ooh now we're talkin..
I got into Metallica in 2003, funny enough their worst album St. Anger was my first album (well in hindsight I actually like it better than Reload, it actually had some sick riffs and I liked some of the raw James vocals, as well as some of the garage sound minus the garbage pail snare). But I got a soft spot for it as I'm a big riff guy and it came out just as I was getting into the band. In a way that was great for me. I figured if I enjoyed this hated album so much, their good stuff must be incredible. I then picked up Black Album and pretty much went backward from there, I was captivated by most of their music.
I actually didn't even get into Megadeth until about a decade later, 2013, but I instantly fell in love with the infectious riffs and face-melting solos of Mustaine, along with some of the Friedman guitar and Nick Menza & Gar drums in particular. I also love their more edgy lyrics that often dealt with darker and quasi-Libertarian themes. Also Mustaine is just a super interesting guy. I've listened to both of his audiobooks to death.
As a whole which is better? Honestly it's a virtual tie, but depends on the context. Metallica is probably a bit better as a whole, cohesive unit. James' riffing is rad, and I love the early stuff with Mustaine and Cliff. Kill Em All and Master of Puppets remain two of my favorite albums. And love the themes and complexity of And Justice for All. I even like some stuff on Black Album (Don't Tread on Me, Of Wolf and Man, The God That Failed), and Death Magnetic.
Yet, Megadeth as a whole has more musicality and depth, at least on a more consistent basis. And I'm impressed with how much Mustaine can crank out new music. Fewer overall stellar albums, but more songs I love, and more complex guitar riffing/solos/bass/drumming that I appreciate. Rust in Peace is fantastic, some of Peace Sells and some of Symphony of Destruction. Endgame and Dystopia are great comeback quasi-thrash albums.
Basically, I prefer Mustaine as a musician/guitar player, but as a whole, *band* wise I guess I'd *slightly* favor Metallica. Though I'm not a huge fan of the mediocre, egotistical drummer Lars, and the *waa waaa* guitar player style of Kirk.
It's complicated I guess lol..
EDIT: OH I would add, however - in the last two decades or so, it's Megadeth no contest. The majority of Tallica's great stuff occurred in the '80s and early '90s. Death Magnetic was ok, but honestly I didn't love much from Hardwired other than the title track, Moth into the Flame, and Man Unkind.
However - Endgame, Dystopia, and even parts of Youthanasia, Cryptic Writings, System has Failed, are great.
Last edited by DarthMetalliCube - on 14 December 2022
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