Youthanasia
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| Youthanasia | ||
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| Studio album by Megadeth | ||
| Released | November 1, 1994 | |
| Recorded | 1994 in Phoenix at Fat Planet in Hangar 18 | |
| Genre | Heavy metal | |
| Length | 65:44(Remaster) 49:57(Original) |
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| Label | Capitol | |
| Producer(s) | Max Norman and Dave Mustaine | |
| Professional reviews | ||
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| Megadeth chronology | ||
| Countdown to Extinction (1992) |
Youthanasia (1994) |
Hidden Treasures (1995) |
Youthanasia is the sixth studio album by thrash metal band Megadeth, released on November 1, 1994.
The title is a play on words of youth and euthanasia, implying that society is euthanizing its youth, which would be in-keeping with Megadeth's (and specifically Dave Mustaine's) views. An alternate interpretation is that it is about a lack of respect and attention young people show toward the older generation, although the first interpretation matches up with the cover - babies being hung out to dry.
Youthanasia continued the trend toward slower, more melodic songs started by Megadeth's breakout album, Countdown to Extinction. This sound was slower than some older fans could tolerate, and contributed a division amongst Megadeth fans (this was due to producer Max Norman demanding each song would be played at the same tempo; Dave Mustaine has stated that certain songs would've ended up slower or faster than their original BPS tempo was set at). However, the album met with great financial success.
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"), and a hit that is about the last moments in life, "A Tout Le Monde".
When originally released, the CD contained a sticker directing the purchaser to an Internet site for Megadeth. This is believed to be one of (if not the) first mention of an Internet site on a band's album, having been released in 1994, before most of the general public had ever heard of The Net.
Contents |
[edit] 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), 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.
[edit] Promotion
Megadeth appeared and performed on MTV for a Halloween special called Night of the Living Megadeth on October 31, 1994, counting down to the album's release date. The band played several tracks from the album, and introduced the first music video off of the album, "Train Of Consequences."
[edit] Track listing
- "Reckoning Day" (Mustaine, Ellefson, Friedman) – 4:34
- "Train Of Consequences" (Mustaine) – 3:26 sample
- "Addicted to Chaos" (Mustaine) – 5:26
- "A Tout Le Monde" (Mustaine) – 4:28 sample
- "Elysian Fields" (Mustaine, Ellefson) – 4:03
- "The Killing Road" (Mustaine) – 3:57
- "Blood of Heroes" (Mustaine) – 3:57
- "Family Tree" (Mustaine, Ellefson, Menza) – 4:07
- "Youthanasia" (Mustaine) – 4:09
- "I Thought I Knew It All" (Mustaine, Ellefson, Friedman, Menza) – 3:44
- "Black Curtains" (Mustaine, Friedman) – 3:39
- "Victory" (Mustaine) – 4:27
- "Millennium of the Blind"* – 2:15
- "New World Order" (demo)* – 3:45
- "Absolution" (instrumental)* – 3:27
- "A Tout Le Monde" (demo)* – 6:20
* Included as bonus tracks in the 2004 reissue
[edit] Additional information
- The chorus in the song "A Tout Le Monde" translates to (in English): To all the world, To all my friends, I love you, I must leave.
- In the song "Victory," there are many references to songs by their titles, or variations of their titles, from past Megadeth albums including: Killing is My Business...And Business is Good, The Skull Beneath the Skin, Looking Down the Cross, Last Rites/Loved to Deth, Peace Sells, Good Mourning/Black Friday, Bad Omen, The Conjuring, Wake Up Dead, I Ain't Superstitious, Anarchy In The U.K., Set the World Afire, Hook In Mouth, In My Darkest Hour, Holy Wars...The Punishment Due, Lucretia, Skin O' My Teeth, This Was My Life, Foreclosure of a Dream, Rust in Peace, Hangar 18, and Countdown to Extinction.
[edit] Credits
- Dave Mustaine - vocals, guitar
- Marty Friedman - guitar
- Nick Menza - drums
- David Ellefson - bass guitar
[edit] Charts
Album
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | The Billboard 200 | 4 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | "Train of Consequences" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 29 |
| 1994 | "Train of Consequences" | UK Singles Chart | 22 |
| 1995 | "A Tout Le Monde" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 31 |
