Band:	Megadeth
Album:	Rust In Peace
Style:	Thrash metal
Release date:	September 24, 1990
Guest review by:	Gorey

01. Holy Wars...The Punishment Due
02. Hangar 18
03. Take No Prisoners
04. Five Magics
05. Poison Was The Cure
06. Lucretia
07. Tornado Of Souls
08. Dawn Patrol
09. Rust In Peace...Polaris
10. My Creation [2004 re-released bonus]
11. Rust In Peace...Polaris [demo] [2004 re-released bonus]
12. Holy Wars...The Punishment Due [demo] [2004 re-released bonus]
13. Take No Prisoners [demo] [2004 re-released bonus]

1990 is a year to be remembered in the history of heavy metal. And it has to be said that the US Megadeth have made a lot for it with the launch of their cataclysmic opus, Rust In Peace. After three albums of good quality the four guys decided to release a (nuclear) bomb that has become a landmark in the metal world.
Dave Mustaine publicly reveals his genius, accompanied by his old mate Dave Ellefson. For this album, Mustaine has hired a new guitarist, Marty Friedman, and a drummer, Nick Menza. The first impression when you hear this album, is its pure, almost uncontrolled strength, that changes every riff into an earthquake.The guitars are omnipresent, they rhythm, without any moment of weakness, the lyrics, resolutely anti military and full of nuclear apocalypse. In this point of view, the excellent ?Holy wars? is a titanic opening. This track can be considered as a symbol of all the rage and determination that the album contains, as it combines heavy repeating riffs and guitar flights. This only track can justify the purchase of this album. Because it's a boost that allows the other tracks to be linked together with a great fluidity.
?Hangar 18?, another cult track, makes us catch a glimpse of Marty Friedman's virtuosity, with a final solo that leaves you breathless and a rhythm that is simply orgasmic... And the following songs, ?Tornado of souls?, ?Take no prisoners? or ?Five magics? are once again fast, powerful and shaking tracks that confirm the skill and the inventiveness of MegaDave in quest for the perfect riff and for the harmony between men and instruments. Also Marty Friedman can's stop being impressive because of his technical ease and his original and magnificent phrasing.

Moreover, this album, far from being perpetually savage, shows off some moments of ?calm before the storm?, with the intro of ?Poison was the cure? and the very unhealthy ?Dawn patrol?. This last one is the prelude to the title-track ?Rust in peace...Polaris?, that definitely finishes you off with its infernal rhythm and its shooting chorus, strengthened by the extent of Mustaine's voice who makes a real vocal feat during the whole album. To sum up, this album is a pearl of homogeneity and technical inventiveness. The sound of every instrument is nearly perfect, and that creates an equilibrium that had maybe never been reached by a heavy metal band. The faults (which faults?) are so insignificant that they are not even worth being discussed.
Stop it all, the mass is over, get your handkerchieves out.
It shall be Rust in Peace or nothing, probably the best heavy metal album of all time. Just cult...