Endgame (Megadeth album)

Endgame
Studio album by Megadeth
Released September 15, 2009 (2009-09-15)
Recorded January 7–May 19, 2009
Studio Vic's Garage in San Marcos, California[1]
Genre Thrash metal
Length 44:42
Label Roadrunner
Producer Dave Mustaine, Andy Sneap
Megadeth chronology
United Abominations
(2007)		 Endgame
(2009)		 Thirteen
(2011)
Singles from Endgame
  1. "Head Crusher"
    Released: July 9, 2009
  2. "The Right to Go Insane"
    Released: April 9, 2010

Endgame is the twelfth studio album by American thrash metal band Megadeth. It was released on September 15, 2009 through Roadrunner Records and was produced by Dave Mustaine and Andy Sneap. Endgame was the first album to feature guitarist Chris Broderick, following Glen Drover's departure in 2008, and was the band's last studio album with bassist James LoMenzo; original bassist David Ellefson rejoined the band several months after the album's release.[2]

There are eleven tracks on the album, with lyrics inspired by subjects ranging from The Lord of the Rings and the financial crisis of 2007–08, to insanity, torture and crime. Two singles were released from the album: "Head Crusher" and "The Right to Go Insane"; the former was nominated for "Best Metal Performance" at the 2010 Grammy Awards. Endgame entered the Billboard 200 at number nine, and reached number one on the U.S. Top Hard Rock Albums chart. As of April 2011 it has sold about 150,000 copies in the U.S.[3] The album received positive reviews from music critics, and was thought to continue the success of the band's previous album, United Abominations (2007).

Writing and recording

Andy Sneap produced Endgame and Megadeth's previous studio effort, United Abominations.

On May 27, 2009, Megadeth frontman and guitarist Dave Mustaine confirmed twelve songs were complete and the group was currently mixing and mastering the record.[4] The first preview from Endgame was a six-minute video featuring Sneap describing the process of mixing "Head Crusher" at his studio in Derbyshire, England.[5] In the video, he called the upcoming album "old-school".[5] Endgame was recorded at the band's studio, "Vic's Garage", in San Marcos, California.[1] The track listing was initially revealed on July 2, 2009,[6] although several track titles were later shortened for the final release.[7] The album was produced by Andy Sneap, who also produced Megadeth's previous album, United Abominations.[8]

Mustaine said of the album: "It is fast, it is heavy, there is singing, yelling, speaking, and guest voices (maybe not singing – more like in "Captive Honour"), the soloing is insane."[9][10] He described it as a riff-oriented album, less melodic than the band's mid-to-late 90s material.[11] Mustaine had saved a number of old rehearsal tapes, which were used as the album's starting point.[12] The band members had online chats with fans on their website while recording, which according to Mustaine, helped lift the band's enthusiasm.[13]

Release and promotion

Megadeth on tour promoting Endgame live in Haapsalu, Estonia in 2010.

Megadeth finished recording the album on May 19, and on June 18, the album title was announced to be Endgame.[14] The cover artwork was released online on July 27, 2009.[15] John Lorenzi, who designed the cover for United Abominations, returned for the album cover for Endgame[16] The release date for Endgame was announced on the Megadeth official website as September 15, 2009, and Metal Hammer was the first to review the album track by track.[17] A week after its release, the album had sold 45,000 copies in the United States and 8,200 copies in Canada,[18] debuting at number nine on the Billboard 200, one place lower than the debut of United Abominations in 2007.[19] The album placed first on the Hard Rock Albums chart and second on the Rock Albums chart.[20]

On May 10, 2009, Mustaine announced on TheLiveLine that some music from Megadeth would appear in the film Land of the Lost to help promote Endgame.[21] Whether the music was to be from the album was not clear. During the message Mustaine left on TheLiveLine, it was stated there was new music playing in the background of the message.[22] Ultimately, parts of the song "The Right To Go Insane", can be heard near the end of the film.[23] Another song from the album, "This Day We Fight!", was used as a playable song on Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock.[24] As promotion for Endgame, Megadeth performed "Head Crusher" on the September 17, 2009, edition of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.[25]

Megadeth toured in support of the album, beginning in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in November 2009 and ending on December 13, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The tour featured Machine Head, Suicide Silence, Warbringer, and Arcanium.[26] Megadeth, Slayer, and Testament were set to embark on the American Carnage tour on January 18,[27] but it was postponed until summer due to Slayer frontman Tom Araya's undergoing back surgery.[28]

Songs

Endgame's lyrical themes are diverse. "This Day We Fight!" drew inspiration by Aragorn's plea to his fighters from the Lord of the Rings trilogy. "44 Minutes" is about the North Hollywood shootout of 1997[10] and the title is derived from the film 44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shoot-Out based on the event.[29] "1,320" was written about nitro fuel funny cars.[10] Mustaine said "Bite the Hand" was written "about the greed of the fiduciary leaders of the financial world and how they just didn't care about the responsibility they had to the public."[9] The title track was written "about a bill that ex-President George W. Bush signed into law that gave him the power to put American citizens in detention centers here in the United States".[10]

