The new Megadeth album, “United Abominations”, is considered as a sonic assault, in the first album which featured a stable line up since their album “The World Needs A Hero” David Mustaine speaks up his mind on nuclear war and government corruption in the United States.
In first impression, the songs in the album are similar to other Megadeth's late albums. The music focuses on the song structure and the guitar rhythm without insane speed and technique. Megadeth is an old rock band, but they can play with the same intensity with other groups younger than their age. The album is steady and easygoing while full of lyrical message. Mustaine tries to deliver instead of the skill show-off as in “Rust in Peace.”
The album starts with a song with a catchy tunes in “Sleepwalker”. This is the typical song same with the opener of the previous album “The System Has Failed”, the song full with unique lyrical structure that unfortunately never reach the peak as Megadeth's songs use to be. “Washington Is Next” has catchy chorus and faster speed. “United Abominations” is definitely the catchiest song in the album, as it becomes the title of the album. Next comes “Never Walk Alone...A Call To Arms," a long paced song slipping in the middle of the album. The songs after “United Abominations” unfortunately get worse in comparison to the previous songs. "Gears Of War" is full of metal frenzy yet too amateur for Megadeth's reputation. The same music also goes for "Blessed Are The Dead" and "Play For Blood.” The next remake of “A Tout Le Monde” which features Cristina Scabbia from Lacuna Coil fails to impress since it is played the same with its previous version in “Youthanasia.” Cristina Scabbia's voice barely heard in the song and Glen Drover's guitar solo are lame and out of technique. The last three songs "Amerikhastan," "You're Dead," and "Burnt Ice" do not come any better. The closing of the album gives an impression that the album completion is rushed so that they just grab any song to fill in the album. The guitar solo is painful to hear and lack of creativity. Dave's guitar sounds chaotic, but Drover's is actually good, only he's an artist who can only re-create others' works and without creativity.
The sound quality in “United Abominations” is no good compared to “The System has Failed” album. The album sounds as if it is made not in a professional recording establishment, but in a home studio. The good thing about this album is that it can easily be listened to. The sound is average and not full of music and instrumental distortion.
To Megadeth fans, even though they buy the album, this album is disappointing. The songs are not as what they may have been expected. There are no heavy metal music, only simple hard rock. Mustaine fails to do a great job this time.
