Customer Reviews

Rust In Peace

5 star:		(129)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

Along with Master of Puppets and Seasons in the Abyss, Rust in Peace is one of the greatest metal albums of all time! So when I heard Dave Mustaine was remastering the Megadeth catalog, I HAD to get my hands on a fresh copy!

Let me start with the high notes... The musicianship is OUTSTANDING. The instruments are crisp and clear, with lots of insane riffing and rapid fire drumming annihilation! You can even hear the thumping bass line, which I never heard on the original cassette or CD (except for the obvious bass intros to Five Magics, Poison Was The Cure, and Dawn Patrol). As far as the music goes, the remastered version of RIP certainly delivers! Buuuuuut...

Okay, here we go... For those of you who have never heard Rust in Peace, stop reading right here. Turn your computer off, drive to the store and BUY IT NOW!!! You MUST own this cd!!! Rust in Peace veterans read on...

Dave Mustaine BUTCHERED the vocals!!! Did he re-sing them? I'm no sound or recording expert, but I can certainly tell when a beloved recording that I've been listening to since I was 14 years old (I'm 27 now) has been altered. As everybody knows, Take No Prisoners and Five Magics have entirely new vocals, but upon further inspection, I've realize most of the album - if not all - has new vocals as well. Just listen to the low Vic Rattlehead vocals of Polaris, the chorus of Lucretia, and the jumble of words in Poison Was The Cure... you can tell the vocals are different. It's very noticeable in the parts where the rest of the band sings back up ("The warheads will all rust in peace!", and the "Hey!" chorus of Lucretia), and since they weren't around for the remastering process, the difference is clear. And of course, we're all reeling over the butchering of Five Magics (even the printed lyrics are different!)

Has Dave Mustaine pulled a George Lucas on us and changed a beloved product just because he thinks he can make it better? I heard something about Capitol losing the vocal tracks to Take No Prisoners... did the same happen to all the songs? At least an explanation in the booklet would have been nice. Are the rest of the remasters the same?

You know Dave, it IS possible to remaster an album without altering its content. Just look at Slayer's pre-Reign in Blood catalog... the production is so bad, even the remasters sound like [...] But at least they didn't change the content of the recordings. And that's where the remastered Rust in Peace FAILS.

Of course you could just pretend the first 9 tracks don't exist and buy it just for the demos and the old unreleased track My Creation (it's only 1:34 minutes long... er, short!). The booklet is actually pretty cool, with an introduction by Dave Mustaine and several band photos from that time period. It seems my particular copy is factory-pressed incorrectly. The lyric sheets to Holy Wars and Hangar 18 are cut in half, with Dave Ellefson's forehead appearing on the bottom of the page, and his neck on the top. Looks like a factory mistake, but I don't mind, it just it makes it a little more rare. Any other fans out there have messed up copies too?

I give the remastered version of Rust in Peace four stars because I can't bear to give such a masterpiece anything less. If not for the new vocals, it would've been an EASY five.

Megadeth has always seemed to exist in the shadow of Metallica, which is ironic as I've always considered Megadeth to be the far superior band. Megadeth guitarist/singer and leader Dave Mustaine was also a founding member of Metallica before being unceramoniously given the boot in early 1983 due to his ego and substance abuse.

The fact that he started Megadeth in 1984 purely out of hatred and jealousy of his former bandmates in Metallica ended up sort of causing Megadeth to never really get the true respect that Dave and his ever changing roster of co-horts deserved. It seems that every time that Megadeth has come out with a new studio album, Dave is accused of mearly copying Metallica's sonic strategies and supposedly even ripping off some of Metallica's riffs. People seem to forget that Metallica kept using Dave's musical ideas all the way through 1986's Master of Puppets (in some cases giving him proper songwriting credits, in other cases not giving him his due credit).

In my eyes, Megadeth (and Dave Mustaine in particular) have always had the better songwriting capabilities and a better sense of what truly makes a great song in comparison to Metallica. Megadeth also gradually evolved their sound over the years without resorting to pulling a jarring 180 on their fans like Metallica did so arrogantly about 8 years back with their terrible album Load (some might say they turned their backs with 1991's self-titled release or "The Black Album" as it's commonly referred to, but I thought that album balanced their sound out nicely.) Granted, Megadeth's 1999 album Risk is considered a sell out by most people, but I really feel that in most cases it was a continuation of the direction they went in on their last album 1997's Cryptic Writings.

