Megadeth - Cryptic Writings

I second that opinion!

I agree with Mr. Costa. This is an exceptionally good album. So it's catchy? Why is that a bad thing? If you want to listen to music with no recognizable melody, go buy some jazz. Just for the record, I have nothing against jazz. I'm just so sick of people complaining about how their favorite bands become too "commercial". I just want to hear great music played by talented musicians. If it's radio friendly, so be it. Just listen to all the Nu Metal crap out there. Those bands don't even compare to Megadeth. Someone said this album is light on solos compared to other Megadeth albums. Well, most guitarists in these newer bands can't even play a decent solo. People in this country have become lazier and lazier and this is reflected in modern metal as well. Dave Mustaine is twice the age of these modern "musicians" and he still rocks twice as hard to this day!!! He's the hardest working metal musician of all time! How many other people could recover from a devastating injury and play guitar with the same intensity that they did 20 years ago? Cryptic Writings is a great album. It is one of the best albums from the nineties. March 16, 2008

What's Not To Like?

Once you get over the fact that Megadeth wasn't going to release another "Peace Sells", "SFSGSW" or "Rust in Peace", you can take each subsequent release on its own merit.

"Cryptic Writings" is one of the catchiest hard-rock albums I've ever heard. Who hasn't had the riff from "Almost Honest" looping in their head? Each song on here passes that test, the songwriting is tight, and the production fits what these songs are built for: Rock radio.

As for the remaster, it's a bit edgier in the drums and guitar, not as noticeable a difference as the remasters from the earlier discs. I actually prefer the original production of "Cryptic Writings" because it has that smooth sheen layered over it that gives the CD its own timestamped late-90's personality. March 1, 2008

Megadeth's Load

Well, "Countdown" was considered by many Megadeth fans to be their "Black Album" if you're a Metallica fan as well. The same can go in vein for "Youthanasia" - Dave Mustaine even stated that he wanted to get that number one record and if changing their sound would have done it then so be it. "Cryptic Writings" simplifies Megadeth's sound a little bit more after Youth. Countdown and Youth both featured simpler conventional song structures with fewer technical music and fewer of the thrash metal guitar solos Megadeth fans grew to know in the 80s and early 90s. They go on a more modern rock edge with this album with noticable accessible songs similar to what you'd hear on rock radio. Nothing wrong, but I just prefer the true-thrash Megadeth that many know them for. This album still has some pretty decent tracks with a few similiar to thrash metal like "She-Wolf" but songs don't ever get too much near the 4-6 minute mark and you'll only find about one or two (max) guitar solos for a song. This is still a decent hard-rock album, but it's just not "Megadeth" to me so much as Metallica's "Load" was a fair hard-rock album but wasn't "Metallica". Megadeth's "Cryptic Writings" is a decent album yet easily forgotten amongst fans, but if you're a die-hard Megadeth fan you might want this, but if you're just looking for Megadeth's thrash days then you might wanna pass up on this one. November 7, 2007

Megadeth mastermind another great release

Cryptic Writings (1997.), Megadeth's seventh studio album

By the mid-1990's, change was in the air for the big names in metal. Nu metal was about to hit the mainstream and the big names from the previous decade had diversified their sound somewhat. Both Megadeth and Metallica had slowed down their sound, however Metallica had unfortunately gone one step further and pushed away a lot of long term fans with their `alternative' releases `Load' and `Reload'. So what was the score for Megadeth, afterall their previous two releases, `Countdown To Extinction' and `Youthanasia' were two classic releases, eventhough the band no longer had the thrashy element to their sound. `Cryptic Writings' was released in 1997 and thankfully kept the metal spirit alive and well in Megadeth. So how does the final effort from the classic line-up of Megadeth (Mustaine, Ellefson, Menza, Friedman) shape up to be?

