Megadeth
United Abominations
Roadrunner

Over the years Megadeth albums have varied enormously in quality, from brilliant and ground-breaking ('Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?') to execrable ('Cryptic Writings'). With 'United Abominations' the band have gone back to what works and delivered what is fundamentally a thrash album, albeit one with a modern edge.

Founder/guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, throughout his twenty-plus year career has battled with his own personal demons; thankfully on 'United Abominations' he is now directing his ire elsewhere, including the criminal ineptitude of the UN (hence the album title), religious extremism and terrorism.

Megadeth always stood out from many of their thrash contemporaries by virtue of their sheer musicianship. This remains a strong point with Mustaine and new boy Glen Drover showing their prowess and trading solos throughout. Another highlight is Mustaine's songwriting, which, as always, is full of anger and confrontation, but also has great depth and intelligence.

Highlights on what is a very consistent album are the old school thrash of Sleepwalker and Gears Of War, the menacing Play For Blood, and the title track on which Mustaine fairly spits out his disgust. Then there is A Tout Le Monde, which sees Lacuna Coil's Cristina Scabbia share vocals. By far the most mellow and commercial song, it actually works very well indeed.

The only real flat spot in the album is Washington Is Next, a strangely thin and subdued track, at odds with the rest of the album's power and aggression.

It took a few listens, but this album has really grown on me. 'United Abominations' marks a real return to form, and with this latest line-up Megadeth seem reinvigorated and ready to reclaim their rightful role as metal flag-bearers in twenty first century.

James McKenzie