By JJT (written for ThinkChristian.net)

Though lead singer Dave Mustaine could benefit from some introspection, Megadeth’s Dystopia is still a blistering exploration of the nature of evil.

Keepers of the thrash metal flame can breathe a raspy sigh of relief with the release of Megadeth’s Dystopia. After 2013’s Super Collider, an odd concept album gone awry, Dave Mustaine and company have returned to their blistering roots.

The subject matter may seem metal enough, but a closer look at Dystopia reveals a very different perspective than is often found in the genre. While the “whole world is going to hell” attitude may be a metal mainstay, in Mustaine’s case this is nothing to celebrate. Dystopia is a snarling, almost paranoid rumination on political madness, monsters and societal decay.

Megadeth has featured a rotating cast of characters for many years. With the notable exception of co-founding bassist David Ellefson, the band has essentially been Mustaine. For Dystopia, however, he has assembled one of the best lineups in the band’s long history. Guitarist Kiko Loureiro (of the Brazilian metal band Angra) and drummer Chris Adler (from Lamb of God) dive headfirst into Mustaine’s rapid-fire creations. The tracks are impeccably mixed and the results are brutal and impressive. With the exception of Mustaine’s slightly deeper voice, Dystopia bears more similarity to the band’s breakthrough albums Rust In Peace or Countdown to Extinction than anything from the last 20 years. This lineup’s ability to crank the thrash meter to 11 without sacrificing clarity and melody sets a new bar for the genre. When it comes to what fans love about Megadeth, Dystopia is a true return to form.

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