There is hardly any denying the fact that Megadeth has been one of the most consistent and finest metal bands this world has ever seen. After guitarist Dave Mustaine, got booted from Metallica, he went on to form Megadeth in early 1983 as a way to get revenge on Metallica for kicking him out. Mustaine took the duties of lead singer and rhythm guitarist and formed with friend David Eleffeson on bass, Gar Samuleson on drums and Chris Poland on lead guitar. Since Megadeth’s debut album, Killing is my Business And Business is Good, Megadeth have gone on to sell over 25 million records worldwide and Mustaine is widely regarded as the pioneer of thrash metal. Unfortunately, due to Mustaines strong personality, he routinely kicks band members out. Megadeth’s new album Endgame features no original members, but that does not mean the album is nothing short of a masterpiece.

I must confess that I am a die hard Megadeth fan. I enjoy everyone one their records, the thrashy, melodic and even the more mainstream ones when Megadeth changed their sound to a more commercial feel. With that being said, I was still wary of listening to Megadeth’s new album Endgame. After all, Mustaine is now 48 and is accompanied by a whole new cast of band members. I had serious concerns with Endgame, since Megadeth’s 2007 effort, United Abominations, fell short of my expectations. Many bands start to falter and go through creative droughts as the years pass by. For example, the Rolling Stones have not released a solid album in almost twenty fives. Could the end be near for Megadeth? Certainly valid questions when a band is entering 25 years of rocking out.

Fortunately, all concerns I had about Endgame were wiped away as soon as the first song “Dialectic Chaos,” roared out of the speakers in my car. I was a blown away with this three minute instrumental. New lead guitarist Chris Broderick shows flashes of brilliance with his hooky and melodic solos reminiscent of Marty Friedman, Megadeth’s lead guitarist on Rust in Piece, which is considered Megadeth’s most beloved album. Mustaine is also in top form playing leads so ferociously and angry one would think he is still in his early twenties. The next song, “This Day we Fight,” blasts out full throttle with Mustaine’s signature snarl vocals followed by a strong rhythm section. While Mustaine’s voice might not be as strong as when he was 21, he clearly still has gas left in the tank. Especially, when listening to 1320, which is a song about drag racing. Mustaine’s snarl is heavy and the solos are as fast as lightening. New drummer Shawn Drover and bassist James Lomenzo, stamp their mark on Megadeth’s history in such songs as “How The Story Ends,” which features a galloping baseline and “44 Minitues,” which has some of the best drums Megadeth has ever recorded. This album also has one of the best ballads Mustaine has ever written in the “Hardest Part of Letting Go.” The first half the song contains lovely lyrics about loving a woman, while the second half contains gruesome lyrics about how Mustaine must kill her so no one else can have her. Endgame is exceptional from start to finish. My only complaint is the duration, the album clocks in at a rather short 44 minutes. Overall, I feel this is the best Megadeth album since “Rust in Piece, and all fans of thrash music or music in general should rush to their nearest stores to pick up this groundbreaking metal album.