10 90s Metal Albums That Successfully Transformed Their Band's Sound

3. Megadeth - Countdown To Extinction

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOnKCcjP8Qs The war between Megadeth and Metallica fans will continue to rage on and one of the reasons for that passion is found in both bands' fantastic early output. Coming off the heels of Metallica's monumental self-titled release, Megadeth switched their thrash sound to a more digestible form of metal in '92 (sound familiar?). It might have been a deliberate attempt to follow Metallica's success but when the results are this good, does it really matter? Musically the record hits hard, it's just the hits are slower than those found on albums like Rust In Peace, as evidenced by the epic, slow-building title-track or the mean churning, riff-heavy Symphony Of Destruction. It's a track that certainly has a symphonic quality (a grandiose element that is employed for a lot of the record) in the guitar tone, helping to raise the track to its ultimate peak. combine this virtuosic level of instrument playing with some of the finest vocal melodies of the 90's and you have a real winner here. Mustaine stripped back the band's sound for Countdown To Extinction to reveal an even more interesting aspect of the band - one that sees the rockers explore their lyrical ambitions with pinpoint clarity by being allowed space from a more relaxed sound palette. Tracks like the mellow but tough 'Foreclosure Of A Dream' or the phenomenal madcap classic 'Sweating Bullets' deal with outer turmoil as much as they do with inner turmoil. With Countdown To Extinction, Megadeth evolved into a different beast. It might not be the most original change of the 90's but there's no denying that it's one of the most successful. Key Tracks: Symphony Of Destruction, Sweating Bullets, Countdown To Extinction, Psychotron