But I digress.

Megadeth has realeased quite a few great albums over the years, but none have ever quite had the impact or lasting quality that 1990's Rust In Peace has had. Almost every truly great band has at the very least that one quintessential album that is pretty much the only one that someone would really need to buy in order to get the best overview of that band's achievments. While I personally like Cryptic Writings the best, there's no denying that Rust In Peace will always be looked back on as Megadeth's finest hour.

It was on this album that singer/guitarist Dave Mustaine and bassist Dave Ellefson (who besides Mustaine is the only original member) were clear of any substance abuse problems thanks to extensive re-hab for both of them. It also represented them hooking up with drummer Nick Menza and guitarist Marty Friedman. Lots of Megadeth fans consider this lineup to be the "golden" lineup and they are right. Dave actually managed to keep this lineup together for 4 studio albums and those albums represent the best that Megadeth has had to offer.

Rust In Peace is a truly legendary metal album that deserves it's status as an album that was truly ahead of it's time. Something just clicked on this album like it hadn't prior or since then. From the get-go, the listener is treated to a barrage of insane metal riffing that is almost progressive in nature at times due to the constant change-ups in tempo and rhythm. But the complexity of the album isn't just done for complexity's sake. The songwriting is extremely smart and the parts flow into each other like sugar in coffee. This is a virtual textbook for anyone wanting to learn metal rhythm guitar. The drum work is also stellar along with Ellefson's stupendous bass work. He is truly one of the most underrated metal bass players of all time IMO.

This album is also celebrated by guitarists the world over due to the insane amount of amazing guitar solos that are present throughout the album. Marty and Dave Mustaine seemed intent on trying to one-up each other in terms of soloing but it was all in the spirit of making the best album possible so even that spirited competition added to the album's greatness.

The original release consisted of 9 stupendous tracks and lasted around 40 minutes in length.

The original track listing was:
1) Holy Wars/The Punishment Due
2) Hangar 18
3) Take No Prisoners
4) Five Magics
5) Poison Was the Cure
6) Lucretia
7) Tornado of Souls
8) Dawn Patrol
9) Rust in Peace/Polaris.

All of these songs are pretty much viewed as classics in the overall Megadeth repertoire. This album just grabs you by the throat from the start and doesn't let up. Since there are so many other reviews already that go into details of these tracks, I'll just try to focus on how I feel this re-mastered CD stacks up to the original release.

In early 2004, it was announced that Dave Mustaine was in the process of re-mixing and re-mastering the entire Capitol records catalog of Megadeth releases to be released on July 27th.

Rust In Peace is one of the re-releases that benefits the most from the re-mastering and re-mixing. Everything sounds much brighter and punchier. The drums now sound like thunder and the bass growls and rumbles like it never quite did on the original release. In fact, I've noticed things on this album that I didn't before due to how crystal clear and open everything now sounds.

All of the re-relased CD's also contain bonus tracks in the form of alternate mixes in some cases and in the case of Rust in Peace you get extra tracks in the form of:

10) My Creation (previously unreleased)
11) Rust in Peace/Polaris (demo version)
12) Holy Wars/The Punishment Due (demo version)
13) Take No Prisoners (demo version).

The sound quality on these bonus tracks are actually quite good and I've always liked hearing demo versions of songs just to hear how a song evolved to the point of the final recording. The new song My Creation is kind of short but is pretty cool in its own right.


Now onto the one aspect of this album's particular re-mastering that has a lot of purists and hardcore fans up in arms.

It turns out that when Dave Mustaine got all of the original master tapes for the Rust in Peace album together, he found out to his dismay that that original vocal tracks for the songs Take No Prisoners and 5 Magics had vanished. [EDIT: Epinions.com user Megasoul actually found this out about the track 5 Magics. "Just wanna point out that the webmaster at [...] stated that "Five Magics" was NOT re-recorded (which means that Dave must have used alternate vocal takes from 1990 on the re-issue).]

