Peace Sells...But Who's Buying?

First off, Gar and Chris weren't fired for "substance abuse issues." Yes, Dave and Dave were really frustrated that they were too high to show up for recording sessions because Dave and Dave were homeless, but they were fired because they stole the band's gear and fenced it so they could buy more heroin. Chris eventually got clean and played on another Megadeth album that i don't care about, but Gar died. Peace Sells, but Who's Buying?

1986 is the year of the Challenger explosion and the Iran-Contra Affair. It's also the year that Dave Mustaine said, look, this supposed "american dream" thing is pretty much dead. Anyone with eyes can see that the hardest working people aren't getting anywhere because they are paying corporate america to let them live in peace. You can't succeed by working hard and earning it, you succeed when someone finds a way to profit from your success. Said another way, make me money and i'll let you keep a little of it.

But that's not all you get. Call now and we'll throw in a hyperbolic story about cheating on the girl you were dating because she let you stay at her place (homeless, remember) but you were actually in love with someone else. First 10 callers get some generic witches and satan-adjacent occultism, sure to make those wealthy religious conservatives squirm! Disclaimer: not responsible for any future embarrasment caused by the decision to convert to Christianity (we're looking at you Dave #1). Yeah seriously, at some point after i stopped caring, Dave Mustaine decided he wanted to be born again or whatever and felt really uncomfortable playing any of the occult stuff. But again, the whole point of Megadeth was overreacting as a mirror image of "civilized society." It's just a form of escapism. The statement was "this is how YOU see me, and it's not true. Real life is brutal and i have to go to ridiculous extremes to show you how disconnected from it you really are."

Now, i will agree this is a better album than the first, but does it sound 3 times better? This album's budget was $25,000 (i'd guess the first album generated revenue, huh?). I mean, sure some of that went to the artwork, and a lot of that went to the new producer, but at least to my ears studio gear in the 80s sounds like studio gear in the 80s. Everyone is using pretty much the same equipment, indie or full subsidiary, Marshall amps and Jackson guitars, a match made in some boring but awesome board meeting on a Thursday.

Remember kids, you're paying back every penny from your own future profits, so expect to get out exactly what you put in.

This is considered a classic thrash album, one you're supposed to listen to before you die. I can't argue, it's good. Thrash is miserable time, unhappy music. It's not a party, it's a coping mechanism. Hyperbole warriors ho!

Is it their best? I don't know. Sort of, i guess. I mean, there's much more enjoyable stuff in the future, but as far as message goes the question is pretty apropos: we the lower class are the ones advocating peace and civility, why are we paying you to not take our houses and happiness away? That doesn't seem civilized at all.

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