MEGADETH: Cryptic Writings (HEAVY METAL): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

Imagine a period when Thrash was struggling to survive, Heavy Metal was in retreat, melodic metal was losing its voice, Grunge had returned to the garage, Neo was making its appearance, and all the technoid mixes were beginning to emerge. In the midst of all this effervescence, it was hard to foresee what a band like Megadeth, now seen as a metal icon, could offer us.

Innovating might have been risky, with "Youthanasia" and its unadulterated heavy metal having already made some fans cringe, but doing nothing seemed no wiser. Megadeth therefore took the boldest gamble of all: to do a bit of everything! At the crossroads of Heavy, Thrash, Punk and Hard FM, the band set itself the challenge of making music that was cross-genre.

And so it is with disconcerting ease that Megadeth attacks his new album with the devilishly catchy 'Trust', blending heavy, melodic ambiences and a few symphonic touches for an absolutely unstoppable track. 'Almost Honest' evolves in the same melodic vein, the riffs being airier than on "Youthanasia", while retaining the same density, the chorus once again being catchy. 'Use The Man' could have been the album's first failure without the saving acceleration at the end of the track, making it a suddenly inspired and enjoyable composition!

Further proof of Megadeath's talent comes in the form of the atmospheric 'I'll Get Even With You', which is darkly atmospheric but terribly captivating. After a brief lull, four tracks confirm the relevance of "Cryptic Writings": 'A Secret Place', more melodic but with a formidable riff, 'Have Cool, Will Travel' and its percussive heavy/rock with harmonica, but above all the excellent 'She-Wolf', which returns to a more Thrash vein, and the enormous 'Vortex', groovy and complex as in the band's early days. 'FFF' finishes us off with its effective punk, Dave's voice sounding ideal in this register.

Definitely in tune with the times, Megadeth offer us a complete, heterogeneous yet balanced album. While some may be put off by the multiplicity of genres covered, others will find a certain richness and a demonstration of total mastery. "Crypting Writings" is one of those albums that hasn't really found its audience, underestimated by fans, ignored by others, so let's hope you'll be the one to give it the attention it deserves. - Official website

MEGADETH

CRYPTIC WRITINGS

CAPITOL

HEAVY METAL