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 REMIXED is the key word here August 4, 2004
8 out of 12 found this review helpful
I bought this "Remixed and Remastered" version thinking that it was just going to be a better sounding version of the original album...boy was i wrong!
Here are a few reasons why i'm selling it now...
1 - It sounds like he RE-RECORDED most of the vocals, and just tried to reproduce the original sound...but its sloppy
2 - There are added intros to a couple of songs that just make me cringe every time i hear them...the original album flowed MUCH MORE SMOOTHLY!!
3 - I think that just about every guitar note on this album has been re-recorded, or at least altered in such a way that i dont care for it.
4 - some of the "quotes" (random people talking throughout the album) sound like they have been re-recorded by different people (like the asian woman that has the monologue in the song Countdown To Extinction). I dont know if these are just different takes from the original recording sessions, or if they just couldnt get the rights to use them in another version of the song, but I DONT LIKE IT
5 - I hate demo songs as bonus tracks on albums. If you want to release bonus tracks, do it all on one cd (like they did with hidden treasures) If the bonus tracks were any good then they would have either been released on the original album that they were recorded for, or they would be on their own compilation cd. Its very rare that a band has bonus tracks that are worth including on an album, and i hate how bands think that its acceptable to put stupid DEMO songs on an album...they always sound like DUMP!....NOBODY IS SUPPOSED TO HEAR YOUR CRAPPY DEMOS! THE PURPOSE OF DEMOS IS TO HELP YOU PERFECT THE SONG IN THE RECORDING PROCESS! DURRRRRRRRR
__________BOTTOM LINE__________
If you love the original version of this album, then you will probably hate this version. It sounds sloppy, and it makes me think that Dave Mustaine is an ameteur when it comes to mixing songs. Stick to recording and singing Dave, we'll all be a lot happier if you let someone else do the mixing.
Original Version - *****
Remixed Version - **
 Different, but it's still Megadeth August 15, 2005
8 out of 13 found this review helpful
Metallica and Megadeth followed career formats which were very similar. They both were thrash-metal bands from the 1980's who released three genuine thrash C.D.'s, then they gradually simplified and commercialized their sound, before finally releasing albums which were alternative (Metallica's "Load" and Megadeth's "Risk.")
It is generally believed that Megadeth's first non-thrash album was 1990's "Rust in Peace," but I think their first non-speed metal record was 1992's "Countdown to Extinction." "Rust in Peace" was not only very speedy, it was also my favorite `Deth album of all time. So, compared to it's predecessor, "Countdown to Extinction" is a letdown. Megadeth probably released this album in response to Metallica's commercially successful, 1991 self-titled album. "Countdown" is quite a bit less aggressive, more slow, simple, and even more formulaic. (It has a lot less tempo changes, and most of it even follows the standard verse-chorus format). Plus, Dave Mustaine's vocals also took a little dip; they're a lot less clean, more whiney and they even get a bit irritating at times.
Nonetheless, I still very much enjoy listening to this C.D.; it at least deserves a 4.5 star rating. Every band has to evolve and change their sound from album to album; thus, this album was, for the most part, the beginning of their evolution. Granted, speed metal freaks won't find a lot to enjoy here, but `80's metal fans (especially of bands like the Scorpions) should enjoy the many hooks (even though they're nasal ones). There are some classic tunes (i.e. "Skin `O My Teeth," "Symphony of Destruction," "Sweating Bullets," and "Psychotron"), and there is still plenty of great guitar shredding to be heard. So, yes, "CtE" is definitely different, but it's still Megadeth.
1. "Skin `O My Teeth" begins with a smattering of drums, and has catchy, groovey guitars throughout. Plus, there's a great, long guitar solo around the middle (which I believe is one of Marty Friedman's best solos).
2. "Symphony of Destruction" is famous for its slow galloping beat and the aforementioned vocal hooks. A good, two part solo is also included.
3. "Architecture of Aggression" begins with war sounds and gunshots, but then the fast, chugging riffs kick in.
4. "Foreclosure of a Dream" is a song about the rise and fall of politics and economics, and it also includes George Bush Sr.'s "read my lips" quote. Part of this song sounds acoustic, and, even with some machine gun riffs and an up and down solo, its pace is quite slow.
5. "Sweating Bullets" is one of the most well known Megadeth tunes of all time. It has a 45 second intro, but then the real song begins (with toe-tapping, "nah ner" sounding riffs, which Dave Mustaine sings in between.) The riffs are pretty simple, and Mustaine's vocals are greasy and grime-y, but this song is very catchy, nonetheless. Plus, Dave's lyrics, lines like "Hello me, it's me again" and "Well me, it's nice talking to myself" are entertaining.
The album drags a little bit for the next three tracks. "This Was My Life" is quite catchy, and a winding, melodic solo flares up in "High Speed Dirt," but these songs are both nothing spectacular. And track seven, the title track, is pretty slow, boring, and completely forgettable.
Track 9, "Psychotron," is where things pick back up. It has a good, stop-start, opening riff, but the real highlight here is the seven (count `em, seven!) guitar solos. Granted, these solos are fairly short and not nearly as good as "Hangar 18," but they're still great. The first two make a wah-wah sound, and some of the later ones are careening.
10. "Captive Honour" is about the prison system and the consequences of crime. It has a mid-song skit, where a judge and jury (the jury is played by Dave Mustaine's voice) sentence a man to life in prison. This song isn't instantly memorable, either, but it does have another good guitar solo (which builds greatly).
