Countdown to Extinction

Megadeth | Format: Audio Cassette

Product Details

• Audio Cassette (July 14, 1992)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B000002V0R
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (242 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #232,933 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Skin O' My Teeth

2. Symphony of Destruction

3. Architecture of Aggression

4. Foreclosure of a Dream

5. Sweating Bullets

6. This Was My Life

7. Countdown to Extinction

8. High Speed Dirt

9. Psychotron

10. Captive Honour

11. Ashes in Your Mouth

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Megadeth is one of the few metal bands to have successfully handled the transition to the '90s, and Countdown to Extinction is proof positive; although considerably more streamlined and commercially oriented than their previous efforts, it's still a fine album, and arguably one of their best. Lead singer and guitarist Dave Mustaine's lyric-writing has improved, and the results can be heard on "Countdown to Extinction," "Symphony of Destruction," "Architecture of Aggression" (it's a rare songwriter who can make a line like that fit in a chorus), and "Foreclosure of a Dream". This is arena metal at its best; Countdown to Extinction (a reference not to genocide, as one might assume, but to endangered species) manages the difficult trick of being commercially appealing and musically sound at the same time. -- Genevieve Williams

Product Description

Megadeth is one of the few metal bands to have successfully handled the transition to the '90s, and Countdown to Extinction is proof positive; although considerably more streamlined and commercially oriented than their previous efforts, it's still a fine album, and arguably one of their best. Lead singer and guitarist Dave Mustaine's lyric-writing has improved, and the results can be heard on 'Countdown to Extinction', 'Symphony of Destruction', 'Architecture of Aggression' (it's a rare songwriter who can make a line like that fit in a chorus), and 'Foreclosure of a Dream'. This is arena metal at its best; Countdown to Extinction (a reference not to genocide, as one might assume, but to endangered species) manages the difficult trick of being commercially appealing and musically sound at the same time. Includes four bonus tracks 'Crown Of Worms', 'Countdown To Extinction' (Demo), 'Symphony Of Destruction' (Demo), and 'Psychotron' (Demo). --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic album! - - - Warning >> Do not trade in your old CD for this one!, May 1, 2006

By 

R. Gorham "RCG2" - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Countdown to Extinction (Audio CD)

THE BAND: Dave Mustaine (lead vocals, lead & rhythm guitar), Marty Friedman (lead & rhythm guitar), David Ellefson (bass), Nick Menza (drums & percussion).

THE DISC: (2004) This remixed version contains 15 songs clocking in at approximately 67 minutes. Included with the disc is a 18-page booklet containing a brief intro, band photos, song credits, song lyrics, and thank you's. "Countdown To Extinction" was original released in 1992 with 11 total tracks. Recorded at The Enterprise, Burbank, CA. New producer - Max Norman. Label - Capital.

COMMENTS: Warning - do not trade in your original disc/album for this new remixed and remastered version of "Countdown To Extinction". You need them both! This new enhanced version contains slightly different takes on the songs. Mustaine's vocals appear (on some songs) like he's in a deep echo chamber. Song intro's, song ending's, and some guitar solo's sound completely different. In some songs, it even sounds like Nick Menza is using a different drum kit (from the orignal '92 release). In my opinion - these are classic NEW takes on classic songs (reminiscent of what Deep Purple just did with their classics "Machine Head" and "Burn"). On to the review of the disc... Like Metallica, Megadeth was originally known for lightning fast riffs and steady drums to hold the songs together. This kind of music played to a select group of listeners. Megadeth matured a little bit, got a new producer, slowed it down just a tad... and the result was "Countdown to Extinction". A solid effort from start to finish. The old school Megadeth fans will say the band sold out (like old school Metallica fans said the band did with their 1991 "Black" album as well as "Load" in 1996). I've always believed that you simply can't please everyone. With "Countdown To Extinction" though, I felt then as I do now - Megadeth reached so many more listeners with their new and improved sound. This isn't the band's best selling album for no reason. Mustaine and Friedman's guitars are hard, crunchy and tight. Ellefson's bass playing is thundering in the background. Menza's drumming has been equalled on other albums, but never better than here. The first 6 songs are back to back metal classics. My favorite songs (even years later) are "Foreclosure of a Dream", "This Was My Life", "Sweating Bullets", and "Symphany of Destruction". The bonus tracks are great too - "Crown Of Worms" fits right into the spirit of the album. The 3 'Demo' cuts sound stripped down and crisp - great takes! If you were not into Megadeth because of their trademark speed licks and thrash... I guarantee you will be pleasantly surprised by the results from "Countdown To Extinction". In 1992, this was vastly different than anything else they'd ever done. This is easily my favorite release in the entire Megadeth catelog. Classic disc.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better Than Metallica's Black Album, August 13, 2001

