United Abominations: A Music Review

The UN is right; you can't be any more "un"

Than you are right now, the UN is undone.

Another mushroom cloud, another smoking gun,

The threat is real, the Locust King has come.

Don't tell me the truth; I don't like what they've done.

It's payback time at the United Abominations!

-From the song: "United Abominations"

It's not very often the music I like has anything to do with this blog. When it does, it's usually the extreme opposite (see: Ashes of the Wake). Finally, Dave Mustaine and Megadeth have given me something besides the D&D/young angst lyrics I usually tolerate for my favorite musical genre.

Musically, this is my favorite Megadeth album since 1990's "Rust in Peace". 2004's "System has Failed" was their excellent return to full-fledged speed-metal; With "United Abominations" they're completely back in their element.

Lyrically, this has got to be my favorite Megadeth album ever. Never one to shy away from political topics (see: Peace Sells...But Who's Buying?), Mustaine approaches matters like the War on Terror and immigration with a lyrical snarl likely to raise Saddam from the dead just so he can kill him again. Referencing Biblical Apocolypse, nuclear holocausts, the Roman Empire, and "Columbian Neckties," nothing is sacred in this musical takeover of the global situation. They seem to have figured out that reality is much darker than fantasy. Somebody call Ronnie James Dio and let him know.

We are just a war away from Amerikhastan,

When God versus god; the undoing of man.

-From the song: Amerikhastan