Megadeth - Cryptic Writings - guest review
Megadeth - Cryptic Writings - guest review
Tracklist
01. Trust02. Almost Honest
03. Use The Man
04. Mastermind
05. The Disintegrators
06. I'll Get Even
07. Sin
08. A Secret Place
09. Have Cool, Will Travel
10. She-Wolf
11. Vortex
12. FFF
13. One Thing [Japanese bonus]
[2004 re-release bonus tracks]
14. Trust [spanish version]
15. Evil That's Within
16. Vortex [alternate version]
17. Bullpick
Guest review by
Gorey September 22, 2003
'Trust' is a perfect example, with this riff a la 'Enter Sandman'. This is an interesting track that shows the unity of the band around Dave Mustaine. Then comes 'Almost Honest', with a catchy air and good vocals. We can notice that the topics of hypocrisy and honesty are widely discussed, as heard on 'Trust', 'Almost Honest' or 'I'll Get Even', a surprising and sylphlike [in the good sense] song, with a cool look of variety show that avoids the horrors of commercial-attitude. 'A Secret Place' is in the same tune, but owns more emotion and is really the highlight of the album.
Even though Megadeth does not search for the killer riff anymore, Cryptic Writings has powerful and speed songs like 'The Disintegrators', 'Vortex' or 'FFF', that could have been on the previous albums. The very god 'Use The Man' does not sound like any other song, with an intro that seems to come from a radio of the 60's and an unconventional and catchy structure, even if it is a bit disturbing. This feeling is enhanced by the dark and aggressive 'Mastermind'. As said before, Cryptic Writings is not really a 'guitar-album', but the great lyrism of Marty Friedman is still there, on 'Vortex' or the excellent 'She-Wolf', that alternates violent verses and melodic choruses. The remainder, 'Sin' and 'Have Cool, Will Travel' are a bit too standard.
Finally, we can quote Dave Mustaine, who said that Cryptic Writings is the accession of Megadeth to a certain professionalism. Moreover, we can't help comparing with Metallica in the good years [before 1992], even if these similarities do not hurt the band's identity and the album's personality. In any ways, Cryptic Writings is excellent. Go! Enjoy!
Written by Gorey | September 22, 2003
Guest review disclaimer:
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
Rating:
5.5
5.5
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Rating:
5.5 |
This album seems to separate the two sounds of Megadeth in the 90's, with the radio rock and thrash sounds being confined to their own songs rather than Megadeth trying to mix (or abandon one of) the two. This makes for an album that shifts gears every once in a while, with thrash tracks punctuating the more radio-oriented efforts. It also ends up with an album of two halves being merged together, rather than creating one strong whole. Read more ›› |
Comments
Comments:
9
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Posts: 7263
I actually like this album. It's not as fast as it should be, but Dave went back to his blues influences and made his last good album.
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Posts: 8004 Written by Megadeth_Matt on 06.10.2007 at 01:04 How is 8 a bad rating? 
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Posts: 28 Written by Deadsoulman on 06.10.2007 at 13:06 no no, your post was fine. it is very telling, good job actually. i was referring to the 7.6 that 112 votes gave the album on its album page. i believe i gave it a 9 or so
---- THE MAN
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Posts: 8004
Ah ok haha I thought you were talking about the rating given in the review  I agree with you that, although a lot of people dislike this album, it is actually very good. The only song I can't stand is Have Fun, Will Travel. The rest is different from usual Megadeth stuff, but fine nonetheless
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Posts: 116
This was the first Megadeth album that I listened to. Frankly, I thought it was quite generic. The only reason why I listened to it was because some guy on eBay decided to throw this in as a "freebie" album.
---- "Man does at all times only what he wills, and yet he does this necessarily. But this is because he already is what he wills." - Arthur Schopenhauer
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No killer riffs indeed, but wasn't like he came out from heroin treatment before when this came out? Song 2 and 3 are best one here IMO, fits in every compilation album.
---- I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens. Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die"  I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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