MEGADETH — Cryptic Writings (review)

MEGADETH — Cryptic Writings album cover Album · 1997 · Heavy Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
Stooge
After the personally disappointing Youthanasia, Megadeth rebound with their seventh studio album, Cryptic Writings. This album sees them correcting some of the mistakes they made on their previous album. The thrash is still gone for the most part, but the song styles show better variety, it is more rhythmically stimulating, and the result is a very accessible album.

“Trust” is one of my all-time favorite Megadeth songs. The intro builds slowly but powerfully as each instrument makes its first appearance. The chorus is very memorable, there’s a nice, delicate instrumental break in the middle.

Two intriguing songs to me on this album are not what I’d expect from Megadeth. “Use The Man” tells a tale about the damages of drug use. Although Megadeth have dabbled in ballads before, they are still something of a rarity for the band. “A Secret Place” is driven by sitar-sounding guitars, and reminds me of something Alice In Chains would do, just not as dark and heavy. Songs such as these show more restraint vocally Dave Mustaine. For lack of a better word, his voice is less whiny than on Youthanasia.

This next pair of highlights on the album represents more of what is expected from Megadeth. “The Disintegrators” is the best hint of thrash metal on a Megadeth album since Countdown To Extinction, and the main riff during the verse is reminiscent of those that can be found on some of the sub-genre’s earliest releases. Another standout track, “She-Wolf”, is something like the “Hangar 18” of the album. Both songs are rather captivating, and contain notable lead breaks. The solo section to close the song was often extended live to great approval by “droogies” worldwide.

There aren’t a whole ton of glaring weaknesses on “Cryptic Writings”, but a good amount of songs I consider to be somewhat middle-of-the-road. “Almost Honest”, “Mastermind”, “Sin”, “Have Cool, Will Travel”, “Vortex”, and the Motorbreath-esque “FFF (Fight For Freedom)” all fit this category.

Overall, Cryptic Writings is a good album by Megadeth, and certainly a good bounce back!
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