Megadeth - Youthanasia

Digitally Remastered with Four Bonus Tracks. Album Details

A little less throttle than usual, but powerful nonetheless

I have only vague memories of this disc's original mix, but this new mix seems to layer the vocals for richer texture and bring out certain guitar elements a little better. Remixed, the disc remains one to be listened to over and over, playing air guitar and (trying anyway) to growl and wail along with Dave Mustaine's vocals. The first three songs make a compelling set together; if you're listening in your car and reach your destination before these songs finish, you're going to want to sit there, parked, listening until they're done.

The disc's low point is Family Tree. It's a competent song, but it tries a little too hard and falls short of the rest of the disc. July 4, 2008

Great CD

I bought this back when it was originally released, but over the last few years I had forgotten about it. I rediscovered my old audio cassette copy of this recently and I decided to get the CD. I had forgotten what a great release this was. It's an excellent list of songs, and the bonus tracks make it that much better. Songs like "Train of Consequences" and "Victory" showcase what Megadeth has always been about, but "A Tout Le Monde" shows that Megadeth is far from one-dimensional. This CD should be in every Megadeth fan's collection. June 9, 2008

Better than countdown.

It may be further removed from Megadeth's original sound.
But unlike Metallica, Megadeth put out a slower album with GOOD songs.
Not one clunker on the disc.
In a previous review I said Megadeth fell down and went boom and has yet to recover after Rust. I stand by that opinion. Still, for a (non-speed)metal album. It doesn't get much better than this.
Megadeth delivers. May 16, 2008

Well, honestly I liked it a lot.

Megadeth's "Youthanasia" is a very small step down from "Countdown" - in a way it's much less thrash and more to conventional heavy metal - say it's Megadeth's "Black Album II" but I thought this was a good CD. There are more personal lyrics on this album, simple song structures (like in "Countdown"), fewer technical guitar solos, more melody, and not much of fast paced thrash metal tunes. A plus on this record I think is the sound of Dave Mustaine's vocals improving - it's a little less-whiny if you know what I mean. If you liked Countdown, you'll probably like this too. October 19, 2007

Completely Underrated

I can't say this is the best album Megadeth ever released, but I can say that over the years, I've listened to this more than any other. So what does that say?

Whatever Dave and Co. were trying to achieve in the 90's, they nailed it on "Youthanasia." It's a lesson in structuring the perfect song order. One just flows after the other seamlessly, and it's a good argument against downloading one or two songs and leaving the rest behind. You can really miss the artist's vision and cheat yourself of a fantastic listening experience.

Speaking of downloading, do yourself a favor and get the CD. They are sonically superior to mp3s/WMAs/AACs, and you can always rip them in 320kbps. This is one of the Megadeth re-masters that is worth the upgrade. The bass is really punched up, the drums are bigger, and the guitars are more jagged-sounding, especially on "Train of Consequences." It sounds awesome.

The bonus songs are among the best in the re-mastered catalog too, especially "New World Order." October 16, 2007

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