuck in my head for some reason. Sometimes it's Poisonous Shadows. I don't retain the rest of the album like that for some weird reason.

Pethead wrote:I need to spin Dystopia again, as well. It’s been a while. 

I don’t think 80s Deth holds a candle to 80s Metallica. But I don’t think 90s Metallica holds a candle to 90s Deth. And I think Deth has been better overall this millennium, although I did enjoy both Death Magnetic and Hardwired. 

My views exactly.

MagnusPrime wrote:

Sevenoneself wrote:I'm the same: Dystopia is a solid, solid album, and when I'm listening to it I really enjoy it. But I don't find myself returning to it; I'm wondering if it maybe doesn't grab me emotionally.

Good point. Maybe it's the same with me. No real emotional investment. Doesn't mean it can't happen at some point down the line, though.

I will say that Fatal Illusion is always getting stuck in my head for some reason. Sometimes it's Poisonous Shadows. I don't retain the rest of the album like that for some weird reason.

Fav lyric: It's a fatal illusion to that think that evil never dies.

MagnusPrime wrote:

Pethead wrote:I need to spin Dystopia again, as well. It’s been a while. 

I don’t think 80s Deth holds a candle to 80s Metallica. But I don’t think 90s Metallica holds a candle to 90s Deth. And I think Deth has been better overall this millennium, although I did enjoy both Death Magnetic and Hardwired. 

My views exactly.

Agreed as well (although I haven't listened to any 2000s Metallica so I can't comment on that part).

Related topic: which Deth album do you think of as their “black album?” (In terms of sound and approach, not sales). Countdown, Youthanasia, or Cryptic Writings? I used to think of Countdown that way, but I think Youthanasia might be more the more accurate answer.

Pethead wrote:Related topic: which Deth album do you think of as their “black album?” (In terms of sound and approach, not sales). Countdown, Youthanasia, or Cryptic Writings? I used to think of Countdown that way, but I think Youthanasia might be more the more accurate answer.

Sound-wise you're probably right. 

In a way it's all 3, and even Risk - which went in a lighter and more "accessible" direction than even the Load albums.

Mustaine was still all about chasing Metallica's success back then, so every album in the 90s starting with Countdown was an attempt to "crack the mainstream" in the same manner that Metallica had done. 

The album they had the most success with was Countdown, though. It was also the first album where they veered away from most of the speed element and simplified their sound. So I'll personally stick with that one as being their "black album". 

Lots of other speed/thrash bands were getting in on that (in varying degrees) in the wake of Metallica's success though. Testament, Anthrax, Overkill, Flotsam, Suicidal, and to a somewhat lesser extent, even Exodus and Nuclear Assault got in on the action LOL! Another factor in all this was the musical landscape changing dramatically for heavy music during those years.

another interesting topic might be which of those “mainstream-aimed” albums were the best. For example, I’d say Testament’s offering in The Ritual was quite good.

Pethead wrote:another interesting topic might be which of those “mainstream-aimed” albums were the best. For example, I’d say Testament’s offering in The Ritual was quite good.

Yes. After Countdown, the Ritual would definitely be my favorite. 

It's one of my all-time favorite albums actually. 

If Atlantic had actually cared about Testament at that point, that album could have been huge.

It’s a beastly album. Electric Crown is maybe my favorite Testament song.

If Tourniquet’s Vanishing Lessons counts here, that would be my number 1.

Pethead wrote:

If Tourniquet’s Vanishing Lessons counts here, that would be my number 1.

Couldn't really argue with that one! 

Also in the "Great 90s Thrash Metamorphosis" movement (LOL!):

Deliverance had Stay Of Execution (which is my favorite from them), continuing with that direction for their next few.

Even Kreator kind of "toned it down" a little on Renewal, which is another album I love. After returning to all-out thrash on Cause For Conflict, they returned to a more experimental streamlined sound on Outcast and especially Endorama, which is their most accessible album (and a pretty good one too). 

Slayer wrote and kindly informed the rest that they would not be participating.

I LOVE Stay of Execution. Other than Weapons, my favorite D era is that middle period starting with Stay.

Pethead wrote:I LOVE Stay of Execution. Other than Weapons, my favorite D era is that middle period starting with Stay.

I love Stay Of Execution and Learn. 

I didn't care as much for River and Camelot actually. Decent albums, just not as good as the other two IMO.

Back to Death. RIP alone makes the 90s the winner but I enjoy most of that era. Overkill is another one I like the 90s era better though the Years of Decay pushes in.

I like the 80’s better. Obviously Rust in Peace is technically in the 90’s… but it still has the feel of the 80’s. After Rust, Megadeth started to immediately go in a more commercial direction.

MagnusPrime wrote:

Pethead wrote:I LOVE Stay of Execution. Other than Weapons, my favorite D era is that middle period starting with Stay.

I love Stay Of Execution and Learn. 

I didn't care as much for River and Camelot actually. Decent albums, just not as good as the other two IMO.

I like River and Camelot, but they are D's two worst IMO.

Even though RiP is their best album, I might have to go with the 80's. Something about the unprofessional sound of the early albums (especially KIMB) is great imo. I don't why, but often songs that sound "bad" end up working well for me if they fit the lyrics. A great example is Last Rites. I love that song, but it's SO discordant. But I think the discordant verses and the almost un-musically frantic main riff fits the song. Peace Sells might be their most when it comes to lyrical themes, though the riffs are great. If I do go with 90's after hearing more from them, it would be due to the overall more evil themes in the early albums.