Rust in Peace [Bonus Tracks] [Remaster] (CD - 1990)

Personnel: Dave Mustaine (vocals, guitar); Marty Friedman (guitar); David Ellefson (bass guitar, background vocals); Nick Menza (drums, background vocals).

Audio Mixers: Max Norman; Ralph Patlan.

Audio Remixer: Dave Mustaine.

Liner Note Author: Dave Mustaine.

Recording information: Rumbo Recorders.

Editor: Lance Dean.

Photographers: Annamaria DiSanto; Peter Cronin; Eddie Malluk; Gene Kirkland; Neil Zlozower.

After the success of PEACE SELLSàBUT WHO'S BUYING? in 1986 and SO FAR, SO GOOD, SO WHAT! in 1988, Megadeth was fast becoming one of thrash metal's leading outfits. However, the band's hard work was nearly derailed because of the continuous dismissals of band members and chronic substance abuse. Founding members Dave Mustaine (guitar/vocals) and Dave Ellefson (bass) changed their ways before work on their fourth album began, hiring drummer Nick Menza and ex-Cacophony guitarist Marty Friedman. When Megadeth re-emerged with RUST IN PEACE in 1990, metalheads were happy to hear that the changes hadn't dulled their attack in the slightest.

"Holy WarsàThe Punishment Due" is an absolutely crushing opener that shows off the technical expertise of the musicians, while "Hangar 18" covers the familiar ground of alien visitation and government conspiracy. Both videos were put in heavy rotation on MTV's Headbanger's Ball program, which helped land the band a spot on the successful heavy 'Clash of the Titans' tour with Anthrax, Slayer, and Alice In Chains. Other highlights include the heavy hitters "Five Magics," "Lucretia," and "Rust in PeaceàPolaris."

The remixed and remastered Megadeth albums released in 2004 aren't your typical cash-ins. They're stark improvements over the originals: group leader Dave Mustaine did the remixing and remastering himself, making especially significant revisions to the earlier albums, and he includes insightful liner notes for each reissue, including track-by-track commentary for the bonus tracks, as well as lyrics and period photos. The reissue of Rust in Peace improves upon the already impressive original mainly in terms of sound quality. The remixed and remastered production sounds more dynamic and forceful -- important attributes when it comes to thrash metal like this. As far as the album itself goes, there's not much to improve upon. Rust in Peace was great to begin with and was a huge step forward for Megadeth. The album's predecessor, So Far, So Good...So What!, had been a success, both commercially as well as among the band's then-growing fan base, yet it had its flaws, chiefly in terms of songwriting -- some great songs, some not-so-great songs, an overall sense of inconsistency. Contrarily, Rust in Peace is anything but inconsistent; in fact, if the album has one fault, it's that it's too consistent, with many songs sounding overly similar to one another. Most notably, Rust in Peace opens with the back-to-back "Holy Wars...The Punishment Due" and "Hangar 18," beyond doubt the most accomplished songs yet recorded by Megadeth. And wow, these songs sound better than ever here on the reissue! The successive ones aren't big departures from what Mustaine and company (featuring two new members: guitarist Marty Friedman and drummer Nick Menza) accomplish with the album-opening high points, following that trajectory and refusing to relent. As far as reissue goodies go, Mustaine's liner notes focus on how much he struggled to find a replacement for the "long gone" Jeff Young (the guitarist Mustaine had hired for SFSGSW and the subsequent tour), and how skeptical he was of Friedman initially (the guitarist had sported a half-orange/half-black hairstyle). He also writes of where he came up with the idea for the album title (a bumper sticker) and reflects on Megadeth's across-the-board success at the time (embarking on the Clash of the Titans tour with Slayer and Anthrax; becoming "one of MTV's darlings"; and enjoying a life of "long hair, tight jeans, tons of chicks and speed metal at its finest"). Bonus tracks include the previously unreleased "My Creation" and pre-Friedman demos of a few songs, all of which feature the ax slinging of Peace Sells-era guitarist Chris Poland. Less than an essential purchase, even for diehards, this reissue of Rust in Peace is nonetheless warranted because of its improved sound quality. ~ Jason Birchmeier minimize