The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead!

Just when you think it's safe, I attack!

The long-awaited follow-up to 2016's Dystopia is finally here, and it's a hell of a blast — in more ways than one. Despite numerous setbacks during the past few years, Mustaine and co. persevered, soldiering on (pun intended) through a global pandemic, countless chemotherapy sessions, and the scramble to find a new bassist after Ellefson's dismissal. The wait, no matter how excruciating, was well and truly worth it. The Sick, The Dying...And The Dead! is not only triumphant declaration that the titans of thrash have returned, but also a testament to how far the band and their musicianship have come over the course of nearly four decades. It's both catchy and crushingly heavy, with a diverse array of songs that are each memorable in their own way. An easy contender for the standout metal album of the year, it'll surely satisfy both new and old fans alike.

Opening with the ominous chant of 'Bring out your dead...' and the plaintive chime of a church bell, the title track gradually builds into a perfectly blended cocktail of Kiko's technical solos, Dirk's frenetic drumming, and a stellar vocal performance from Dave — topped off by a slowed-tempo section that channels perfectly the mournful atmosphere of a city ravaged by the plague. This isn't the only instance of samples being used throughout the album, nor the most immersive: in Dogs of Chernobyl, the ticking of a Geiger counter and a snippet from a news report about the titular nuclear disaster both serve to produce an arguably even more haunting soundscape. With a chorus that will both tug at your heartstrings and live in your head rent-free, it's undoubtedly one of Megadeth's strongest songs in recent memory — and that's not even getting into the tight, faced-paced latter section. Dave's aggressive, shouted vocals are an unexpected, but wholly welcome addition. Whatever your thoughts on the notorious ginger's signature snarky voice are, I'm sure we can all agree that it's more than impressive he's still able to sing (and shout) as well as he does. In the end, it stands to reason that Megadeth wouldn't be Megadeth with another vocalist in his place. Aside from the fact that We'll Be Back has almost exactly the same verse melodies as Good Mourning/Black Friday, I have no complaints about his vocals here.

With TSTDATD being Dirk Verbeuren's first time in the studio alongside Dave and Kiko, it would be a disservice not to mention his drumming, which adds a characteristic extreme-metal flair to certain songs, in particular We'll Be Back, whose ultra-heavy breakdown is accompanied by blast beats. I've touched on Kiko's playing already, but I haven't mentioned how much I appreciate that he was given more free rein in terms of songwriting — of course, we don't know exactly what riffs and ideas he contributed to the record, although it's clear that there's a synergy between him and Dave here that wasn't present with previous lead guitarists. As a result, both guitarists' individual parts complement each other in an outstanding way, exemplified by Sacrifice, a surprisingly melodic offering with lyrics that harken back to The Conjuring. Speaking of lyrics, while they don't top anything from Rust In Peace and other earlier albums, I have to (once more) commend Dogs of Chernobyl for its suitably dark, visceral descriptions of radiation sickness. Mission To Mars, on the other hand, is a light-hearted sci-fi romp. Personally, I think it's a fun addition to the album, but I've already seen a lot of mixed reception towards Ice-T's cameo on Night Stalkers, so YMMV.

Overall, I was genuinely impressed by the overall versatility of the album. It doesn't veer into experimental territory, still maintaining the recognisable Megadeth sound, but with enough unique qualities to set it apart from many of their other records. I'm going to try and avoid going into too much detail about it (otherwise, we'd be here all day), but my personal favourite song is Night Stalkers. It might take a few listens to grow on you, but make no mistake, TSTDATD is proof that thrash is still alive and well. I'd go so far as to say that Megadeth's current lineup is easily the best one since the 90s, especially now that James LoMenzo has returned as a permanent member. It's a shame that James didn't contribute anything to the album, but Steve DiGiorgio was still an excellent choice for a session bassist.

The bonus tracks — both covers — are also worth mentioning. Be sure to check out This Planet's On Fire if you're a fan of Van Halen, as Sammy Hagar himself appears on the song.