CD Review: Megadeth – ‘TH1RT3EN’ (The Hell Version)

By Colm O'Rourke
By October 24, 2011 January 17th, 2024 CD, Reviews

As the title indicates, this is the “unlucky” numbered studio offering from Megadeth, which sees the return of original bassist Dave Ellefson to the line-up.

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The air of familiarity across the album is formulaic in essence. Opening track ‘Sudden Death’ establishes the pattern for the entire set; soaring guitar riffs and incessant drums form the intro, Dave Mustaine’s ever-brooding vocals drop in, then, repeat twelve times.

The counterpoint to the omnipresent riffs are token solo chords which are found on every other 80s hair-metal album; the outro to ‘We The People’, the bridges in ‘Millennium Of The Blind’ and the opening to ‘Never Dead’ are cases in point. There’s little on this album that evidences a break from Megadeth’s norm; this kind of album could have been recorded and released 25 years ago and barely sound any different.

Fundamentally, ‘TH1RT3EN’ is an album for those who enjoy classic-sounding heavy metal sound. If that’s you, you’ll find it a pleasing listen. If you aren’t, you won’t.

 

For more information visit the official Megadeth website.

 

rating-2

 

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