So he had no choice but to re-record new vocals for these 2 tracks. Some people are overreacting and are claiming that he did this to more than just these 2 tracks, but these are the facts from Dave Mustaine himself in a few interviews.

So are the new vocals that noticeable or do they just flat out suck in comparison to the original? Well, if you are as big of a fan of the original album for as long as I've been, you will notice the new tracks. I think that Dave did a great job with the new vocals and they are in the exact same style and spirit as the old vocal tracks were. He really had no choice but to re-record new vocals so I don't think he should be faulted for that. It is a little bit jarring at first, but with subsequent listening, I've grown quite accustomed to the new vocal tracks already.

All of the other tracks throughout the album have been untouched so the purists can calm down a bit.

The CD also features all new liner notes by Dave himself as well as all the lyrics in addition to vintage photos from that period in the band's existence.


Rust in Peace is a true metal classic that everyone interested in the genre should own. This new re-mastered CD of the album makes it sound better than it ever has and the sound is improved enough to warrant picking up this new version of the album. While the re-recorded vocal tracks on the 2 previously mentioned tunes might take a little bit getting used to, I don't think that they butcher the songs like a lot of other people are complaining that they do. But I guess it's up to everyone to decide that for themselves.

I can't believe that there are people in this world that think that St Anger is better than Rust in Peace. Things like that make me feel like giving up on humanity and sticking a fork in my eye. Rust in Peace is an absolute masterpiece in metal, but I guess the high level of musicality it contains makes it less accessible to the average person. However, Megadeth are and probably always will be the most underrated Heavy Metal band of all time. I just hope that people like you, Frank, are few and far between. By the way, Dave Mustaine writes some of the most kickarse riffs of all time, and the riffs on this album are one hundred times better than those on St Anger. Justice has been served, my work here is done.

I bought four other Megadeth remasters and was extremely satisfied. Rust in Peace is a masterpiece, and probably the best Megadeth album. Instrumentally the remastered album sounds good. I would give it five stars based on that. The vocals on Take No Prisoners, Five Magics, and Lucretia, though, were redone. Why Dave? The new vocals are nothing short of offensive. I can see no reason, short of not having the original recordings, to re-sing ANY song. If he did not have them, which is inconceivable, he should have left the songs alone. If anyone wants to find out how to ruin a good album, this is the example. If you have the original don't waste your money here, the bonus tracks aren't worth it either.

did dave mustaine loose the original master recordings or something? some songs in the remaster clearly have the original vocals, others have been re-recorded. i see nothing in the CD booklet about this. i can't locate anything from dave on the web. why change what isn't broke?

don't get me wrong: i listened to both back to back, and i count three total songs with re-recorded vocals by Dave: Take No Prisoners, Five Magics and Lucretia. i prefer dave's RIP vocals of 14 years ago than the updated vocals of today. i'd love to see this one reissued in its original glory. although the remastered cd is completley listenable.

those of you who have not heard this new edition of this metal masterpiece, get this one now. those of you who have been long time fans of the band and RIP, expect differences. i like both, but prefer the original vocals over the new.

I think it sounds just as good as the original. I always thought Megadeth were better than the other 3 thrash bands(though all 4 of them are awesome). Dave Mustaine's vocals are pretty good, unlike some people have said. He is a master at guitar as well. He is constantly switching out between lead & rhythm with Marty Friedman, another godly guitarist. Those stupid emo kids in Hawthorne Heights wish they could play guitar like this. Dave Ellefson is a very underrated bassist, and I find him to be a master of it. Nick Menza is a great drummer as well. This album is technical, progressive laced thrash/speed metal.

Track Ratings:

Holy Wars...The Punishment Due:100/10
Hanger 18:1000/10
Take No Prisoners: 100/10
Five Magics:100/10
Poison Was the Cure:100/10
Lucretia:100/10
Tornado of Souls:100/10
Dawn Patrol:10/10
Rust in Peace..Polaris:100/10

I didn't bother rating the extras.

Score:1710/100

This album is a masterpiece! If you like metal, this gem's for you. If you like emo, go cry in a corner and slit your wrists, because this album's too heavy for you, and it might break you in half.

Long live Megadeth!

Go jump off a cliff Hawthorne Heights!

