47. Rust in Peace - Megadeth 1990
It was
extremely difficult choosing between this and 1992's 'Countdown to Extinction', but ultimately we are looking at impact and influence, therefore, this has to be the 'Deth album that makes the list. Already with four successful records under their belt, including the superb, 'Peace Sells...But Who's Buying?' When it came to album number four, Megadeth mainman, vocalist/guitarist, Dave Mustaine, knew he had to kick things up another notch. What he did was create one of the most revered records in Thrash Metal, and the Heavy Metal genre, as a whole. Sacking the other guitar player and drummer for the second time (something he would do several times again over the course of the band's history) he hired guitar prodigy, Marty Friedman, and the band's drum-tech, Nick Menza, who was far more accomplished than previous drummer, Chuck Behler. He kept alongside him, fellow founding member, partner in crime and substance abuse, Dave Ellefson (nicknamed junior) on bass guitar. This line up was together from 1989 to 1998 and was seen as the golden-era, classic Megadeth line-up. With the new, dynamic members in place, Mustaine set about writing a ferocious and technical Speed-Metal album that is, 23 years on, still the benchmark of technical Thrash Metal (along with Metallica's '...And Justice for All'), that all others are judged by. Exploding into life with the 6 and a half minute monster that is 'Holy Wars...The Punishment Due', the band had audibly stepped their game up and made pretty much all their peers, shit the bed! Mustaine's voice, retained the signature snarl, but had improved in power. The riffs were even more technical than before, but were extremely memorable, Friedman's solos are phrased so uniquely and intelligently that he even brought lead playing from Mustaine that had surpassed what had gone before, in trying to keep up with his new co-shredder. The bass playing steps up in both volume and competency as Ellefson refused to be left behind. Menza's drumming is not as jazzy as original drummer, Gar Samuelson's but infinitely more inspired than Behler's. Second single, 'Hangar 18', about the US governments alien experiments and cover-ups, is pretty much a vehicle to demonstrate how well Mustaine and Friedman could trade-off their six string exploits. The album doesn't dip once in quality with 'Lucretia' and 'Tornado of Souls', being notable highlights. The latter features, what is seen by many as the band's, and Friedman's, finest guitar solo. Mustaine's meticulous attention to detail made sure that the band's image and reputation as a ferocious, relevant and super-tight live act, resulted in the album becoming a worldwide smash. Thrash Metal bands had to rethink their own abilities, some giving up in its wake and many more forming in an attempt to try and match the way 'Rust in Peace' perfectly blended fantastic song-writing
and stellar technical prowess. None would ever come close to recreating the brilliance heard across these 9 tracks. The band themselves wouldn't even try to replicate it's perfection, instead moving into slightly different territory for subsequent releases. One can't help but think that Mustaine's former band, Metallica, and their uber-progressive Thrash masterpiece, '...And Justice for All', unleashed two years previously, had a lot to do with the conception of this record. If so, thanks Metallica!