Unplugged in Boston

Numerous thrash metal bands went through significant chages in the late nineties and early years of the millennium. That was also the case for veterans Megadeth who released experimental rock album Risk as well as melodic and radio-friendly The World Needs a Hero that were criticized by experts and fans alike and ultimately led to a hiatus. It was around that time that the band played an acoustic set at a radio station in Boston in front of an intimate crowd. The release was made available to fan club members fifteen years ago but has now been officially released for its twentieth birthday.

On the positive side, the band's technical skills are astonishing and work perfectly acoustically. Especially the dynamic guitar play by band leader Dave Mustaine and the talented Al Pitrelli stands out. The playful solo sections combining melody and speed in ''Dread and the Fugitive Mind'' and ''Almost Honest'' can be cited as highlights. The calmer tunes such as ''Time: The Beginning'' and especially ''Promises'' ooze with atmosphere and work even better than their regular studio versions.

On the negative side, Dave Mustaine's vocals aren't particularly variable which is more obvious in the context of an intimate acoustic concert than during a vivid thrash metal show. A more melodic and soothing approach would especially have fit the ballads better. While David Ellefson on bass guitar and Jimmy DeGrasso on drums do a great job, the acoustic renditions certainly focus on guitar play and underuse the rhythmic instruments. The production in a little bit rough around the edges as one can hear static during the announcements. Speaking of announcements, Dave Mustaine's rant against a fan who annoyed him is completely uncalled for and should have been cut out. The speech by one of the radio station employees in time for the last song also overstays its welcome. One could also note that the album only features ten songs and has a rather short running time of forty minutes, including an abridged version of ''Holy Wars... The Punishment Due'' that is rather disappointing.

At the end of the day, Megadeth's Unplugged in Boston sounds interesting on paper but is only of average quality at the end of the day. The guitar play is outstanding and the setlist features some intriguing rarities but the rhythm section and production are slightly underwhelming. This release is interesting for avid collectors and fans but occasional listeners can skip this record without any regrets.