The Sick, the Dying…And the Dead! review
Well, folks, it’s finally here. After six long years of delays, quarantines, throat cancer and Ellefson’s leaked dick pics, Megadeth triumphantly return with another prog-infused thrash metal record. The three singles Megadeth released before the album came out were merely a taste of what’s to come, but they were still delicious enough for me to know this meal’s gonna taste heavenly. And my god, did Dave Mustaine and co. deliver the goods.
The Sick, the Dying…And the Dead! is one of Megadeth’s most extreme and brutal records yet. It’s very proggy, at times downright melodic, but the sheer intensity on songs such as Night Stalkers, We’ll Be Back, and Célebutante makes it stick out more than most other Megadeth albums. Therefore, its style bears a striking resemblance to So Far, So Good…So What?!, both musically and thematically. Both albums deal with similar themes, both have some horror elements added to the mix, and both have a similar sound. In a sense, The Sick, the Dying…And the Dead! is the spiritual successor to So Far, So Good…So What?!. So if you’re as big a fan of that record as I am, you’re sure to love this one, as well.
Despite these similarities, The Sick, the Dying…And the Dead! still manages to maintain its own identity. And I’m not just saying that because of the epic music videos that came along with it. There’s a much heavier usage of voice clips and found footage audio on the album, way more than the rest of Megadeth’s releases. From the moment the first song begins, the listener is immediately greeted by a fucking Monty Python reference (bring out your dead!), which is always a plus in my book. These clips can also be found in Psychopathy, Mission to Mars, Soldier On!, and my personal favorite song on the album; Dogs of Chernobyl, which will receive a deeper analysis in a future post.
On top of that, the album’s rip-roaring speed combined with Kiko Loureiro’s experience as Angra’s former guitarist gives the record a noticeable power metal touch which makes it stand out quite a bit. Plus, Kiko is just an amazing guitarist overall, including a gazillion solos in nearly every song, with all of them being astonishing. If anything, I’d argue he’s just as good on The Sick, the Dying…And the Dead! and Dystopia as Marty Friedman was on Rust in Peace and Countdown to Extinction.
Before the singles came out, I wasn’t sure how much Dirk Verbeuren’s drumming would be able to fit Megadeth’s sound, but all my worries turned out to be irrelevant. His drumming is excellent and he’s able to perfectly keep up with each and every pluck of Dave’s/Kiko’s guitars.
And of course, there’s the ballsy move of having Ice-T make a cameo, which adds another layer of individuality to the record.
As for Dave’s singing/songwriting? It’s great! His voice is able to perfectly match the tone of what each song is written about. The lyrical themes range from topics like abandonment issues, the government being bad (it’s a Megadeth record, what else do you expect?), and people wearing merch for fashion, not passion. In addition, Dave’s age has somehow worked in his favor when it comes to the vocal style, a benefit the album shares with Dystopia, as well. Sure, his vocal range isn’t what it used to be, but on the other hand, this older Dave’s voice sounds bitter, weary, and resentful. Like a man who had a harsh life and saw some awful shit unfold before his eyes time and time again, leaving him in a state of desperation and bewilderment.
If there’s one flaw I can point to in this record, it’s that the riffing in Life in Hell, Night Stalkers, Célebutante, and We’ll Be Back gets predictable and repetitive at times. Granted, this is a pretty minor complaint and those songs still kick ass.
In conclusion, The Sick, the Dying…And the Dead! is worth every penny, and one of the absolute best releases Megadeth have ever put out. Dystopia and The Sick, the Dying…And the Dead! are a serious one-two punch. An assault powerful enough to prove that Megadeth are just as good now as they were in the 80s/early 90s. If not, better. Even in 2022, they’re still the greatest thrash metal band of all time.
Also, I know what I’m about to say is pure schadenfreude towards Metallica, but I’ll say it anyway: Even if Metallica ever decide to release another album sometime this century, I’ll be damned if it could hold a candle to Megadeth’s last two releases.
(Another Metallica album would be pretty cool, though).
TL;DR: Go buy this album. It’s amazing.
Rating: 9.9/10
