10 Best Metal Albums Of The 1990s - Ranked
1. Megadeth – Rust In Peace
Everything about Megadeth's Rust In Peace is perfect, from the beautiful blue of the album art, to the shockingly real lyrical work.
The main praise for the album goes to the guitar work though, which is some of, if not the best, that the metal world has ever seen. Dave Mustaine and Marty Friedman totally reinvented the standard for thrash guitar playing, with structuring and technicality that has rarely been matched.
The lyric writing is brutally honest, and covers the very serious topics of religion, war, conspiracy, and environmental negligence, but despite these topics, the album never comes across as preachy, or overly opinionated.
The albums structuring is also perfect, with each song assembled masterfully, with a perfect balance of melody and heaviness.
Critically and financially, Rust In Peace was a huge success, having an impact on the genre for years to come, and providing inspiration for many of the acts we know and love today.
Picking a highlight from the record is difficult, as it’s track listing seems more like a best-of compilation than a studio release, but the iconic Holy Wars... The Punishment Due is arguably the standout, and acts as the perfect start to the perfect thrash metal album.