Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler Rant: Megadeth

So I'm curious: everyone seems to hate Metallica for Load and Reload (a couple of albums I rather like) because they "abandoned their roots" or some such. But what about Megadeth? Risk, which came out a year or two later, is similar in the root-abandoning territory. It's a pretty crummy album, includes what seems to be a found-Jesus type song (!), and a bunch of not quite metal. But Mustaine's not vilified to the same extent as Metallica. Leaving aside the Napster argument, anyone know why? Anyone actually agree with me about Risk? Anyone even heard of the album?

Because I think Metallica made a specific attempt to get into the mainstream music scene, which arguably began with the black album. I think that put off many of their hard-core fans. I haven't heard that particular Megadeth album, but I'll guess it didn't specifically try mainstream, just failed as a proper Megadeth album?

It was pretty darn mainstream. That and weird.

Yes, Risk was horrible. (And so is United Abominations)

I'd say cause Metallica is a bigger and better known band among the general public. They are more mainstream. I hear Metallica on local radio all the time, but rarely/never hear Megadeth. Other than Peace Sells and Symphony of Destruction (which I like both of, btw), I don't know that I can think of any Megadeth songs off the top of my head, but I could write you a whole list of Metallica songs.

Hey, wasn't the lead singer of Megadeth a former member of Metallica? I watched a Megadeth concert on HDNET over the weekend and I have to say it was pretty good.

Waaaay back when, yeah. They kicked him out because he was too much of a junkie. This was before their first album. Don't know if he ever really forgave them, until maybe recently.

I didn't realize until I saw the concert but he is actually a decent guitar player. I noticed the lead guitarist was playing what looked like a very nice 7 string Ibanez guitar.

Dave Mustaine is a very, very good guitarist--much better playing than singing!

Indeed! I came away impressed. It was enough for me to watch the entire concert which usually I do not do on HDNET. I was not familiar with most of the songs besides the really popular stuff.