MEGADETH – Peace Sells...But Who's Buying                       [Remixed & Remastered]

Capitol Records

Posted:  5/5/05

Reviewed by: Dirt

Category: Thrash/Speed Metal

Original Release: 1986  Remastered: 7/27/04

Label URL: www.capitolrecords.com

Artist URL: www.megadeth.com

Peace Sells was a landmark album that thrust Megadeth into the spotlight, and it was one of those albums that helped shape the thrash metal genre.  Thrash was the new breed of metal in 1986, a nastier, less melodic version of the stuff that we were used to.  At the time, I believe that bands like Megadeth, Testament, Overkill, Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, were not easily digested by the fans of Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Motley Crue, Ratt, Ozzy Osbourne, and Dio.  There was definitely a division in most cases, as the older fans didn't get it right away.  Interestingly, we now see the fanbase for Megadeth and Motley Crue as the same. 

The video for "Peace Sells" was one of the first thrash videos to hit MTV (along with Anthrax's "Madhouse" and Metal Church's "Watch The Children Pray"), and it got a helluva lot of play.  The songs memorable opening bass riff and searing guitars and lyrics ("What do you mean I don't believe in God, talk to him everyday? What do you mean I don't support your system, I go to court when I have to? etc.) drew many a fan to purchase the album.  The followup video for less hooky "Wake Up Dead" is more of a cult classic.  I can still see the band playing behind the chain link fence with kids climbing all over it.

In my opinion, as an entire album, Peace Sells actually is not Megadeth's best work.  The problem is that the title track is so awesome and anthemic that the rest of the material cannot live up to it.  Sure, the guitar playing on "The Conjuring" is cool as hell and you'll love shouting along with "Devil's Island" but let's be honest "I Ain't Superstitious" is a throwaway cover, as it's blues rock vibe is clearly out of place.  "Good Mourning/Black Friday" is a shred-fest halfway through which allows for some good headbanging, but hookwise there's nothing going on there, at least when you compare it to the hooky quality of the title track.  "Bad Omen" falls into the same category.

The Bloody Truth:  I'm sure some consider Peace Sells to be Megadeth's best work, but my guess is that they have primarily based that opinion on the title track and "Wake Up Dead," and their fond memories of the band's underground status at the time.  To me, Peace Sells is a solid album that contains one of metal's best anthems (the title track), some rippin' guitar solos and thrashy rhythms from guitarists Dave Mustaine and Chris Poland, and displays a youthful aggression.  The band's musical pinnacle, however, would come in 1992 with Countdown To Extinction.  On a final note, this remix/remaster sounds much cleaner than the original, as you can actually hear the individual parts of the players.  Four alternate mixes of several songs are also included as bonus tracks (but they certainly are not essential).