MEGADETH — Super Collider (review)

MEGADETH — Super Collider album cover Album · 2013 · Heavy Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
UMUR
"Super Collider" is the 14th full-length studio album by US heavy/thrash metal act Megadeth. The album was released through Tradecraft Records in June 2013. Tradecraft Records is lead vocalist/guitarist Dave Mustaine´s own label and "Super Collider" is the first album released on the label. It´s interesting to note that it´s the first Megadeth album since "Cryptic Writings (1997)" where there have been no lineup changes since the preceding album. For a short while in the early- to mid nineties Megadeth had a stable lineup. Maybe Dave Mustaine has finally found another stable constellation.

...judging by the high level musicianship on display here, that´s a healthy thing for the band. These guys are solid and tight playing. The many guitar solos on the album (especially those played by Chris Broderick) are really well played. Dave Mustaine´s vocal delivery is also pretty good on this album although his nasal voice will probably always be an aquired taste. The album is packed in a professional and powerful sound production, which might not be a surprise, but it´s a great asset.

It´s when it comes to the songwriting I´m left a bit wanting. Out of the 11 tracks on the 45:14 minutes long album, there are simply too many unremarkable tracks. They are not bad, just unremarkable. I found 4 tracks that I felt stood out. The opening track "Kingmaker" (which is one of the few slightly thrashy tracks on the album), the title track (which might sound like something off the much criticized "Risk (1999)", but it´s a damn well composed track and it´s highly memorable), "Dance in the Rain" (which features an interesting structure and a couple of adventurous ideas) and the closing cover of "Cold Sweat" by Thin Lizzy. The rest (at least to my ears) weren´t on the same level as the 4 mentioned highlights.

"Super Collider" is one of those Megadeth albums where they sound more like a heavy metal act with occasional thrash metal leanings, rather than a thrash metal act with occasional heavy metal leanings. You can decide for yourself if that´s a good or a bad thing. I´ll put in the subjective opinion here that they are best when they focus on thrash. When the songwriting then isn´t on the earth shattering level that we know Megadeth can deliver, the outcome is slightly disappointing. Overall it´s still a pretty good album though and a 3 - 3.5 star (65%) rating is warranted.
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