The System Has Failed
Occupation
- Vocals, Guitar: Dave Mustaine
- Guitar: Chris Poland
- Bass, backing vocals: Jimmy Lee Sloas
- Drums: Vinnie Colaiuta
Studios
- Oceanway, Nashville, Tennessee ( USA)
- Emerald Entertainment, Nashville, Tennessee ( USA)
- Phase Four Studios, Tempe, Arizona ( USA)
The System Has Failed (English for: "The system has failed" ) is the tenth studio album by American heavy metal band Megadeth. It was released in September 2004 Sanctuary Records and was the first after the intermediate band broke up in 2002, and bassist Dave Ellefson without the first. Instead of guitarist Al Pitrelli, Chris Poland had returned. Musically in a similar direction of heavy metal with slight thrash and speed influences tending as its predecessor The World Needs a Hero, it was mostly better reviews.
Formation
Beginning of 2002, Dave Mustaine Megadeth disbanded because he initially could not play more guitar because of an injured nerve in his left arm. As this 2004 - with limitations - was possible again, he took in his private studio with a sound engineer Len Steen, who worked on the remixing of previous albums in the same year, ideas for a angedachtes solo album. Then, however, he decided to bring out the plate as Megadeth album. The System Has Failed was like Cryptic Writings and Risk, recorded in Nashville, Tennessee. Producer was Jeff Balding, who worked as a sound engineer already in the two previous albums. As a drummer, the experienced session musicians Vinnie Colaiuta was committed. Following the shooting, the former drummer Nick Menza returned briefly. Also guitarist Chris Poland was engaged only for the album, not for the next tour.
Content
Lyrically designed Mustaine " the contents again gloomy " because the world " currently not a nice place " was. The title refers to, among other things, the failure of state systems. Here Mustaine criticized both the American as well as Western European governments. Back in the Day is influenced by Iron Maiden. Blackmail the Universe quotes the film Thirteen Days, which is about the Cuban missile crisis. The pieces The Dead Enough and Of Mice and Men were released as singles, for this there were also videos.
Title list
All pieces were written by Dave Mustaine, only Shadow of Deth is based, according to the booklet on Psalm 23, which is attributed to the biblical King David. The background is that Dave Mustaine was the time of his arm injury to born-again Christians. There was a bonus version for the chain Best Buy, which contained the cover piece Strange Ways ( 2:47 ) by Ace Frehley.
Reception
Rock-Hard - editor Stratmann called The System Has Failed "best Megadeth plate for a long, long time ." Especially the guitars sounded " again rampant, virtuosic and perfectly matched. " Eight and a half out of ten points were awarded. Jason Birch Meier of allmusic.com spoke of a "return to glory " days gone by. There were a " late masterpiece ," had sought in vain for the Metallica up to this point. Birch Meier rated it four out of five stars.