I bought the last few Megadeth albums by force of habit than actually really liking them. It was like the band had gone down the commercial road instead of bashing out first class metal. Previous album The System Has Failed was a step in the right direction, but sounded more as a solo album. Of course that was due to line-up problems front man Dave Mustaine was facing, including a lawsuit from former bass player Dave Ellefson. New album United Abomination marks a fresh new start with a solid line up and a return to Megadeth’s vintage material.

 

Mentioning in interviews that if he was to say what time this record would have came out, it would have been some time after Rust in Peace or Countdown to Extinction. These landmark albums are favorites amongst the old school fans, including yours truly. Certainly the title track and ‘Play for Blood’ are absolutely great tracks and would have fitted in nicely on those albums. United Abominations is a superb album, including a great new version of ‘A Tout Le Monde’ featuring Christina Scabbia of Lacuna Coil. 

Political songs like ‘Washington Is Next’ and ‘Amerikhastan’ do remind you of the old material, although you can’t really reproduce the old days. It’s like asking Pink Floyd to recreate Dark Side Of The Moon. Anybody who stopped listening to Megadeth after Youthanasia should give them a second chance. They deserve it. Or better said Mustaine deserves it.

 

The album marks the recording debut of the Drover brothers. According to Mustaine these guys are the ones who basically saved Megadeth. He was finally associating again with musicians that really love to play. Otherwise he would have disbanded Megadeth permanently. Glad to hear the system is up and running again.