Cryptic Writings is a continuation of the form the band had shown throughout the early `90s and serves up a selection of great songs. Granted, for me this album is not quite up to the standards set by `Rust In Peace', `Countdown To Extinction' and `Youthanasia' however the album is not short of some Megadeth classics. `Trust' received great airplay upon the album's release and tracks such as `She-Wolf' and `Vortex' display archetypal Megadeth riffage along with inspired fast solos and great harmonies. Lyrically Mustaine pens his usual strong blend of politically charged songs along with some powerful songs about relationships such as `Trust' and drug abuse `Use The Man'. Cryptic Writings is a fitting snapshot to mark the end of Megadeth's classic and most stable line up as drummer Nick Menza would shortly be fired from the band after the album's release.

Following Megadeth's re-union in 2004 with the release of 'The System Has Failed', Dave Mustaine personally helped remaster the band's back catalogue. With 'Cryptic Writings' the remaster is excellent. The remaster of the album contains a Spanish version of `Trust', an alternate version of `Vortex' as well as `The Evil That's Within' and `Bullprick', the latter being a version of `FFF' with alternate lyrics.

`Trust' is a fantastic opener for the album. An atmopsheric drum intro leads into one of Megadeth's finest songs with great lyrics and an unforgettable riff of the chorus. `Almost Honest' is a classic Mustaine penned title with a gripping verse line and blistering chorus showing that Megadeth are definitely not to be singled out of the metal mix. `Use The Man' contains some slower, acoustic sections which provide a nice contrast its heavier sections. Cointains some powerful lyrics about drug abuse. `Mastermind' is more vintage Megadeth complete with catchy guitar lines and an excellent Friedman solo. `The Disintegrators' is one of the more thrashier and faster songs on here, a song with plenty of aggression. `Ill Get Even' marks an unexpected but very welcome contrast. The guitars have a very different sound to them to what you expect from Megadeth - much more mellow and stripped down. This is a fantastic song though and will be sure to stick in your mind after a listen or two.

`Sin' marks a return to heavy guitars, not a stand out track but an enjoyable Megadeth staple none the less. `A Secret Place' is a longer, more epic track with plenty of strong melodies and more captivating interludes. ` Have Cool, Will Travel' is another solid track complete with an interesting addition of the harmonica. Theres a nice acoustic section mid way through. `She Wolf' is a classic Megadeth song which still gets lots of live play at the band's concerts. Galloping riffs get the song underway before another strong chorus kicks in. The song's exit solo and guitar harmony is a thrilling listen. `Vortex' is another album favourite of mine; another song with great riffs and excellent vocals, Friedman's guitar solo is awesome on this track - another testament to the guy's ability on the guitar. `FFF' is a crisp, short song to close the album with plenty of thrashy beats and speed.

Megadeth proved they still had what it takes with `Cryptic Writings' and gave a fans a great 50 minute serving of metal. Unfortunately, Megadeth would fall into the trap that caught Metallica with their follow up, the alternative, commercial sounding `Risk' (although Mustaine realised the mistake and was back playing metal again an album later!). Cryptic Writings is an excellent final showcase for arguably Megadeth's finest line up. A must for any big Megadeth fans, I would only recommend this album to new Megadeth fans who have listened to the bands two most definitive releases, `Rust In Peace' and `Peace Sells...But Who's Buying'.

MY RATING: 8/10 July 11, 2007

Trust Me...This Is a Good Album

Megadeth's carriere had a turning point when "Youthanasia" released...it wasn't that popular album...and "Cryptic Writings" didn't sell that good...although the singles were very popular. The songs in this album are quite peaceful...except "The Disintegrators", "FFF", and "Mastermind". This is a peaceful hard rock album...near Bon Jovi or Skid Row (I like those bands). There's however classic peaceful songs in this album, like "Trust", "Almost Honest", "I'll Get Even", "She-Wolf", "Use the Man", and "A Secret Place". Most of the lyrics are however quite raw: "Wicked temptress knows how to please, priestress says get down on your knees." from She-Wolf..."I got a doll with needles wishing you were dead..." from I'll Get Even..."I've Seen the Man Use the Needle, Seen then Needle Use the Man..." from Use the Man. There's also lyrics about love (or sex)...Almost Honest...about God...Trust. So the lyrics are quite raw but the sound is thin. The same goes in the next two albums "Risk" and "The World Needs a Hero".
Stars: She-Wolf, Trust, Almost Honest July 11, 2007

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