Please do NOT believe the people telling you that the vocals aren't different, because they quite clearly ARE different. I don't know, i really know f-all about professionally recording vocals and remastering and remixing old albums, but on, for example Take No Prisoners, the vocals are NOT the same as on the original album. This is obvious. This is as plain as the nose on your face..... unless you have no nose, in which case, my sympathies. Yes yes, of course all of the album vocals sound different, in that "the whole album, vocals and all have been remixed, polished and remastered" way. Of course. Otherwise it would be pointless. But the vocals on Lucretia and Take No Prisoners, to take two songs as examples, are NOT simply remixed and remastered. They sound different, are sung differently and for goodness' sake - some of the words are different! (even if only slightly, and barely noticably in some places). If they have simply been remastered and overhauled, well..... wow, they must have some machine that changes words as well. O_O I (obsessively) know this album. I know every snarl, every single word and exclamation, every vocal 'noise' made and the exact way in which every song is sung. No, i'm not trying to be a (sad) smart ar**, i'm simply trying to tell you that it is clear to anyone who is into this band and in particular this album like i am, that certain parts of this album have different vocal tracks from those which appeared on the original release of Rust In Peace. That's all. Whether they were re-sung in '04, whether they are different tracks taken from the original recording sessions.... whether an ALIEN trying to imitate Dave Mustaine recorded them - they are different. Anyone telling you different either needs to get their hearing checked, or seriously believes that they are the same..... just remixed..... with different words? Anyway, Whether you like them or not is down to your own opinion. I hated them at first, now i'm into them. As for which songs have different vocals on them.... hell, some are hard to tell, to be honest. Take No Prisoners - definitely. Five Magics - definitely (this is one of the songs where some of the words are different) Lucretia - definitely. (i think it's done very well) Rust In Peace...Polaris - i can tell that little bits are sung and pronounced differently. Therefore, how can they be the same. (just listen to the bit after the second verse, that starts with "I rule on land air and sea...." (it's obvious it's different) On the whole though, i think they've just polished, remastered and remixed the vocals. Don't worry, not every track has different, crappy vocals. There, not very interesting, but i just wanted to say that some of this album is using different vocal tracks than the original release. It's plain as a 747. :D

You know, most of the reviewers are correct...Dave Mustaine re-recorded some vocals and while they take away some of the bite/edge from the originals, it doesn't really effect the listening. For Chrissakes, people make it seems unlistenable, but it's not. The remastering itself is excellent, the whole album has a beefed up sound which is good...but the real reason I love this is hearing Chris Poland on lead guitar and soloing
on the 3 bonus demos...Rust In Peace...Polaris, Holy Wars...The Punishment Due and Take No Prisoners. Just to hear Chris on these tracks is a Godsend. Any fan of Megadeth's best era (Rust in Peace lineup) will agree! These 3 demos are worth the price of the remastered CD alone!

Okay, so I just went out and bought all of the remastered Megadeth releases and thought I'd write a review on RIP. First off, RIP is one of Megadeth's best albums and I was quite excited to hear the songs all nice and remastered after hearing the great job that was done on Killing Is My Business. The first two tracks (Holy Wars..., and Hangar 18) sound great as I was expecting. Everything crystal clear and hard as ever... then I get to "Take No Prisoners" (which is one of my favorite tracks). I guess Dave Mustaine decided to re-do the vocals on some of these songs (even though there's no mention of it in the insert) and to make a long story short, he basically butchered TNP, 5 Magics, and Lucretia!! Maybe it's just because I'm used to the original versions so the differences are more noticeable, but to me they sounded like crap! I gave the release 4 stars because it's an awesome cd. It would have gotten 5 stars if Dave wouldn't have screwed with his winning formula to the extent that he did.

A thrash masterpiece. After the excellent (in my opinion) SFSGSW, Dave was arrested for (ironicaly, at the time) driving under the influence, went to rehab, and came out sober. Didn't stop him from putting out one of the metal world's strongest albums, though.

The fact that Dave redid the vocals on many of the tracks doesn't bother me a bit; still sounds great to me. This is also the only remastered 'Deth CD that has worthwhile extra tracks - Chris Poland demos!

It doesn't matter if you grew up with an old cassette of this or you are just getting into Megadeth, buy this now, it's actually the best place to start.