Th1rt3en is the thirteenth studio album by the American thrash/heavy metal band, Megadeth. The album lasts a duration of 57:36. It was released on November 1, 2011, through Roadrunner Records.
Lineup:
Dave Mustaine – lead vocals, lead, rhythm and acoustic guitars
Chris Broderick – lead, rhythm and acoustic guitars, backup vocals
David Ellefson – bass guitar, backup vocals
Shawn Drover – drums, percussion and backup vocals
Additional Musicians:
Chris Rodriguez – backup vocalsProduction:
Produced by Johnny K and Dave Mustaine
Recorded, engineered, and mixed by Johnny K
Additional engineering by Dave Mustaine, Zachary Coleman, Ken Eisennagel and Andy Sneap
Mastered by Ted Jensen
Matt Dougherty – Digital editing and mix assistant
Background:
Th1rt3en marks Megadeth's first release to feature long time bassist Dave Ellefson since the band's 2001 album, The World Needs a Hero. After Chris Broderick's marvelous performance on Megadeth's last record, he returns to continue to show his excellent prowess with the guitar. The album definitely has a different feel to it than Megadeth's last couple of records that marked a return to the thrash. This record is definitely a diverse record with different musical styles.
Th1rt3en debuted at number 11 on the Billboard 200. As of December 1, 2012, the album had managed to sell about 120,000 copies in the US. Each track will be rated as follows: I Hate It, I Dislike It, It's Okay, I Like It, I Love It. Here are my thoughts on each track:
Track Listing:
1. "Sudden Death" 5:07
I really love the intro to this song thanks to its blistering and chaotic guitar solo that starts this album off with a bang. This track definitely has an older feel to it and really sounds like an early Megadeth track. The chorus is big and soars thanks to its raw vocals and memorable guitar work. I love this song's placement as the first track on the album.
Grade: I Like It
2. "Public Enemy No. 1" 4:15
This is without a doubt, my favorite track on the entire record. It has an amazing chorus and killer guitar riffs. The guitar work here is stellar and Dave's vocals are very memorable. The song is fast paced and so fun to listen to. This is one of Megadeth's best tracks in recent memory.
Grade: I Love It
3. "Whose Life (Is It Anyways?)" 3:50
This song begins with a fast pace. The guitar riffing is pretty quick during the entirety of this song. I really like the chorus because of how easy it is to sing along to. Lyrically, its all about people who try to run another person's life despite the fact it is not their own. The guitar solos are fantastic.
Grade: I Like It
4. "We the People" 4:33
The guitar riffs are really well done on this song. The chorus is probably my favorite part though, because of how catchy and memorable it is. I love the lyrical content about the wrong direction this country is headed in and how "we the people" are losing out rights. The soloing is also very strong.
Grade: I Like It
5. "Guns, Drugs, & Money" 4:19
The guitar riffs in this song are so groovy and catchy. The chorus is the most memorable part of this track though. The whole beat of this song will make any one's head bob up and down. The guitar solos are a bit short lived, but they are fantastic.
Grade: I Like It
6. "Never Dead" 4:32
I like the atmosphere of the beginning of this track, thanks to its eerie tone. The guitar riffs that really kick this track off are blistering fast and do not let up throughout the track. The chorus is really strong as well. The guitar solos are amazing, because of their speed and overall sound. Thrash metal fans will love this track.
Grade: I Like It
7. "New World Order" 3:56
The beginning of this track have some really awesome and unique guitar riffs that are probably the most memorable part of this song. Lyrically, this song is all about how the "New World Order" will control all of us in the future by tagging us with a chip that will eliminate currency and make it impossible to survive without the chip that tracks everything people do. It's a disturbing song lyrically and it definitely has some of the album's finest guitar work and lyrics.
Grade: I Like It
8. "Fast Lane" 4:04
Now comes my least favorite song from the entire album. The song is fast paced and has some good guitar work, but I am not really a fan of the lyrical content or Dave's vocals on this track. The song just feels very mediocre other than its great guitar riffs and its absolutely amazing guitar solos.
Grade: It's Okay
9. "Black Swan" 4:10
I love the guitar soloing that gets this track started off. The guitar riffs are also really strong. Dave's vocal performance stands out on this song more than most of the tracks from the album. The chorus is very memorable and easy to sing along to as well. This is a really good all around track.
Grade: I Like It
10. "Wrecker" 3:51
I love the heavy guitar riffs that get this track started off. Megadeth delivers another strong chorus and some nasty guitar solos on this track. Lyrically, this song is definitely weaker than most on this album though. Still, I really enjoy this song musically.
Grade: I Like It
11. "Millennium of the Blind" 4:15
I love the guitar solo that begins this track. Megadeth just has a way of opening tracks strongly. This song is all about atmosphere and lyrical content that is definitely delivered well. It's a bit of an odd track, but I really enjoy its uniqueness and terrific guitar work.
Grade: I Like It
12. "Deadly Nightshade" 4:55
This song has some awesome guitar work and I love the whole atmosphere of the entire track. I love the guitar solos and they may just be the best from the entire record. Dave's vocal performance is perfectly eerie and gives this track his great personal touch.
Grade: I Like It
13. "13" 5:49
I love the guitar solo backed by acoustic guitar that gets this track started off. Lyrically, this song is definitely pretty cheesy and at times it drags. The pacing of the song is just a bit off. The story of Dave's journey that began at the age of thirteen is told through this song, but I cannot help but say that this song is one of the more inconsistent and least enjoyable from the album, despite its awesome guitar solos.
Grade: It's Okay
My Verdict:
Production:
The Production on Th1rt3en is excellent. The guitars sound fantastic and are very clear and powerful on this release. Dave's vocals do not sound overproduced and still have that signature personality to them. The drums and bass are also crisp and sound really good.
Score: 17 / 20
Album Flow:
This album is well though out and put together in a way that keeps the listener guessing. I never really get bored with this album because of its musical diversity. It is a really fun listen thanks to its stellar guitar work and clever song writing. The songs are put in an order that makes sense as well. The run time is justified as there are no tracks that are inherently weak on the entire record, but I do think it drags a little bit at certain times.
Score: 13 / 20
Song Writing:
The music is really diverse and impressive throughout this record's run time. The guitar work is phenomenal and also varies thanks to different tempos and styles. Dave's vocals sound pretty solid as well. The drumming is very good, which is no surprise considering how good Shawn Drover is. Lyrically, the album is a bit inconsistent though.
Score: 43 / 60
Overall Scoring Scale:
0-20: Garbage
21-40: Poor
41-49: Below Average
50-60: Average
61-74: Above Average
75-89: Good
90-100: Must Own
