by Countdown to Extinction
Countdown to Extinction proved to be one of Megadeth’s most important albums, marking a turning point in the band’s style in much the same way Metallica’s “Black” album did. It also thrust the band into the mainstream, entering the Billboard 200 at Number 2, and spawning such classics as “Symphony of Destruction”, “Sweating Bullets” and “Skin o’ My Teeth” With a stripped-down sound, the lyrics largely dealt with political, social, and global issues. As a result, Megadeth received a Humane Society’s Genesis Award for raising animal rights awareness. And the album was nominated for Best Metal Performance at the 1993 Grammys.
The two subsequent albums, Youthanasia and Cryptic Writings followed the style and formula of Countdown, though they were slightly more watered down. Countdown, while shifting the band’s thrash focus to a more commercial sound, maintained the heavy and technical aspects Megadeth had come to be known for.
In terms of the album’s writing, it was the most collaborative to date.
Being that this is likely one of the most accessible albums in the Megadeth catalog and still harkens back to the thrashier era, it might be the best introduction to Megadeth for newcomers.
Rock Hard \m/
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