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Revision as of 23:03, 30 May 2013

Untitled

Youthanasia is the sixth studio album by American heavy metal band Megadeth, released in November 1994 through Capitol Records; a remixed and remastered edition featuring several bonus tracks was reissued in August 2004.[1] It was produced by Max Norman and Dave Mustaine. The album title is a play on words, implying that society is euthanizing its youth.

Youthanasia reached number 4 on the Billboard 200 upon its release. As of 2013, it is the band's last album to be certified platinum in the United States, a distinction achieved in 1995.[3]

Writing and recording

Megadeth's previous album, Countdown to Extinction, was very successful and the band was faced with the task of making an album to follow it. Youthanasia continues the band's efforts towards a more mainstream sound. It was a time of problems and conflicts for Megadeth, in that every two weeks or so, according to Mustaine, there were "outrageous emotional interventions" in order to make the group a democracy. Many band meetings during this period concerned Mustaine's creative control over a "successful formula", so that the rest of the band could better exercise their creativity.[4]

Another problem was the indecision on where the recording would take place. Mustaine did not want to record in Los Angeles, so it was eventually decided to record in Phoenix, since the majority of the band resided in Arizona. The sessions for the album initially began in Phase Four Studios in March 1994, but left due to problems and decided to find another studio.[4] Producer Max Norman suggested building a studio of their own. The construction process and subsequent production of the album was recorded on the Evolver - The Making of Youthanasia video, a documentary made about the album by the band.[2]

The title is a portmanteau of the words "youth" and "euthanasia". Mustaine has stated that the idea for the title stems from hearing about Jack Kevorkian, as well as the declining state of well-being of young people, specifically referring to issues like drugs, crime and violence, and a lack of parenting.[5]

Release

The album was released on November 1, 1994, and charted at number 4 on the Billboard 200, slightly below the peak chart position of its predecessor, Countdown to Extinction, which hit number 2 in 1992.[6] The album also managed to chart in the top 10 in the UK[7] and several other countries,[8][9] as well.

A special edition of Youthanasia was released in the UK featuring what would become Hidden Treasures as a bonus disc. It was later released in Japan and the U.S. as a separate EP.[10]

Three singles were released from Youthanasia: "Reckoning Day", "Train of Consequences" and "A Tout le Monde".[11] The latter would later be re-recorded with Lacuna Coil vocalist Cristina Scabbia under the title "À Tout le Monde (Set Me Free)". This version was later released as a single, and included on United Abominations in 2007.[12] Both "Train of Consequences" and "A Tout le Monde" charted on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.[6]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[13]
Entertainment WeeklyB−[14]
Q[15]
Rolling Stonefavorable[16]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[17]
Sputnikmusic(4/5)[18]

The album generally received positive reviews. Stephen Thomas Erlewine, reviewing the album for Allmusic, commented that, compared to Countdown to Extinction the album lacks focus. However, Erlewine suggested that the album's production quality made up for that. He also commented favorably on "Train of Consequences", calling out its "jackhammer riffs." He rated the album at 3 stars out of 5.[13] Mike Stagno of Sputnikmusic reviewed the album positively. Though noting that the album, like its predecessor, was a distinct move away from the sound heard on 1990's Rust in Peace, Stagno suggested that the lack of a fast-tempo is made up for by the catchiness of the tracks.[18]

Tom Sinclair of Entertainment Weekly, who gave the album a B- rating, gave a brief review of the album saying that Youthanasia would "impress, but not impact."[14] A 1994 review in Q magazine gave the album 4 stars and said that Youthanasia has "greater depth and breadth than its predecessors".[15]

The album was positively reviewed by Rolling Stone in 1998,[16] and The Rolling Stone Album Guide granted the album 3.5 stars out of 5.[17]

In November 2011, Youthanasia was ranked number seven on Guitar World magazine's top ten list of guitar albums of 1994.[19]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Dave Mustaine, David Ellefson, Marty Friedman and Nick Menza, except where noted.

