“…it’s
a mix of furious riffing and pointed, often politically charged lyrics.”
--Richard Bienstock, GUITAR WORLD, August 2004
“THE
SYSTEM HAS FAILED is Megadeth’s most vengeful, poignant, and musically
complex offering since 1992’s Countdown to Extinction…anyone
questioning whether Megadeth are still relevant need only check out such
incendiary tracks as ‘Kick the Chair,’ ‘Something I’m Not,’ and
‘Truth Be Told.’…Megadeth are not just back, they’re paranoid, pissed,
and motivated to destroy.”
--Jon Wiederhorn, REVOLVER, September 2004
“An
early contender for metal album of the year..."
--Jeff
Kerby, KNAC.COM, September 14, 2004
“Mustaine’s
zippery, raking riffs recapture the spidery grandiosity (‘Blackmail the
Universe’) and gothic melodrama (‘The Scorpion’) that have been MIA from
Megadeth’s records since 1990’s Rust In Peace…Mustaine’s
paranoid, apocalyptic sneer hasn’t sounded this relevant in years.”
--Carly
Cairoli, BLENDER, October 2004
“…we’re
happy to report that Megadeth’s 10th album is also their best since
their fourth, 1990’s Rust In Peace.”
--Nancy
Miller, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY, September 17, 2004
"A
vintage Megadeth staple of cynical lyrics, chugging riffs and dueling guitar
solos, the new album also features rich vocal harmonies and string
arrangements."
--Gelu
Sulugiuc, REUTERS, September 17, 2004
"...[Mustaine is]
an opinionated musical genius and guitar virtuoso...[the album] is the most
personal Megadeth album yet, but it's still hard-hitting and familiarly biting.
Clever, metaphorical tunes like ‘The Scorpion’ document the madness of
Mustaine's drug addiction, when he sings, ‘As I climb onto your back/I will
promise not to sting/I will tell you what you want to hear and not mean
anything/I will treat you like a dog, as I shoot my venom in/Cuz you knew all
along/I am a scorpion.’ It's brilliant. Blend words like that with superb,
catchy riffs, and you have a metal masterpiece.
--Devin
Comiskey, HARTFORD COURANT, September 16, 2004
"THE
SYSTEM HAS FAILED is such a great record, recalling their
creative glory days of Rust in Peace...the record starts off with 'Deth's
biggest bang in years, 'Blackmail the Universe,' a galloping piece of pure
apocalyptic metal in the vein of 'Holy Wars,' complete with interesting time
changes and great solo work..."
--Dave
Anderson, ELECTRICBASEMENT.COM, October 4, 2004
“…It’s
all about epic vision, a
dictatorial single-mindedness and a refusal to lie down."
--Paul
Rogers, LA WEEKLY, October 28, 2004
--Phil
Freeman, CLEVELAND SCENE, November 3, 2004
“…there
are a couple of new Deth classics in ‘The Scorpion’ and ‘Blackmail The
Universe.’
--Adrian
Gregory Glover, AQUARIAN WEEKLY, October 13, 2004
"Mustaine
seems to be making up for lost time. All those guitar solos leave a wake of fire
behind his strongest songwriting effort in years, proving that one of the true
masters of metal has a rejuvenated sense of purpose. He has said it will be the
final Megadeth album, and, if so, THE SYSTEM HAS
FAILED is a suitably smoking send-off."
John
Serba, GRAND RAPIDS PRESS, November 16, 2004
***½
Stars
"...Mustaine
hasn't lost a step. This was a metal show that was technical, dynamic and
demented in a way that only Dave Mustaine can pull
off."
--Matt
Schwenke, CONCERTLIVEWIRE.COM, November 10, 2004
(live review)
"...Dave
was back and he sounded better than ever...twice during the show, a huge chunk
of plaster from the Palladium's ceiling came crashing down in between the stage
and the barricade. Fortunately, no one was hurt. But for once when a writer
writes, ‘the band brought the house down’ -- he means it literally!"
--Mike
Bosley, KNAC.COM, November 3, 2004 (live review)
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