Tracklist
1. Disconnect
2. The World Needs A Hero
3. Moto Psycho
4. 1000 Times Goodbye
5. Burning Bridges
6. Promises
7. Recipe For Hate....Warhorse
8. Losing My Senses
9. Dread And The Fugitive Mind
10. Silent Scorn
11. Return To Hangar
12. When
First thing to note is the change in guitarist. Al Pitrelli comes in to replace Marty Friedman. This album is described in Mustaine's words as a lost ship trying to find its way back. Major difference between this and Risk was the obvious return to a more metal sound as opposed to a radio friendly pop sound.
This album for me is a bit of a mixed bag. It has some very memorable songs but also some incredibly forgettable ones as well. This is definitely not the best that Megadeth have come up with but it is a step in the right direction. At least Dave Mustaine listens to his fans and even agreed that Risk as a Megadeth album was abysmal. (For me it was a good album if I forget Megadeth was the band for it)
The sound almost reminds me of what they achieved with Countdown to Extinction but slightly more commercialised especially with songs like Moto Psycho. The ballad Promises for me was probably one of the weaker moments on the album along with songs such as The World Needs A Hero, Silent Scorn, Recipe was an extremely weak song also.
The strong moments for me on this album are Moto Psycho, 1000 Times Goodbye, Disconnect, Return To Hangar (sequel to Hangar 18), Burning Bridges and Dread And The Fugitive Mind. Very strong bass sound by David Ellefson too, Mustaine's vocals sound much better on this album than Risk. It sounds like the band was a bit more rejuvenated. It would also be the last album at least for 7-8 years that David Ellefson would be bass on.
To just sum up this album. It is a step in the right direction after Risk, it contains some very memorable songs, production was strong. The consistency though of the album is the only drawback when it comes to truly memorable songs. I would give this one about a 6/10. Some very good ones but there are several songs I would skip over, not the sign of a truly consistent album. Pretty dire album when it comes to lack of consistency.
My favourite songs. 1000 Times Goodbye
Return To Hangar
Dread And The Fugitive Mind
Moto Psycho