BTM December 2011 127 downtimemusic Megadeth Th1rt3en RATING: WHAT’S THE STORY? With a self-explanatory title, the thirteenth CD from a group that remains incapable of recording a boring album even at their worst does the sole favour of not trying to fit into the shoes of younger men. Whatever success Megadeth has reaped can be directed toward one man — Dave Mustaine, the riff machine. Th1rt3en is the follow-up to 2009’s widely lauded Endgame and showcases their ability to pen smart, concise and powerful metal anthems and their precision in technicality. However, it veers from its signature razor-sharp hooks. Mustaine and Megadeth stand tall among a small handful of genre-defining bands and as a result, a new album is always (for better or worse) going to be compared to the rest of their catalogue upon release. WORTH A LISTEN? This album can be considered an unremarkable affair. Some songs including the title track do stir the senses, but elsewhere much of it is a quiet burn rather than a sudden rush. Fans of the group may miss the twists of previous albums. It’s a shame that Th1rt3en is not quite as compelling as the man who created it. If this is what you get after a two-year wait, you might end up thinking you could wait a little longer if it allowed them time to perfect the tracks before actually launching it. VERDICT: Not a bad album, but not one for the ages. TOP TRACKS: Sudden Death, Never Dead. Nickelback Here and Now In an era of average music and forgettable tracks, Nickelback doesn’t sound so bad. Who are we kidding? They are easily the inspirational torchbearers of post-grunge. But, their dream to be rock stars gets the best of them in their seventh studio album. Although producer Mutt Lange polishes a few excellent riffs, the lyrics actually sound quite silly. The band might have grown, but the crew seems to have forgotten to grow up with it. Daughtry Break the Spell This is a showcase of frontman Chris Daughtry’s powerful voice. It gives the band room to evolve musically while aiming to satisfy its many fans. Rihanna Talk That Talk The build-up to her sixth album reached fever pitch before it finally released. Rihanna is as titillating as she’s ever been, teasing her audience in more ways than one. ALBUM OF THE MONTH An Era of Ear Plugs It seems like the dark side has taken over this month with new releases from legends like Megadeth and Nickelback. We also find out what makes Rihanna’s latest album so controversial.
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