Megadeth - Peace Sells... But Who's Buying? (1986)
Genre - Thrash Metal
Dave Mustaine - lead vocals, guitar
Chris Poland - guitar
David Ellefson - bass guitar, backing vocals
Gar Samuelson - drums
The 1980s were an important era for the development of the Heavy Metal genres of music. 1986 was a pretty important year for Thrash Metal because some albums were released that year. That year Metallica released Master of Puppets, Slayer released Reign in Blood, and Megadeth released Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?. All three are excellent albums to own. In this album review we'll obviously be talking about Megadeth's Peace Sells.
Wake Up Dead - Wake Up Dead opens up with good bassline and Mustaine's vocals, which are nothing special but nothing to criticize either. Twenty seconds into the song we are introduce to Dave Mustaine's great guitar skills were we hear two great guitar solos by him, and a great one by Chris Poland too. This song is more music than lyrics as you can tell with the two minutes plus without lyrics, however the incredible riffs and guitar solos more than made up for lyrics. The bass is sound present throughout the song which is pretty rare in the Thrash genre. Overall Wake Up Dead is a great way to open up the album. 10/10
The Conjuring - Another simple introduction is used here as well as simple triplet riff over a chord. Mustaine's vocals soon kick in which are followed by a killer riff. Mustaine and Poland's guitar talent really shows on this track with the great solo and rhythm work. The Conjuring is a technically complex song and one worth a listen but it may bore some people after a few listens. 8.5/10
Peace Sells - And now ladies and gentlemen we come to the title track Peace Sells. The intro kicks off with a cool bass riff and another great filler solo from Mustaine. This song is slowed down from the rest of the album but it has one of the best riffs on the album. Due to the great soloing this is also one of my recommend tracks from the album. The chorus riff of the song is great and nearly as good as the verse riff. The song speeds two minutes into the song where Mustaine repeats the words "Peace Sells! But Who's Buying?" a lot. Overall Peace Sells is stand out track and one worth a listen if you haven't gave it one yet. 10/10
Devil's Island - This next track really has nothing bad about you could say everything here is good. Devil's Island has an excellent opening riff that leads into a shred-infested solo. The riff for the verse is cool and fast. The song finishes up with another riff and a great guitar solo. 10/10
Good Mourning/Black Friday - Good Mourning/Black Friday is probably my favorite song off of Peace Sells. This track is split into two parts. Good Mourning the introduction sounds a bit like Fade to Black by Metallica, however the song Black Friday itself is nothing like it. There some nice solos in Good Mourning and it's a great way to get started for the adrenaline ride that is Black Friday. Black Friday is pretty damn cool and I don't how to really describe it but I'll say it technical thrash at it's best, also having lyrics that Slayer would envy is cool too. :p 10/10
Bad Omen - Hmm well the introduction sounds a bit like the last song and it comes into gear at about the same time as the last song too. A lot of people say this is a weak track, maybe not as good as some others but I wouldn't say exactly weak. Bad Omen is another fast track and has nice lead work. There is a great solo here by Mustaine around the two minute mark. Overall this is a fast paced song that fans of Speed Metal would dig. 8.5/10
I Ain't Superstitious - I don't know maybe it's me but I don't really think Thrash and old Blues covers mix well. This song is rather weak however it is not as bad as everyone makes it out to be, it is just averagely mediocre. This track has some nice fillers in the verse as well as nice soloing, but overall this track is one that can be skipped. Hey at least this is better than Dawn Portal. 6.5/10
My Last Words - The closing track is one that does not disappoint. Let me just say how can a song about Russian Rollute be so damn good? My Last Words is a total speed fest with a cool killer riff. It begins with a oddly sounding riff, over some nice lead work. Then it explodes into a speed metal fest and it remains that way for the whole song. With some great soloing by Mustaine and Poland this makes My Last Words one of the best songs on the album. 10/10
Overall - Might not be the fastest or heaviest album , but it's still pretty damn good. If you're thinking of picking this album up I recommend you buy the original recordings for it, avoid the remasters at all costs.