By 

Martin A. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Countdown to Extinction (Audio CD)

Dave Mustaine once admitted he wanted Countdown To Extinction to be Megadeth's "Metallica-Killer." And quite frankly, I think he succeeded. Countdown to Extinction is an excellent Megadeth album and stands as my second favorite by the band. Only Youthanasia is better IMO (though not by much).

Some people felt Youthanasia was Megadeth's "sell out album." Well, what they don't seem to realize is that Megadeth's slight change in sound really began with this album. Its songs are a bit slower than in earlier Megadeth releases, and they have a slightly more mainstream sound to them. And yet, some waited until the later Youth came out to say the band sold out. I guess Youthanasia suffered from what I like to call the "Eb syndrom." It seems that whenever a band tunes their guitars down to that key (also Ab in some songs), people claim their music got "a complete make-over" and the band sold out. As funny as it may seem, this has happened to a lot of bands: Metallica with their Load album, Ozzy Osbourne with The Ultimate Sin, and Megadeth with Youthanasia. Of course, Youthanasia still sounded like a Megadeth album regardless. Just a more atmospheric and melodic Megadeth album, which is what makes it the band's best IMO.

Countdown To Extinction's strongest point is its immense personality. The songs here are very catchy and (as with Youthanasia), are really something you can play in your mind during daily life. This, again, is mostly due to the fact that they're a bit slower than in earlier Megadethers, making them quite a bit easier to remember.

The album also has something many other metal albums don't have: A sense of humor. Mustaine constantly makes humorous references to real life situations and even expresses a lot of his thoughts in a humorous fashion. This is most evident in the song Sweating Bullets, where the verses are spoken in a manner that is likely to make even the most grumpy metal head crack a smile.

Other great songs include Skin O' My Teeth (which has a very catchy chorus and a good solo), Symphony of Destruction (with its neat riff and also catchy chorus), Architecture of Aggression (just an all around great song), Captive Honor (the funny court scene in this song is bound to make you laugh), and the title track (which seems to borrow its riff from a small portion of the Metallica song Ride The Lightning). Ashes in your Mouth is also a plus.

So overall, Countdown To Extinction is a great Megadeth album. If you're at the record store and confused as to whether you should buy Metallica's Black Album or this album, I strongly suggest you choose this one. Once you give it a listen you will see why.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Dave's a big fibber., June 3, 2007

By 

T. McGrew (Jewett City, CT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Countdown to Extinction (Audio CD)

Beware! If you have the original recording of this album, do not --repeat--DO NOT get rid of it. While it's stated on the case that it was remixed and remastered, it's become obvious to me that certain parts have been re-recorded as well. I can't speak for the vocal or guitar parts but the drum tracks, I'm fairly certain, have all been re-recorded. I'm a drummer with incredibly sensitive ears. I'm also intimately familiar with Nick Menza's work on this album (great work, too) and I can say without hesitation that he's not the person who played on this remix. Whoever it was is pretty good at imitating him but not perfect. I'm not sure why Dave would do this--maybe he wasn't able to get the sound he wanted from the original tracks. Whatever. Nice try, Dave. Download the extra songs off of I-tunes or something but avoid the rest of this one and find the original.