Megadeth - The System Has Failed
2004 Sanctuary

Track Listing:
1.  Blackmail The Universe
2.  Die Dead Enough
3.  Kick The Chair
4.  The Scorpion
5.  Tears In A Vial
6.  I Know Jack
7.  Back In The Day
8.  Something That I'm Not
9.  Truth Be Told
10. Of Mice And Men
11. Shadow Of Deth
12. My Kingdom

Line-Up:
Vocals: Dave Mustaine
Guitars: Dave Mustaine, Chris Poland
Bass: Jimmy Lee Sloas
Drums: Vinnie Colaiuta

Website:  www.megadeth.com

Horatio's Rating:  D
Average Rating:  D

Also be sure to read:
Megadeth - Cryptic Writings by Horatio
Megadeth - Rust In Peace by Horatio
Megadeth - So Far, So Good...So What? by Horatio
Nativity In Black:  A Tribute To Black Sabbath by Shev

Horatio's Review:
Megadream are back just two years after Mega Dave swore it was over for good, this time Dave insisting this really is the swansong.  Let's hope so.  Poor old Dave complained recently that latter day Megadeth failed because he was forced by outside forces to make the band more commercial, which he yielded to.  Freed of these negative forces you would have expected 'The System Has Failed' to be a return to the cut and thrust of 'Peace Sells' or 'Rust In Peace' right?  No way, José.  This is the same dull Megadeth of 'Cryptic Writings', 'Risk' and 'The World Needs A Hero', with some token nods to the Megadeth of old.  Somehow Mustaine gained the services of noted session drummer Colaiuta and ex-RPM bassist Sloas to accompany him, as well as the return of Poland who might as well be a ghost judging by his work here.

I gave this a positive review on another website, but I've since begun to dislike this album, much like 'Lionheart'.  There's no lasting appeal, no real heaviness, the brief thrash segments as uninspired as 'FFF' or 'The Disintegrators'.  Why Mustaine persists with keyboards and radio friendly melodies I'll never understand, and in all seriousness I'd choose 'Youthanasia' over this.  Dave tries his best to reclaim the spirit of yore through 'Blackmail The Universe', 'Kick The Chair' , 'Back In The Day' and 'Truth Be Told', but it's too late.  Listening to 'Die Dead Enough', 'Tears In A Vial' and 'Of Mice And Men' had me stuck in a timewarp circa 1997-1999, indicating how little Dave has progressed, such is the similarity to those dreadful 90's albums.  I'll never concede that Dave is too old to still cut some hair raising thrash, look at Lemmy for fucks sake, fifty nine and kicking Mustaine's bony ass.  It pains me to use such expletives, but 'System' confirms the waste of potential we all knew Mustaine committed after 'Rust In Peace'.  'St Anger' I'll still be listening to in five years time, 'System' has already been reduced to a closet alongside Dearly Beheaded and Blood Divine.

Song summaries include...