"The Hardest Part of Letting Go…Sealed With a Kiss" is a two-part song which Mustaine wrote for his wife.[30] PopMatters reviewer Adrien Begrand called it a "twisted love song".[31] "Head Crusher", describes the medieval torture device of the same name. Mustaine said "How The Story Ends" was inspired by the teachings of Sun Tzu.[10] Begrand describes "The Right to Go Insane" as "[Mustaine's] usual 'I’m slowly going nuts' shtick";[31] however, Mustaine stated the song was "about having been wiped out, like so many Americans, from the recession and potential depression years of 2000 [sic]".[9]

Singles

The album's lead single was "Head Crusher".[32] According to Roadrunner Records' website, a download of "Head Crusher" was available for 24 hours on July 7, starting at 11:00 AM Eastern Time Zone. The availability of the download ended the morning of July 8.[33] The track was previously available for listening by calling Dave Mustaine's number through the TheLiveLine.com, a service he launched that enables musicians to connect to their audience over the phone.[34] The song was nominated for "Best Metal Performance" at the 52nd annual Grammy Awards – the band's first Grammy nomination since the 1997 song "Trust" – and received a music video directed by Bill Fishman.[35][36]

The second single, "The Right to Go Insane", was released eight months later.[37] A music video for it was released in April 2010 and featured then-recently-returned bass player David Ellefson. The video's plot is roughly based on the story of Shawn Nelson, an unemployed plumber who rampaged through San Diego in a stolen M60 Patton tank. The video premiered at a show in Austin, Texas on March 26 during the anniversary tour for Rust in Peace.[38] The song hit position 34 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks.[39]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
About.com[40]
AllMusic[41]
Blabbermouth.net8.5/10[42]
Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles10/10[43]
Consequence of Sound[44]
Metal Hammer9/10[45]
PopMatters8/10[31]
Q[46]
Record Collector[47]
Sputnikmusic4.5/5[48]

Endgame received generally positive reviews from critics. Stephanie Burkett from BBC Music said the album is "their most reliable and proficient album since Rust in Peace." She also noted that Megadeth "are once again asserting their right to be considered one of the best and most consistent heavy metal groups on the planet."[49] Chad Bowar of About.com awarded four and a half stars saying, "Megadeth is still at the top of their game. Endgame has some old-school moments, but also modern ones. 2007’s United Abominations garnered a lot of critical praise and was on many year-end best of lists that year... Endgame is even better."[40] AllMusic's Eduardo Rivadavia said "Megadeth's second release for Roadrunner, Endgame, whose title apparently refers to "coming full circle" rather than any sort of goodbye, and finds the latest iteration of Megadeth – debuting new guitarist Chris Broderick (ex-Nevermore, Jag Panzer) – working primarily within their technical thrash comfort zone (think Peace Sells through Rust in Peace), with only a few latter-day elements and rare experimental diversions."[41]

Adrien Begrand of Popmatters noted "not a moment is wasted on Endgame" and said "it's all due to Mustaine sticking to his strengths, and with the extraordinarily talented Broderick as his new wingman, the record positively scorches with an intensity we haven’t heard since Rust in Peace. With its furious back-and-forth solos, opening instrumental 'Dialectic Chaos' wastes no time in showcasing that dynamic between Mustaine and Broderick, and combined with the pure speed of 'This Day We Fight!', longtime fans will be instantly reminded of the bracing 'Into the Lungs of Hell'/'Set the World Afire' one-two punch that kicks off 1988's great So Far, So Good... So What!."[31] Mark Eglinton of The Quietus described the album as "a return to form" for Megadeth.[50] Rock guitarist Slash gave a favorable review to Endgame via Twitter.[51] Also, Q gave the album three stars out of five and said: "Endgame starts with an instrumental before hitting the kind of rhythms that once earned Megadeth the tag 'state-of-the-art speed-metal-band'."[46]

Endgame has since been regarded as a high point of the band's later career.[52] It follows upon two well-received predecessors,[53][54] while the band started to change its musical direction on the following two albums.[52][55] In 2013, WhatCulture included Endgame as number five on its "Top 5 Megadeth albums" list, behind Killing is My Business... and Business is Good!.[56]

Track listing

All tracks written by Dave Mustaine except where noted.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Dialectic Chaos" (Instrumental) 2:25
2."This Day We Fight!" 3:27
3."44 Minutes" 4:37
4."1,320'" 3:49
5."Bite the Hand" 4:01
6."Bodies" 3:34
7."Endgame" 5:56
8."The Hardest Part of Letting Go... Sealed with a Kiss"Mustaine, Chris Broderick4:41
9."Head Crusher"Mustaine, Shawn Drover3:26
10."How the Story Ends" 4:28
11."The Right to Go Insane" 4:18
Total length:44:42

