The System Has Failed

align="center" bgcolor="orange" colspan="3"|The System Has Failed
lign="center" colspan="3"|
lign="center" bgcolor="orange" colspan="3"|Album by Megadeth
lign="left" valign="top"|Released colspan="2" valign="top"|September 14, 2004
lign="left" valign="top"|Recorded colspan="2" valign="top"|???
lign="left" valign="top"|Genre colspan="2" valign="top"|Heavy Metal
lign="left" valign="top"|Length colspan="2" valign="top"|48 min 28 sec
lign="left" valign="top"|Record label colspan="2" valign="top"|Sanctuary Records
lign="left" valign="top"|Producers colspan="2" valign="top"|Dave Mustaine & Jeff Balding
gcolor="orange" colspan="3"|Professional reviews
lign="left" valign="top"|Allmusic.com review valign="top"|4/5 valign="top"|link
lign="left" valign="top"|Amazon.com review valign="top"|NR valign="top"|link
lign="left" valign="top"|RollingStone review valign="top"|NR valign="top"|link
gcolor="orange" colspan="3"|Megadeth Chronology
align="top"|Rude Awakening
(2002)
valign="top"|The System Has Failed
(2004)
valign="top"|N/A
The System Has Failed is the first Megadeth album to be released after the break-up of the band in 2002. It was released on September 14, 2004. The "system" referred to in the album's title is "the American system and western civilization" which in Mustaine's opinion dictates what the world follows. Mustaine cites examples of such failure in America's educational system, which underpays its teachers and its court system, which allows criminals to escape punishment.

Musical style

The album's sound is characterised by fast, muscular, palm-muted riffs. The record was viewed by many as a return to the speed metal style exhibited on Countdown to Extinction, although it contains few traces of the technical complexity showcased on that record.

Production and marketing

Originally intended to be a solo album by its author Dave Mustaine, the record was re-branded with the Megadeth name as a result of contractual obligations owed to Mustaine's record company EMI. In an effort to avoid the financial cost and interpersonal conflicts associated with re-assembling the band's original line-up, Mustaine hired session musicians Vinnie Colaiuta (drums) and with Jimmy Sloas (bass) to perform on the record. In a surprising move, Mustaine also hired former Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland to perform guitar solos on a number of tracks. Mustaine co-produced the record with Jeff Balding, who had previously engineered Cryptic Writings and Risk.

Songs

"Die Dead Enough" was released as the first single. Mustaine wrote the song in San Diego, California. He was asked to write it for the movie Tomb Raider II. The studio liked the song and offered $US25,000 for it. Mustaine was not satisfied with the offer and the song was never used. "Something That I'm Not" was written about Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich. "Shadow of Deth" was written about a "a hard, cold look at Mustaine's understanding of things religious in nature and spiritual", undertaken after his arm injury. The motto on Mustaine's coat of arms is "Auxilium meum a Domino" or "my health comes from the lord".

Track listing

  1. "Blackmail The Universe" (4:33)
  2. "Die Dead Enough" (4:18)
  3. "Kick The Chair" (3:57)
  4. "The Scorpion" (5:59)
  5. "Tears In A Vial" (5:22)
  6. "I Know Jack" (0:40)
  7. "Back In The Day" (3:28)
  8. "Something That I'm Not" (5:07)
  9. "Truth Be Told" (5:40)
  10. "Of Mice And Men" (4:05)
  11. "Shadow Of Deth" (2:15)
  12. "My Kingdom Come" (3:04)
System Has Failed, The System Has Failed, The

References

* UnderGroundOnline interveiw with Dave Mustaine by Craine C Retrieved January 19, 2005.

 

<< PreviousWord BrowserNext >>
bartolom de escobedo
chrysler lh platform
dreams for sale (the twilight zone)
list of chrysler platforms
a little peace and quiet (the twilight zone)
list of chrysler engines
children's zoo (the twilight zone)
gold frame
examination day (the twilight zone)
button, button (the twilight zone)
don gaol
a message from charity (the twilight zone)
702 (band)
subgroups of curculionidae
the shadow man (the twilight zone)
nikola pasic
i of newton (the twilight zone)
the elves and the shoemaker
a small talent for war (the twilight zone)
richard sheepshanks
a matter of minutes (the twilight zone)
neo confederate
zyzzyva (magazine)
quarantine (the twilight zone)
william thomas (architect)
st paul's cathedral, london, ontario
the edge fm
gamma (the twilight zone)
raytheon beechcraft baron
operation eagle fury
passamaquoddy bay
profile in silver (the twilight zone)
the after hours (1986) (the twilight zone)
butmir culture
nyord
shelter skelter (the twilight zone)
uss trathen (dd 530)
lino oviedo
gaoyao
appalachia service project
ben moon
father and son game (the twilight zone)
checking in
heads of government of cameroon