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Megadeth: The System Has Failed Heavy Metal Sanctuary Records September 14th, 2004
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Review
What was originally to be the final Megadeth album, The System Has Failed has earned rave reviews from much of the metal community, but still there are skeptics around that cite that this album is not as good as the hype is making it out to be. Regardless of the fact that Dave Mustaine took on this album as though it were a solo project and taking over everything in the creation of the album, it features some pretty solid tracks, as well as some songs that simply are just not as entertaining as they could have been. After a rocky start thanks to "Blackmail The Universe" and it's rather one pace music that really seems to lack any real kick to it, as the overuse of audio clips strewn into the song, you're greeted with "Die Dead Enough" which is a much slower paced track that doesn't really make much sense other then it's one of the better tracks on the album. Same goes with "Kick The Chair", which is easily the most impressive heavy metal song on here, even if the solo does seem a bit much by the time the song ends, but it could be argued that "The Scorpion" is just as good due to it's simple guitar work and creepy atmospher thanks to the added keyboards at the start and during a bridge prior to the guitar solo at around three minutes, making it a good listen that isn't drawn out during it's six minute existence. The downfall of the album is that the music isn't really all that great with the exception of a few songs like "Kick The Chair". It seems that The System Has Failed relies more on the fact that the songs are simple and catchy then on any real style that focuses on execution and complexity. This rule is best observed during "Die Dead Enough" and the highly enjoyable "Back In The Day". Other then that, the latter half of the album is pretty much garbage. "Of Mice And Men" proves to be a good, slower paced song that is catchy as hell with plenty of mainstream alternative rock overtones, but it's tracks like the poorly constructed filler track "Truth Be Told" and the comical interlude track "Shaadow Of Deth" which is actually just the intro to the track "My Kingdom", just seperated into it's own track. Even the conclusion track, "My Kingdom", is a joke with terrible vocals and cheesy keyboards. Megadeth's supposed final album, The System Has Failed is good for what it is: a solid heavy metal album that relies more on catchy songs then anything complex. But, because of the fact that it lacks anything substantial, this release just winds up being boring around the time you hit "I Know Jack". The varying music styles on this release do help keep the album sounding fresh for a few listens, but with only a handful of songs that will really impact you and stick in your memory, this release falls far from a triumphant farewell, and could have faired well with a little more effort.
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