Megadeth – Endgame (2009)
One word best describes Megadeth’s twelfth CD, Endgame. Disappointing! I had high hopes for this CD, but this long time Megadeth fan is not impressed. With the awesome dualing riffs of Mustaine and Broderick, this band may have the best guitar tandem since Marty Friedman was in the band. Nonstop noodling and shredding does not make a good album though. There has to be solid songwriting. This disc is lacking the melodies and lyrics that made Megadeth one of the biggest and best thrash metal bands of all time.
I enjoyed the band’s previous effort, United Abominations. Personally, I don’t think Endgame is anywhere near as good as that disc. Musically, I think Endgame is superior to UA, but lyrically, I believe United Abominations is the stronger of the two.
With Megadeth’s new axeman Chris Broderick, Dave Mustaine has found the new sparring partner he has been looking for. Broderick’s playing is as intense, as it is fast. I am quite impressed with his playing on this disc.
Endgame opens up with a brief instrumental track, “Dialectic Chaos”. The trade off between Mustaine and Broderick is brilliant. Although, I would typically think that opening an album with an instrumental would be an unwise decision, this tune sets the stage for Endgame perfectly. The songs ending, and “This Day We Fight!” beginning is seamless, and it doesn’t take long for Mustaine’s trademark snarl to find its way into the lyrics. I don’t think I have heard a song played with such fury and intensity since “Rust in Peace”.
The pace slows down somewhat for “44 Minutes”. Dave Mustaine rattles off lyrics about a bank robbery gone awry. There is no discernable chorus, but it is a cool song nonetheless.
“1,320′” opens up with the high octane sounds of a funny car. As you probably guessed, this song is about drag racing. The guitar noodling on this track is insane! Mustaine and Broderick trade off leads that might be as fast as the cars this song represents. If the NHRA needs a theme song, they don’t need to look any further.
The bass groove by James Lomenzo on “Bite the Hand” is extremely cool. There are some cool lyrics in this tune, but I can’t seem to get into the chorus, “When its dog eat dog, you are what you eat”. Ok, Dave! The music overall is pretty good, but this isn’t one of my favorite tunes on this album.
“The Hardest Part of Letting Go….Sealed With A Kiss” starts off in a ballad like form, before blasting off in the middle, and slowing back down towards the end. Out of all of the songs on Endgame, this one probably has the most radio potential.
I hope this CD isn’t Megadeth’s Endgame. It is a good thrash album, even if I don’t think it is one of Megadeth’s best. This CD is loaded with guitar solos, which I absolutely love, I just wish there were more melodies and catchy lyrics on this disc. This CD may grow on me more, but the songs just aren’t very memorable after a few listens. The end result is ultimately disappointing.
Rating: 
Out of 10
Track Listing:
1. Dialectic Chaos
2. This Day We Fight!
3. 44 Minutes
4. 1,320
5. Bite the Hand
6. Bodies
7. Endgame
8. The Hardest Part of Letting Go…Sealed With a Kiss
9. Head Crusher
10. How the Story Ends
11. The Right to Go Insane
Megadeth is:
Dave Mustaine – rhythm/lead guitar, lead vocals
Chris Broderick – lead/rhythm guitar, backing vocals
James LoMenzo – bass, backing vocals
Shawn Drover – drums
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Hard Rock Hideout 
Yeah, the musicianship is a 9, the songs are a 6, and the lyrics are a 3. The tunes pretty much seem thrown together. The lyrics are pretty much ridiculous — even worse than SF… SG… SW? in some cases. We’ve gone from “Dirt roads to interstates, I must have drove them all, Cigarettes and burgers, caffeine and alcohol” to “TV dinners and beer.” C’mon, Dave! Where’s the guy who wrote RIP, CTE, and Youthanasia?
Glad I am not the only one that feels that Endgame is lacking. I have seen other reviewers give this a really high score, and I wondered it they got a different version of Endgame.
you are all wrong dudes, the disc is amazing! the best riffs of the decade, if you don’t like solos and prefer melodies listen to pop rock music. the rythm of the disc is absolutely insane! an amazing thrash album!
Perhaps, but it takes a lot more than a bunch of guitar solos to make up good songs. I will agree that there are some awesome riffs, but the after it is all said and done, the songs are forgettable. They don’t stick with you.
I’m glad you didn’t give this record a sparkling perfect review like a lot of idiots out there.
I think the great guitar work is like putting really good steak sauce on top of McDonald’s hamburger. The guitar solos are so much better to me than 90% of the record. And that makes for a terribly unbalanced record that just doesn’t make me want to listen. Although I listened to it quite a bit.
I felt the cd is lacking a hook. I’ve listened to it twice and haven’t found that song that you keep playing over and over again. The guitar work is awesome and Dave and Chris sound flawless, but I haven’t really been able to get into the cd yet. My favorite moment thus far has been the last minute and a half of the right to go insane.
whew! I’m glad I’m not the only one thinking this way. After my first listen, I was like “that’s it?” The music lacked any conviction or “wow” factor that made me want to listen to it more. I’m sure it will grow on me as I listen a few more times, but my initial reaction was, “eh?”