{"id":23965,"date":"2012-11-20T07:58:40","date_gmt":"2012-11-20T12:58:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/?p=23965"},"modified":"2013-02-05T16:41:05","modified_gmt":"2013-02-05T21:41:05","slug":"megadeth-countdown-to-extinction-20th-anniversary-cd-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/2012\/megadeth-countdown-to-extinction-20th-anniversary-cd-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Megadeth | Countdown to Extinction 20th Anniversary<\/em>"},"content":{"rendered":"

by John Kindred<\/span>
\n– Publisher —<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Megadeth\"Has it really been 20 years? By now, we all know the story of Dave Mustaine\u2019s exile from Metallica. After four albums, Mustaine had established Megadeth among his peers as a premier speed-thrash-metal band, featuring high-caliber musicians, backed by brilliantly crafted songs. Mustaine, never afraid to say what he felt, had been dissing the backwards social and political agendas in the United States for nearly a decade. In \u201992, he had fresh fodder with racial tensions on the verge of imploding into anarchy in Los Angeles, a Presidential election and the first Gulf War stealing the headlines on a daily basis. Megadeth\u2019s fifth album, Countdown to Extinction<\/em>, was Mustaine\u2019s response to this turbulent time period. <\/p>\n

Flashing forward 20 years, EMI has released the Countdown to Extinction 20th Anniversary<\/em> two-CD, lift-top box edition and digital release of this historic studio album. The package contains the re-mastered studio album and is paired with a live concert recording of the band when they appeared at San Francisco’s Cow Palace. Also included is a stunning 24″ x 36″ fold-out poster, four postcards of each band member, and the booklet contains liner notes from music journalist Kory Grow.<\/p>\n

Countdown to Extinction 20th Anniversary<\/em> contains the same 11-tracks as the original release from \u201992. The most noticeable difference is the increase in overall volume of the re-mastered version. \u201cSkin O’ My Teeth\u2019s\u201d initial drum roll introduction sounds as if the meters are pushing well into the red, even when you pull your EQ down into negative numbers. It\u2019s definitely a hotter mix than the original CD. The album was produced by Max Norman and Mustaine. It is the second release to feature the lineup of Mustaine, Ellefson , shredder Marty Friedman and drummer Nick Menza. And while Mustaine handled the majority of the songwriting on Countdown<\/em>, each of the band members have a writing credit or two along with Mustaine. <\/p>\n

The social and political climate of the time shaped the lyrics on Countdown. Several songs are about the military and war, such as \u201cSymphony of Destruction,\u201d “Architecture of Aggression” and “Ashes in Your Mouth.\u201d While politics on the home front was covered on “Foreclosure of a Dream,\u201d which is highlighted by snippets from George Bush\u2019s infamous \u201cread my lips \u2026\u201d speech, hammers home the sentiment of governmental greed as many farmers lost their livelihoods during this time. Remember, all the Republicans like taxes just as much as Democrats, so don\u2019t be fooled by rhetoric from either side. Suicide, schizophrenia and failed relationships, all, were topics open for discussion. The music still sounds amazing, and the messages are still relevant. Mustaine always did deliver very heavy, if not thought-provoking, concepts to the table that were backed by superb musicianship. It\u2019s kind of funny that we seem doomed to repeat the past as we find ourselves practically in the exact same predicaments 20 years later. Friedman\u2019s and Mustaine\u2019s mastery of the fret-board produced heavy riffs and blistering solos. While Menza and Ellefson provided the rhythmic groove that hammered listeners into submission. <\/p>\n

The second CD, Live At Cow Palace<\/em>, was recorded in San Francisco in \u201992. The CD features 17 songs, and this is the first time that the performance has been released in its entirety. Here, we have the band in the live setting. All the angst, aggression and rebellion pour out on the audience. Some fans were throwing items on the stage, such as gummy bears candy, and Mustaine was quick to quip out a comment or two at them. The set included songs from the then-new album and songs from Rust In Peace<\/em>. \u201cHoly Wars ..,\u201d \u201cWake Up Dead,\u201d \u201cThe Conjuring,\u201d also are performed. The set actually is unique, as Megadeth performs a majority of the songs from Countdown<\/em> instead of playing a greatest hits set and only including a couple new songs. <\/p>\n

Overall, Countdown to Extinction 20th Anniversary<\/em> is a nice package for Megadeth fans. If you didn\u2019t listen to the original CD side by side with the 2012 re-master, you probably would miss the subtle changes, except maybe the increase in the overall volume of the music. Listening to both CD versions, side by side, die-hard fans may not be willing to let the original release go and instead opt to keep both for their listening pleasure. <\/p>\n

Genre: \tHeavy metal, thrash metal, speed metal, hard rock<\/p>\n

Band:
\nDave Mustaine – rhythm guitar, lead guitar, lead vocals
\nMarty Friedman – lead guitar, backing vocals
\nDave Ellefson – bass, backing vocals
\nNick Menza – drums, backing vocals<\/p>\n

Track Listing:
\nCD 1
\n01. Skin O’ My Teeth
\n02. Symphony Of Destruction
\n03. Architecture Of Aggression
\n04. Foreclosure Of A Dream
\n05. Sweating Bullets
\n06. This Was My Life
\n07. Countdown To Extinction
\n08. High Speed Dirt
\n09. Psychotron
\n10. Captive Honour
\n11. Ashes In Your Mouth
\nCD 2 \u2013 Live At Cow Palace, 1992
\n01. Intro
\n02. Holy Wars\u2026The Punishment Due
\n03. Skin O’ My Teeth
\n04. Wake Up Dead
\n05. Hangar 18
\n06. Countdown To Extinction
\n07. Foreclosure Of A Dream
\n08. This Was My Life
\n09. Lucretia
\n10. Sweating Bullets
\n11. In My Darkest Hour
\n12. The Conjuring
\n13. Tornado
\n14. Ashes In Your Mouth
\n15. Symphony Of Destruction
\n16. Peace Sells
\n17. Anarchy In the UK <\/p>\n

Label: Capitol, EMI<\/p>\n

Web: http:\/\/www.megadeth.com\/home.php<\/a><\/p>\n

Hardrock Haven rating: 9\/10<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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