[7]

Japanese bonus track
No.TitleLength
12."Washington is Next!" (Live)5:31

[57]

Personnel

Production and performance credits are adapted from the album liner notes.[7]

Megadeth
Additional musicians
Production

Chart performance

Chart (2009) Debut
position
Australian Albums Chart[18] 11
Austrian Albums Chart[58] 22
Canadian Albums Chart[18] 4
Finnish Albums Chart[18] 7
German Albums Chart[18] 21
Irish Albums Chart[18] 27
Italian Albums Chart[18] 26
New Zealand Albums Chart[59] 17
Norwegian Albums Chart[18] 15
Polish Albums Chart[60] 19
Swiss Albums Chart[18] 32
Swedish Albums Chart[61] 17
UK Albums Chart[18] 24
US Billboard 200[20] 9
Top Rock Albums[62] 2
Top Digital Albums[63] 10
Top Hard Rock Albums[64] 1

References

  1. 1 2 "Megadeth Completes Recording New Album". Ultimate-Guitar.com. May 20, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2010.
  2. ↑ Mdome. "David Ellefson Exclusive: Why I’m Back In Megadeth". Classic Rock (magazine). Retrieved November 5, 2010.
  3. ↑ "Megadeth Bassist Interviewed At Budapest Clinic (Video)". Blabbermouth.net. April 13, 2011. Retrieved April 13, 2011.
  4. ↑ Mustaine, Dave (May 27, 2009). "Megadeth News Archives – May". Megadeth.com. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  5. 1 2 Andy Sneap (speaker) (June 13, 2009). Megadeth: Snippet Of New Song 'Headcrusher' Now Available To Non-Fan-Club-Members (Adobe Flash). Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
  6. ↑ "Megadeth: 'Endgame' Track Listing Revealed". Ultimate-Guitar.com. July 2, 2010. Retrieved November 20, 2010.
  7. 1 2 3 Endgame liner notes (booklet). Megadeth. Roadrunner Records. 2009. p. 4-12.
  8. ↑ "Megadeth Mainman Issues New Album Update". Blabbermouth.net. May 5, 2009. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  9. 1 2 3 "Right to Go Insane". Roadrunner Records. October 14, 2010. Retrieved November 5, 2010.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 "Megadeth Fan Club Members Get Taste Of Forthcoming Album". Blabbermouth.net. June 11, 2009. Archived from the original on June 19, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2010.
  11. ↑ Prato, Greg (July 29, 2009). "Megadeth's Dave Mustaine Talks New Riffs, Old Drama". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
  12. ↑ Bowar, Chad. "A Conversation With Bassist James LoMenzo". About.com. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
  13. ↑ Teitelman, Bram (October 30, 2009). "Dave Mustaine: ‘Endgame’ "Is Going To Launch The Return Of Heavy Metal In America"". Metal Insider. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
  14. ↑ ""Endgame" to be Ttitle of Megadeth's Twelfth Studio Album". Megadeth.com. June 18, 2009. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
  15. ↑ "'Endgame' Artwork Unveiled". Blabbermouth.net. July 27, 2009. Retrieved November 19, 2010.
  16. ↑ "Megadeth Re-Teams With Artist John Lorenzi For New Album Cover". Blabbermouth.net. June 18, 2011. Retrieved November 10, 2011.
  17. ↑ "Megadeth Track-By-Track". Metal Hammer. August 10, 2009. Archived from the original on August 15, 2009. Retrieved August 10, 2009.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Megadeth: More 'Endgame' First-Week Chart Positions Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. September 24, 2009. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
  19. ↑ "Megadeth: 'United Abominations' Enters Finnish Chart At No. 2". Blabbermouth.net. May 24, 2007. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
  20. 1 2 "Endgame – Megadeth". Billboard.com album chart archives. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 19, 2010.
  21. ↑ "Megadeth Music To Be Featured In 'Land Of The Lost' Movie". Blabbermouth.net. May 11, 2009. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
  22. ↑ "Land of the Lost to feature Megadeth". Blabbermouth.net. May 11, 2009. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
  23. ↑ "Megadeth's Mistaine Explains Decision To Contribute Music To 'Land Of The Lost' Movie". Blabbermouth.net. June 8, 2009. Retrieved April 6, 2010.
  24. ↑ Dave Mustaine (speaker) (September 1, 2010). Dave Mustaine Talks Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock (Adobe Flash) (Trailer). Activision. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
  25. ↑ "Megadeth Performs 'Head Crusher' On 'Late Night With Jimmy Fallon'". Blabbermouth.net. September 18, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
  26. ↑ "Endgame US Tour 2009". Megadeth.com. September 14, 2009. Retrieved November 7, 2010.
  27. ↑ "Slayer, Megadeth, Testament: Complete 'American Carnage' Details Revealed". Roadrunner Records. November 16, 2009. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
