MEGADETH 'United Abominations' (Roadrunner) RATING: 8.5/10 Buy now

By GREG MAKI

United Abominations, Megadeth’s Roadrunner Records debut, continues the return to form Dave Mustaine began with The World Needs a Hero in 2001 and furthered with 2004’s The System Has Failed. It’s his best effort since Youthanasia, released all the way back in 1994. World events have noticeably sharpened his focus, thematically and musically. Take a look at some of the song titles—“Washington Is Next,” “United Abominations,” “Gears of War,” “Amerikhastan”—and read the liner notes about “Megadeth in the Age of Terror” credited to Jack Bauer (yes, the 24 character), and it’s easy to see where Dave is coming from. Megadeth always has been the thinking man’s metal band, and that is as much the case here as ever.

One of Mustaine’s strengths, which he continues here, is his willingness to cede the spotlight to the musicians around him. He could easily play all the guitars himself, but instead he has made Megadeth into more of a band than it has been since he parted ways with longtime bassist David Ellefson. On every song, he trades solos with Glen Drover, who more than holds his own with his boss. Glen’s brother, drummer Shawn Drover, teams with veteran bassist James Lomenzo (Black Label Society, Pride & Glory, White Lion) in a formidable rhythm section.

While Megadeth probably will never fully return to the pure speed metal of early albums like Peace Sells … But Who’s Buying?, United Abominations strikes a good balance between that era (“Sleepwalker,” “Washington Is Next”) and more melodic, mid-tempo material (“Never Walk Alone … A Call to Arms,” “United Abominations,” “Play for Blood”). The first single, a new recording of Youthanasia’s “À Tout le Monde (Set Me Free)” featuring vocals by Lacuna Coil’s Cristina Scabbia, feels out of place, but it is a beautiful version of what was already a moving song.

Mustaine was on the verge of saying goodbye to Megadeth a few years ago before catching a second wind. Let’s hope it continues because United Abominations is a superb album. Given the improvement he has shown over the past decade, Mustaine could be on the verge of crafting a true masterpiece.