No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Reckoning Day"Mustaine, David EllefsonMustaine, Marty Friedman4:34
2."Train of Consequences"  3:31
3."Addicted to Chaos"  5:26
4."A Tout le Monde"  4:28
5."Elysian Fields"Mustaine, Ellefson 4:03
6."The Killing Road"  3:57
7."Blood of Heroes"  3:57
8."Family Tree" Mustaine, Ellefson, Nick Menza4:07
9."Youthanasia"  4:09
10."I Thought I Knew It All" Mustaine, Friedman, Ellefson, Menza3:44
11."Black Curtains" Mustaine, Friedman3:39
12."Victory"  4:27
Total length:50:02
Japanese edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
13."Crown of Worms"Sean Harris, MustaineMustaine3:18
14."Holy Wars...The Punishment Due" (live)MustaineMustaine8:57
15."Symphony of Destruction" (live)MustaineMustaine3:44
16."Sweating Bullets" (live)MustaineMustaine4:46
2004 remastered edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
13."Millennium of the Blind"MustaineMustaine, Friedman2:15
14."New World Order" (demo)Mustaine, MenzaMustaine, Friedman, Ellefson3:45
15."Absolution"(instrumental)Mustaine, Friedman3:27
16."À Tout le Monde" (demo)  6:20

Personnel

Megadeth
Additional musician
  • Jimmie Wood – harmonica on "Train of Consequences" and "Elysian Fields"
Production
2004 Remix and Remaster
  • Produced by Dave Mustaine
  • Mixed by Ralph Patlan and Dave Mustaine
  • Engineered by Ralph Patlan with Lance Dean
  • Edited by Lance Dean and Scott "Sarge" Harrison with Bo Caldwell
  • Mastered by Tom Baker

Credits adopted from liner notes[4]

Chart performance

Album

Year Chart Position
1994 US Billboard 200 4[6]
UK Album Charts 6[7]
Australian Album Charts 9[8]
Canadian Album Charts 11[20]
German Album Charts 13[21]
Japan Album Charts 11[22]
Swedish Album Charts 4[9]

Certifications

Country Certification
United States Platinum[3]

Singles

Year Single Chart Position
1994 "Train of Consequences" US Mainstream Rock Tracks 29[6]
UK Singles Chart 22[7]
1995 "A Tout le Monde" US Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks 31[6]

References

  1. ^ a b "Discography". megadeth.com. Retrieved 2013-03-29.
  2. ^ a b c "Evolver: The Making of Youthanasia". Capitol Records. 1994. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  3. ^ a b "RIAA Gold and Platinum Database Search". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 24, 2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  4. ^ a b c Youthanasia (2004 remaster) liner notes. Capitol Records. 2004.
  5. ^ Rene, Sheila. ""Sodom and Gomorra" - 1995 Dave Mustaine interview archived at The Realms of Deth". Rockmetal.pl. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Megadeth - Awards". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  7. ^ a b c "Chart Stats - Megadeth". Chart Stats. Retrieved 24 Feb 2013.
  8. ^ a b "Discography Megadeth". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  9. ^ a b "Discography Megadeth". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  10. ^ "Megadeth Discography - Hidden Treasures". Megadeth.com. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  11. ^ "Megadeth Discography - Youthanasia". Megadeth.com. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  12. ^ "Megadeth: "A Tout Le Monde (Set Me Free)" Video Posted Online". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. 2007-04-19. Retrieved 2012-02-24.
  13. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Youthanasia - Megadeth". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
  14. ^ a b Sinclair, Tom (1994-11-04). "Music Review: 'Youthanasia Review'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2012-11-11. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  15. ^ a b "Megadeth - Youthanasia CD Album". CD Universe. Retrieved 2012-11-11.
  16. ^ a b Corio, Paul (1994-12-29). "Megadeth:Youthanasia : Album Reviews". Rolling Stone: 173. Archived from the original on 2007-10-01. Retrieved 2012-11-11. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ a b Brackett, Nathan (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 534. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ a b Stagno, Mike (2006-11-15). "Megadeth - Youthanasia (staff reviews)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
  19. ^ Grassi, Tony. "Photo Gallery: The Top 10 Guitar Albums of 1994". GuitarWorld.com. Retrieved 2011-11-08.
  20. ^ "Top 100 Albums" (DjVu). RPM. 60 (17). Library and Archives Canada. November 14, 1994. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  21. ^ "Chartverfolgung / Megadeth / Longplay" (in German). PhonoNet. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  22. ^ "メガデス-ORICON STYLE ミュージック" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
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