Genre - Thrash Metal
Dave Mustaine - lead vocals, guitar
Chris Poland - guitar
David Ellefson - bass guitar, backing vocals
Gar Samuelson - drums
The 1980s were an important era for the development of the Heavy Metal genres of music. 1986 was a pretty important year for Thrash Metal because some albums were released that year. That year Metallica released Master of Puppets, Slayer released Reign in Blood, and Megadeth released Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?. All three are excellent albums to own. In this album review we'll obviously be talking about Megadeth's Peace Sells.
Wake Up Dead - Wake Up Dead opens up with good bassline and Mustaine's vocals, which are nothing special but nothing to criticize either. Twenty seconds into the song we are introduce to Dave Mustaine's great guitar skills were we hear two great guitar solos by him, and a great one by Chris Poland too. This song is more music than lyrics as you can tell with the two minutes plus without lyrics, however the incredible riffs and guitar solos more than made up for lyrics. The bass is sound present throughout the song which is pretty rare in the Thrash genre. Overall Wake Up Dead is a great way to open up the album. 10/10
The Conjuring - Another simple introduction is used here as well as simple triplet riff over a chord. Mustaine's vocals soon kick in which are followed by a killer riff. Mustaine and Poland's guitar talent really shows on this track with the great solo and rhythm work. The Conjuring is a technically complex song and one worth a listen but it may bore some people after a few listens. 8.5/10
Peace Sells - And now ladies and gentlemen we come to the title track Peace Sells. The intro kicks off with a cool bass riff and another great filler solo from Mustaine. This song is slowed down from the rest of the album but it has one of the best riffs on the album. Due to the great soloing this is also one of my recommend tracks from the album. The chorus riff of the song is great and nearly as good as the verse riff. The song speeds two minutes into the song where Mustaine repeats the words "Peace Sells! But Who's Buying?" a lot. Overall Peace Sells is stand out track and one worth a listen if you haven't gave it one yet. 10/10
Devil's Island - This next track really has nothing bad about you could say everything here is good. Devil's Island has an excellent opening riff that leads into a shred-infested solo. The riff for the verse is cool and fast. The song finishes up with another riff and a great guitar solo. 10/10
Good Mourning/Black Friday - Good Mourning/Black Friday is probably my favorite song off of Peace Sells. This track is split into two parts. Good Mourning the introduction sounds a bit like Fade to Black by Metallica, however the song Black Friday itself is nothing like it. There some nice solos in Good Mourning and it's a great way to get started for the adrenaline ride that is Black Friday. Black Friday is pretty damn cool and I don't how to really describe it but I'll say it technical thrash at it's best, also having lyrics that Slayer would envy is cool too. :p 10/10
Bad Omen - Hmm well the introduction sounds a bit like the last song and it comes into gear at about the same time as the last song too. A lot of people say this is a weak track, maybe not as good as some others but I wouldn't say exactly weak. Bad Omen is another fast track and has nice lead work. There is a great solo here by Mustaine around the two minute mark. Overall this is a fast paced song that fans of Speed Metal would dig. 8.5/10
I Ain't Superstitious - I don't know maybe it's me but I don't really think Thrash and old Blues covers mix well. This song is rather weak however it is not as bad as everyone makes it out to be, it is just averagely mediocre. This track has some nice fillers in the verse as well as nice soloing, but overall this track is one that can be skipped. Hey at least this is better than Dawn Portal. 6.5/10
My Last Words - The closing track is one that does not disappoint. Let me just say how can a song about Russian Rollute be so damn good? My Last Words is a total speed fest with a cool killer riff. It begins with a oddly sounding riff, over some nice lead work. Then it explodes into a speed metal fest and it remains that way for the whole song. With some great soloing by Mustaine and Poland this makes My Last Words one of the best songs on the album. 10/10
Overall - Might not be the fastest or heaviest album , but it's still pretty damn good. If you're thinking of picking this album up I recommend you buy the original recordings for it, avoid the remasters at all costs.
