Countdown to Extinction [Explicit Lyrics, Extra tracks]

Megadeth | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 27, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Explicit Lyrics, Extra tracks
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B0002EXH4K
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (255 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,117 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #4 in Music > Imports > Hard Rock & Metal
  • #7 in Music > Hard Rock & Metal > Thrash & Speed Metal
  • #11 in Music > Imports > Rock

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

12. Crown Of Worms - previously unreleased in the U.S.

13. Countdown To Extinction (Demo) - previously unreleased

14. Symphony Of Destruction (Demo) - previously unreleased

15. Psychotron (Demo) - previously unreleased

Editorial Reviews

Remastered reissue of double platinum album includes four bonus tracks, 'Crown Of Worms' (prev. unreleased in U.S.), 'Countdown To Extinction' (demo - prev. unreleased), 'Symphony Of Destruction' (demo - prev. unreleased), & 'Psychotron' demo - prev. unreleased).

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 29 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 VINE™ VOICE

Format: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.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars BEST MEGADETH CD EVER July 13, 2000

By NEO-CS-

Format:Audio CD

Countdown to Extinction was released 8 years ago and still sounds fresh even buy today's standards. By far, this is the best effort by Dave Mustaine and company. This CD was the first release in which Megadeth toned their sound down a little bit....(only slightly though), and the first release that hit the big time. There are so many great catchy songs on this CD that you will end up singing along with: Symphony of Destruction, This Was My Life, and Countdown to Extinction to name a few. Musically, the guitars of Mustaine and Freidman are incredible. The drum work of Nick Menza is fantastic as is the bass guitar of Danny Ellefson.

This is one CD that I never get tired of listening to. Its heavy guitars, crashing drums and excellent vocals combined with well composed songs makes this one Hard Rock / Heavy Metal release that should be in everyone's collection. It is upbeat, and it will get your adrenaline pumping.

This is an excellent CD! Well worth the money spent!

17 of 21 people found the following review helpful

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

By Martin A.

Format: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.