1. Blackmail The Universe - A slight return to 'So Far, So Good' during the riffing at the three minute mark, which makes this listenable briefly.  Aside from that, nothing.  C
2. Die Dead Enough - The opening riff suggests 'Black Friday', but gay keyboards quickly reinforce 'Trust' or 'A Secret Place' instead.  What more needs to be said?  D
3. Kick The Chair - Average thrasher which sees Dave still rallying against the corrupt judicial system circa 1992.  Fast, but scarcely believable, as if Dave felt obligated to include one full on slab of speed metal to satisfy me and several hundred other 80's Megadeth fans.  What Dave doesn't understand is that the people who bought Megadeth albums through thick and thin were the original fans.  When they bought 'Risk' they still had this false hope that somehow Mustaine would turn the corner and return to 'Rust In Peace's intensity.  Let's face it, how many thrash albums did Megadeth make?  Three or four?  They hardly came close to exploiting that direction.  After 'Rust' it was over.  B
4. The Scorpion - More stomach churning keyboards and melodies.  What is this, a King Diamond album?  This has 'Youthanasia' stamped on it, think 'Black Curtains' or 'I Thought I Knew It All'.  Ten years later and the nightmare continues.  C
5. Tears In A Vial - Who is this, Dokken?  A regrettable hard rock riff wears out its welcome fast, sounding like a bad 1987 hard rock band from the strip.  Mustaine even tries a pathetic attempt at some 'Five Magics' type galloping gonads riffing with less effect than 'Breadline'.  C
6. I Know Jack - Forty second instrumental of as much consequence as 'Have Cool Will Travel'.  F
7. Back In The Day - This is a serious embarrassment.  Mustaine tries his hand at a Saxon inspired 'Denim And Leather' anthem for the Bay Area crowd with unifying lyrics concerning 'denim and leather' and some bollocks about someone who wasn't there and doesn't understand what the metal meant.  Neither does Dave after his work post 1990.  A 1980 Iron Maiden riff is used to strengthen the old school sentiment.  So what.  C+
8. Something That I'm Not - Dave writes some hate mail to ex-boyfriend Lars whom apparently wants a piece of Dave's ass.  Shifts gears heavily mid way through but peters out feebly, mostly mid paced bludgeon.  C
9. Truth Be Told - Someone shoot me in the face, this reeks of mediocrity worse than 'Family Tree'.  The thrash breakdown at the climax is sixtieth rate Slayer.  D
10. Of Mice And Men - Who authorised this song?  It seems unfathomable, but this could be the worst yet from Mustaine.  Hard rock with no flair, no melody, a despicable chorus, take it away.  F
11. Shadow Of Deth - Another instrumental waste.  Marching music for metalheads.  C
12. My Kingdom - As if to emphasise that 'he's back' Mustaine dons his armour and delivers some sword and sorcery lyrics, which again appears forced.  The music's half assed, no fire, no steam, boring.  No more, Dave.  D

Horatio's Rating:  D

Discography (last updated 11.4.05):
Last Rites demo - 1984
Killing Is My Business...And Business Is Good - 1985
Peace Sells...But Who's Buying - 1986
Wake Up Dead EP - 1986
Anarchy In The U.K. EP - 1988
Liar EP - 1988
Mary Jane EP - 1988
So Far, So Good...So What? - 1988
Holy Wars...Punishment Due EP - 1990
No More Mr. Nice Guy split 7" with Dead On - 1990
Rust In Peace - 1990
Hangar 18 EP - 1991
Maximum Megadeth EP - 1991
Countdown To Extinction - 1992
Foreclosure Of A Dream EP - 1992
Symphony Of Destruction EP - 1992
Angry Again EP - 1993
MegaBox box set - 1993
Megadeth Live EP - 1993
Skin O' My Teeth EP - 1993
Sweating Bullets EP - 1993
The Story Of Megadeth EP - 1994
Train Of Consequences EP - 1994
Youthanasia - 1994
A Tout Le Monde EP - 1995
Hidden Treasures - 1995
The MegaBox box set - 1995
Cyberarmy Exclusive Tracks EP - 1996
Almost Honest EP - 1997
Cryptic Writings - 1997
Live Trax EP - 1997
The Originals box set - 1997
Special Limited Edition EP - 1997
Trust EP - 1997
A Secret Place EP - 1998
Cryptic Sounds (No Voices In Your Head) EP - 1998
Live Trax II EP - 1998
Use The Man EP - 1998
Crush 'Em EP - 1999
Risk - 1999
Breadline EP - 2000
Capitol Punishment - 2000
Kill The King EP - 2000
Moto Psycho EP - 2001
The World Needs A Hero - 2001
Rude Awakening - 2002
Still, Alive...And Well? - 2002
Blackmail The Universe/Kick The Chair EP - 2004
Die Dead Enough EP - 2004
Hell Wasn't Built In A Day box set - 2004
The System Has Failed - 2004
Greatest Hits:  Back To The Start - 2005
Of Mice And Men EP - 2005