Rust in Peace is the fourth studio album by the American thrash/heavy metal band, Megadeth. The album lasts a duration of 40:44. It was released on September 24, 1990, under the record label known as Capitol Records.

Lineup:

Dave Mustaine – Lead vocals, rhythm guitar, lead guitar

David Ellefson – Bass guitar, backing vocals

Marty Friedman – Lead guitar, rhythm guitar

Nick Menza – Drums, backing vocals

Production:

Produced by Dave Mustaine and Mike Clink

Recording and engineering by Micajah Ryan and Mike Clink

Assistant recording engineering by Andy Udoff

Mixed by Max Norman

Technician – Tom Mayhue

Rust in Peace was the first album to feature guitarist Marty Friedman and drummer Nick Menza. Rust in Peace received high praise from fans and critics and was responsible for bringing Megadeth to the attention of a mainstream metal audience.

Rust in Peace features songs with multiple sections, shifting time signatures and intricate guitar work. The album features multiple lyrical themes: religion, politics and warfare, as well as Mustaine's personal issues, such as his fight against drug and alcohol addiction, and UFO conspiracy theories.

Rust in Peace reached number 23 on the Billboard 200. The album has since gone Platinum in both the United States and Canada. Each track will be rated as follows: Awful, Very Poor, Poor, Below Average, Average, Above Average, Good, Great, and Superb. Here are my thoughts on each track:

Track Listing:

1. "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due" 6:36

The guitar riffs, solos, drumming, and bass playing are all top notch here. I love Dave Mustaine's vocals for the first time on an album. They are perfect. It is clear that the newly added musicians have immediately taken Megadeth to a new level. The combination of ridiculous guitar riffs, excellent vocals, and memorable lyrics make this track one of the best the metal genre has ever seen. Marty Friedman and Dave Mustaine paired on guitar immediately proves to be an amazing combination on this album.

Grade: Superb

2. "Hangar 18" 5:14

The guitar work is phenomenal on this track. Marty Friedman is ridiculously talented. The guitar riffs are probably my favorite from Megadeth in their entire catalog. The musicianship is so much better than what was demonstrated on their last record. I love the guitar soloing that occurs throughout the track. They are outstanding and very memorable. The drumming is also top notch.

Grade: Superb

3. "Take No Prisoners" 3:28

The opening guitar riffs and drumming are absolutely amazing. The guitar riff is so fast and the drums are powerful. This is one of the best openings from any of Megadeth's tracks. The song is pure thrash metal. It definitely is one of my least favorite tracks from the album, but I still enjoy it. My main problem is Dave's vocal delivery does not sound very good.

Grade: Above Average

4. "Five Magics" 5:42

I absolutely adore this underrated gem. The bass lines are epic and so are the guitar licks and riffs. Mustaine's vocals are pretty solid as well during the track. The opening instrumentation really sets the tone for the whole track. I like this song lyrically, it may seem silly, but I really enjoy the fantasy lyrics. The guitar solos are awesome as well. The guitar work on this entire track is phenomenal.

Grade: Superb

5. "Poison Was the Cure" 2:58

The epic eerie bass playing at the beginning is awesome to begin. It is definitely another fast paced speed metal song that reminds me of their first record but with way better production value. The drumming is pretty great too. The guitar solo is phenomenal as usual.

Grade: Above Average

6. "Lucretia" 3:58

Now comes the song with that epic guitar riff opening that is one of the most memorable in the band's entire catalog. The guitar riffs are heavy and Dave's vocals are so catchy. I can't help but head bang to the drum beat of this song. The first guitar solo is fantastic because of its excellent melodic feel it has combined with its technical mastery. The second solo may be even better.

Grade: Superb

7. "Tornado of Souls" 5:22

Yet another stand out from this album. The guitar riffs are fantastic and Dave's vocals are awesome as well. I love Menza's drumming as well. The chorus is perhaps the catchiest from the entire album. The guitar solo may be the best single guitar solo from the entire album (trust me that's saying a lot). I love "Tornado of Souls" and it is easily one of the band's best tracks of all time.

Grade: Superb

8. "Dawn Patrol" 1:50

I will not be grading this track since it is a simple 2-minute interlude. It does show off some groovy bass playing from Ellefson though. It's an odd track, but I am glad it's on the album because it adds that much more character.

Grade: Not Graded

9. "Rust in Peace... Polaris" 5:36

The drum opening is pretty great, especially when it is met by a guitar riff that follows the same rhythm. The guitar riffs are very catchy throughout this entire song. Dave's vocals have that "Dave" personality of course. The guitar soloing is ridiculous as expected with this album. I actually used to not enjoy this song that much, but over time it has really grown on me, because of its unique qualities.

Grade: Great

My Verdict:

Megadeth's Rust in Peace is one of the best thrash metal album of all time and proved that Megadeth had the chops to match Metallica in thrash metal. Clearly, the additions of guitarist Marty Friedman and drummer Nick Menza paid huge dividends on this record. This is Megadeth's masterpiece that does not disappoint at all. From beginning to end, this album is a near-perfect listen.

Rating: 9.5 / 10