Youthanasia

Youthanasia
Youthanasia

Cover to the standard edition of the album (both original and remastered versions)
Studio album by Megadeth
Released November 1, 1994
Recorded 1994
Genre Heavy metal, hard rock
Length 50:02
65:47 (Remaster)
Label Capitol
Producer Max Norman, Dave Mustaine
Megadeth chronology
Countdown to Extinction
(1992)
Youthanasia
(1994)
Cryptic Writings
(1997)
Singles from Youthanasia
  1. "Train of Consequences"
    Released: 1994
  2. "A Tout le Monde"
    Released: 1995
Limited Edition cover

Youthanasia is the sixth studio album by American heavy metal band Megadeth, released on November 1, 1994 through Capitol Records. A remixed and remastered version, featuring several bonus tracks, was released in 2004.

It saw Megadeth continuing a trend toward slower, more melodic hard rock-styled songs which began with their commercial breakthrough album, Countdown to Extinction. Lyrically, the album displays a variety of influences: mythology ("Elysian Fields" and "Blood of Heroes"), rape and incest ("Family Tree"), nuclear war ("Black Curtains"), gambling ("Train of Consequences", which can also be seen on the video), and a hit about the last moments in life, "A Tout le Monde". The title is a pun on euthanasia, implying that society is euthanizing its youth, which would be consistent with bandleader and principal songwriter Dave Mustaine's views. The closing track, "Victory", refers to many of the band's previous songs throughout its lyrics.

Contents

Conception

Megadeth's previous album, Countdown to Extinction, was tremendously successful and the band was faced with the daunting task of making an album to follow it. 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 band could better exercise their creativity.

Another problem was the indecision on where the recording would take place. Mustaine did not want to record in Los Angeles, so the band eventually decided to record in Phoenix in the home state of the majority of the band, Arizona. They began recording in Phase Four Studios (the studio in which the 2004 remaster was remixed) in March 1994, but due to problems they left and decided to find another studio. There were no likely choices in Phoenix, so producer Max Norman suggested building a studio of their own. The construction process was recorded on Evolver - The Making of Youthanasia. As of 2011, this is the only Megadeth album recorded in E-flat guitar tuning (guitar strings tuned down half a step). All preceding and subsequent albums are in standard tuning, with the exceptions of a few songs on other albums. Live performances of the songs from the album are also played in standard tuning, except for "Train of Consequences".

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 3/5 stars link
Allmusic 3/5 stars (2004 Remaster)
Rolling Stone (favorable) link
Blender 3/5 stars
Sputnik Music 4/5 stars link
MetalStorm 9/10 stars link
Wiki letter w.svg This table needs to be expanded using prose. See the guideline for more information.

In November 2011, Youthanasia was ranked number seven on Guitar World magazine's top ten list of guitar albums of 1994.[1]

Track listing

No. Title Lyrics Music Length
1. "Reckoning Day"   Dave Mustaine, Dave Ellefson Mustaine, Marty Friedman 4:34
2. "Train of Consequences"   Mustaine Mustaine 3:31
3. "Addicted to Chaos"   Mustaine Mustaine 5:26
4. "A Tout le Monde"   Mustaine Mustaine 4:28
5. "Elysian Fields"   Mustaine, Ellefson Mustaine 4:03
6. "The Killing Road"   Mustaine Mustaine 3:57
7. "Blood of Heroes"   Mustaine Mustaine 3:57
8. "Family Tree"   Mustaine Mustaine, Ellefson, Nick Menza 4:07
9. "Youthanasia"   Mustaine Mustaine 4:09
10. "I Thought I Knew It All"   Mustaine Mustaine, Friedman, Ellefson, Menza 3:44
11. "Black Curtains"   Mustaine Mustaine, Friedman 3:39
12. "Victory"   Mustaine Mustaine 4:27
Total length:
50:02

2004 Remaster bonus tracks

No. Title Lyrics Music Length
13. "Millennium of the Blind"   Mustaine Mustaine, Friedman 2:15
14. "New World Order" (demo) Mustaine, Menza Mustaine, Friedman, Ellefson 3:45
15. "Absolution"   (instrumental) Mustaine, Friedman 3:27
16. "À Tout le Monde" (demo) Mustaine Mustaine 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

Charts

Album
Year Chart Position
1994 US Billboard 200 4
UK Album Charts 6
Australian Album Charts 9
German Album Charts 13
Canadian Album Charts 11
Singles
Year Single Chart Position
1994 "Train of Consequences" US Mainstream Rock Tracks 29
UK Singles Chart 22
1995 "A Tout le Monde" US Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks 31

Cover versions

In 2005, Finland-based melodic death metal band Mors Principium Est covered "Blood of Heroes" on their album "The Unborn".

In 2008, UK-based power metal band Power Quest covered "Reckoning Day" as a Japanese bonus track for their album, "Master of Illusion".

References


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Youthanasia — Studioalbum von Megadeth Veröffentlichung 1. November 1994 Label Capitol Records …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Youthanasia — студийный альбом Megadeth …   Википедия

  • Youthanasia — Album par Megadeth Sortie 1er novembre 1994 Enregistrement 1994 Durée 49:57[1 …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Youthanasia — Este artículo o sección necesita referencias que aparezcan en una publicación acreditada, como revistas especializadas, monografías, prensa diaria o páginas de Internet fidedignas. Puedes añadirlas así o avisar …   Wikipedia Español

  • youthanasia — The practice of routinely discounting opinions of the young simply because of their age. Although her demands were valid, youthanasia allowed him the comfort to ignore his daughter with impunity …   Dictionary of american slang

  • youthanasia — The practice of routinely discounting opinions of the young simply because of their age. Although her demands were valid, youthanasia allowed him the comfort to ignore his daughter with impunity …   Dictionary of american slang

  • Evolver: The Making of Youthanasia — видео альбом Megadeth Дата выпуска 1995 год Записан 1994 год …   Википедия

  • Megadeth — live 2010 Background information Origin Los Angeles, California, United States …   Wikipedia

  • Megadeth — Megadeth …   Википедия

  • Megadeth — Para otros usos de este término, véase Megadeath. Megadeth …   Wikipedia Español

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