11. "Ashes in Your Mouth" features a tempo change near the beginning, turning the song into a moderately paced chug. There's another tempo change around 2:45, with heavier drums. There are two final guitar solos (the second of which is an excellent, wailing solo), and the song ends with fading out guitars and a brief, fast drum solo.
"Crown of Worms" is an essential part of every Megadeth diehard's collection, but the four bonus tracks are negligible.
Like all of Megadeth's reissues, this album isn't really worth buying for the four extra tracks, but it is definitely worth buying for the improved sound quality.
In conclusion, "Countdown to Extinction" is the sound of Megadeth evolving, while still remaining true to their roots. No, "Countdown to Extinction" isn't as great or fast as "Peace Sells...but Who's Buying" or "Rust In Peace;" but this C.D. is still greatly entertaining, catchy, and features some great, trademark Dave and Marty guitar work, so "Countdown" is definitely still a Megadeth album. Yes, Megadeth ultimately evolved so far that they made the mistake album, "Risk," but every band needs to evolve and change their sound (for better or for worse).
Even though not all of their albums were classic, standard setting albums, it is my opinion that (like all metal gods) every Megadeth release is necessary for every complete heavy metal collection.
Megadeth's Crowning Achievement! March 26, 2006
8 out of 11 found this review helpful
After hitting and missing over the past eight years, Dave Mustaine & Co. finally hit paydirt with Countdown To Extinction. This is where Megadeth finally stepped out of Metallica's long shadow and made a name for themselves with some seriously killer metal.
"Skin O My Teeth" great album opener. One of my favorite Megadeth tunes and a live staple for years. All out in-your-face metal. Classic. "Symphony Of Destruction" another great Megadeth classic and one of the greatest metal songs ever written. The riff in Symphony is so easy and yet so f*cking metal its beautiful. Dark and moody and rocking! Awesome! "Architecture Of Aggression" another blasting metal song. Great and catchy and filled with metal, here we learn about politics ala Dave Mustaine. Wicked good. "Foreclosure Of A Dream" a deep, tragic look at the death of the American Dream. Got the famous "Read My Lips" George Bush speech in there. One of the first songs of many that Dave uses speeches and news reports, etc... to hammer his point home. Inventive, but might become a little tedious after a decade or so. "Sweating Bullets" another Megadeth classic. I can remeber hearing this when it first came out and thinking, jeez, that guy's annoying. Megadeth is definitely an acquired taste. "This Was My Life" solid. Missing something, but still solid. "Countdown To Extinction" yet another classic. Mustaine kicked out all the jams on this album. A distinct commentary on the annihilation of innocent animals. Grim and poignant. Mustaine has a way of making you feel like an assh*le. "High Speed Dirt" & "Psychotron" if Countdown can be said to contain filler, then these two songs are it. But this is above any normal metal filler. This is filler deluxe, because it is still pretty good. Something missing in these two tunes, but still something far above the usual level of mediocre songs. "Captive Honor" at first listen you are taken back a few years to So Far, So Good... and the lame song that is "502" with the tongue-in-cheek courtroom trial commentary going on. You think, oh no, not again, and then "Captive Honor" really starts and you're hooked on it because it rocks. Where "502" was lame, "Captive Honor" succeeds. "Ashes In Your Mouth" a great underrated song. "Ashes" tends to get overlooked because it is the last song on the disc, but it absolutely rocks!
The remeastered version gives us some demos (yawn) and the unreleased tune "Crown Of Worms" which is pretty good for a b-side, soundtrack kinda tune.
Overall, Countdown To Extinction is the perfection of Megadeth. The will never be better than this...sadly. But every band has to have its peak, and here it is. Does every band have it's perfect album? No way, that is rare, but Countdown provides Megadeth their perfect album. Great from start to finish and where the gloss wears thin, it's not enough to tarnish the rest of the effort. One of the greatest Heavy Metal albums of all time and one of my all-time favorites. This is what put Megadeth aside from all the mediocre metal bands of this era.
Dig it!
Revisiting a old friend July 27, 2004
7 out of 9 found this review helpful
This was one of the first metal albums I bought when I was a teen so when I saw the remastered version I thought i'd check it out. The sound quality is amazing, Dave really put some work into it. While not as progressive as Rust In Piece it has a beauty all it's own. The fast solo's and lead guitar harmony's are still there but it has a more straight ahead rock feel to it. If you like the solo's and harmony's check out Rust In Piece and if you like the straight ahead rock check out the two albums that came after this one. While Megadeth was always behind Metallica in the charts ( This one #2 and Metallica's Black album #1) Megadeth had the better music.
This CD destroys the black album July 31, 2006
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
Metallica and Megadeth both did something similar in the early 90's-they experimented with their sound. While Metallica truly sold out(I only like the hard songs on that album) and became mainstream rock, Megadeth experimented, but they were still metal. This CD sounds more like traditional heavy metal than thrash metal, but it's still brilliant. This may not be the insanely complex speed-fest that was Rust in Peace or Peace Sells, but they are still technical(i'm really wearing this word out, aren't I?), even if they reverted to a verse-chorus formula for some of the record. The band's musicianship is top quality as always. Like i've said a thousand times before, there are plenty of nice riffs and solos on here, as well as a little more acoustic work than their previous releases. Highlights on this record include "Sweating Bullets", "Skin O My Teeth", and "Architechture of Agression". While Metallica's only good releases were the first 4, Megadeth's whole catalog is worthy(though Risk may be an exception if you aren't a purist like me.) Get this instead of the overrated black album.
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