10 Most Overrated Metal Albums Of The 90s
6. Megadeth - Countdown To Extinction (1992)
It is thanks to thrash metal's "Big Four" that music give such great credence to any new thrash band's third album, however the lesser-acknowledged pattern from the Big Four comes from album #5, where thrash metal tends to spread its wings a bit.
Even former-Megadeth drummer Nick Menza has spoken openly about the comparable trajectory of Metallica leading up to their game-changing 1991 self-titled album, with 'Countdown...' exhibiting many of the same ultra-polished characteristics of 'The Black Album'. But imitation is the most sincere form of flattery.
It's far too easy to compare the likes of "Symphony of Destruction", "Foreclosure of a Dream" and "This Was My Life" sonically to Wish.com versions of "Sad But True", "The Unforgiven" and "My Friend of Misery" respectively. It's also easy to compare "Captive Honour" to a bad Law & Order audiodrama. These kinds of melodies also absolutely do not suit Mustaine whose snarling wails sound like someone's stepping on a cat.
Admittedly, the furthest Slayer went was going a bit goth on the title track to 'Seasons in the Abyss', but Metallica went into a commercially prosperous new direction on their fifth album, and we're saying Mr. Mustaine tried to copy them, but...
And as for Anthrax...