  28. ↑ "Slayer Cancels Tour Plans; Tom Araya Scheduled For Back Surgery". Blabbermouth.net. January 7, 2010. Retrieved November 10, 2011.
  29. ↑ Fuchs, Cynthia (June 1, 2003). "44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shootout". PopMatters. Retrieved September 29, 2007.
  30. ↑ Florino, Rick (November 4, 2009). "Interview: Megadeth". Artistdirect. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  31. 1 2 3 4 Begrand, Adrien (September 15, 2009). "Endgame Review". PopMatters. Retrieved September 29, 2009.
  32. ↑ "Megadeth: 'The Right To Go Insane' Video Released". Blabbermouth.net. April 9, 2010. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
  33. ↑ "Megadeth - Headcrusher: Get it July 7th". Roadrunner Records. June 30, 2009. Retrieved November 10, 2011.
  34. ↑ "Megadeth: Listen To The New Song 'Headcrusher' Right Now". Ultimate-Guitar.com. June 15, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2010.
  35. ↑ "Awards Database". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 26, 2009.
  36. ↑ "New Megadeth Video: The Right to Go Insane". MSN Music. April 9, 2010. Retrieved April 30, 2010.
  37. ↑ Gonda, Chris (April 11, 2010). "The Right to Go Insane confirmed for Endgame's second single". Pure Grain Audio. Retrieved April 30, 2010.
  38. ↑ Wiederhorn, Jon (April 9, 2010). "The Right to Go Insane Premier". Noisecreep. Retrieved April 3, 2010.
  39. ↑ "Megadeth: Billboard Singles". AllMusic. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
  40. 1 2 Bowar, Chad. "Megadeth - Endgame Review". About.com. Retrieved November 19, 2010.
  41. 1 2 Rivadavia, Eduardo (August 17, 2010). "Megadeth: Endgame". AllMusic. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
  42. ↑ Ogle, Ryan. "Megadeth – Endgame (Roadrunner)". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
  43. ↑ Lawson, Dom (September 16, 2009). "Hardwares: Megadeth – Endgame (Roadrunner)". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
  44. ↑ Buchanan, David (2009-10-01). "Album Review: Megadeth – Endgame". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 2012-04-04.
  45. ↑ Ling, Dave (September 23, 2009). "Megadeth 'Endgame' Review". Metal Hammer. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
  46. 1 2 "Megadeth - Endgame CD Album". CD Universe. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
  47. ↑ McIver, Joel (November 2009). "Megadeth – Endgame". Record Collector. Retrieved December 30, 2013.
  48. ↑ Spencer, Trey (September 10, 2009). "Megadeth – Endgame". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
  49. ↑ Burkett, Stephanie (October 2, 2009). "Review of Megadeth's Endgame". BBC Music. Retrieved November 20, 2010.
  50. ↑ Eglinton, Mark (August 12, 2009). "Megadeth's New Album Endgame Appraised Track-By-Track". The Quietus. Retrieved November 20, 2010.
  51. ↑ "Slash Loves Megadeth's New Album 'Endgame'". Metal Hammer. Retrieved November 19, 2010.
  52. 1 2 Brown, Dean (13 June 2013). "Megadeth: Super Collider". PopMatters. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  53. ↑ Birchmeier, Jason. "Megadeth: The System Has Failed". AllMusic. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  54. ↑ Kaye, Don. "Megadeth – United Abominations". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  55. ↑ Arnold, Neil. "Megadeth – Th1rt3en (2011)". Metal Forces. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  56. ↑ Jennings, Christopher (April 5, 2013). "Top 5 Megadeth Albums". WhatCulture. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  57. ↑ Endgame back panel (Japan ed.). Roadrunner Records. 2009.
  58. ↑ "Austria Top 40". 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2010.
  59. ↑ "NZ Albums Top 40; Issue Date: Monday September 21, 2009". aCharts.us (Album chart archive). Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
  60. ↑ "Poland Albums Top 50; Issue Date: Monday September 28, 2009". aCharts.us (Album chart archive). Związek Producentów Audio Video. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
  61. ↑ "Sweden Albums Top 60; Issue Date: Thursday September 24, 2009". aCharts.us (Album chart archive). Grammofon Leverantörernas Förening. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
  62. ↑ "Rock Albums: Week of Oct 3, 2009". Billboard.com album chart archives. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
  63. ↑ "Digital Albums: Week of Oct 3, 2009". Billboard.com album chart archives. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
  64. ↑ "Hard Rock Albums: Week of Oct 3, 2009". Billboard.com album chart archives. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
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