The System Has Failed
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The System Has Failed is the first Megadeth album to be released after the break-up of the band in 2002. It was released on September 14, 2004.
The "system" referred to in the album's title is "the American system and western civilization" which in Mustaine's opinion dictates what the world follows. Mustaine cites examples of such failure in America's educational system, which underpays its teachers, and its court system, which allows criminals to escape punishment.
Musical style
The album's sound is characterised by fast, muscular, palm-muted riffs. The record was viewed by many as a return to the speed metal style exhibited on Rust in Peace, although it contains few traces of the technical complexity showcased on that record.Production and marketing
Originally intended to be a solo album by its author Dave Mustaine, the record was re-branded with the Megadeth name as a result of contractual obligations owed to Mustaine's record company EMI (Mustaine also admitted that, after listening to and playing the songs multiple times, he claimed "they were Megadeth songs, not solo songs"). In an effort to avoid the financial cost and interpersonal conflicts associated with re-assembling the band's original line-up, Mustaine hired session musicians Vinnie Colaiuta (drums) and with Jimmy Sloas (bass) to perform on the record. In a surprising move, Mustaine also hired former Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland to perform guitar solos on a number of tracks.Mustaine co-produced the record with Jeff Balding, who had previously engineered Cryptic Writings and Risk.
Songs
"Die Dead Enough" was released as the first single. Mustaine wrote the song in San Diego, California. He was asked to write it for the movie Tomb Raider II. The studio liked the song and offered US$ 25,000 for it. Mustaine was not satisfied with the offer and the song was never used. The video for the song included none of the band members besides Dave Mustaine; and his children as actors."Of Mice and Men" was selected as the second video from the album. In this video the new Megadeth line up is performing - Dave Mustaine, Shawn Drover, Glen Drover and James MacDonough. The majority of the video was shot on January 20, 2005 in Los Angeles. Numbers of Megadeth fans turned up to be in the video through a "contest" held by Sanctuary Group who funded the video. The video follows the autobiographical lyric of the song which tells the life of Dave Mustaine between the age of 17 to 25 years old. The title of the song is taken from the famous novel of the same name.
"Something That I'm Not" was written about Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich #redirect .
"Shadow of Deth" was written about a "a hard, cold look at Mustaine's understanding of things religious in nature and spiritual", undertaken after his arm injury. The song starts with the motto on Mustaine's coat of arms, which is "Auxilium meum a Domino" or "my health comes from the Lord".
The track "I Know Jack" includes a sample of Texas Senator Lloyd Bentsen's famous response to Indiana Senator Dan Quayle during a 1988 TV debate.
"Back In The Day" was featured in the Duck Dodgers (TV series) episode "In Space, No One Can Hear You Rock".
Track listing
- "Blackmail The Universe" (4:33)
- "Die Dead Enough" (4:18)
- "Kick The Chair" (3:57)
- "The Scorpion" (5:59)
- "Tears In A Vial" (5:22)
- "I Know Jack" (0:40)
- "Back In The Day" (3:28)
- "Something That I'm Not" (5:07)
- "Truth Be Told" (5:40)
- "Of Mice And Men" (4:05)
- "Shadow Of Deth" (2:15)
- "My Kingdom" (3:04)
References
- [Rock Pages interview with Dave Mustaine] Retrieved January 19, 2005.
- [UnderGroundOnline interveiw with Dave Mustaine by Craine C] Retrieved January 19, 2005.
- [Megadeth official site]
| Megadeth |
| Dave Mustaine | Glen Drover | James Lomenzo | Shawn Drover |
| David Ellefson | Chris Poland | Lee Rausch | Gar Samuelson | Jeff Young | Chuck Behler | Nick Menza | Marty Friedman | Jimmy DeGrasso | Al Pitrelli | James MacDonough |
| Discography |
|---|
| Studio albums: Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good! | Peace Sells... But Who's Buying? | So Far, So Good... So What! | Rust in Peace | Countdown to Extinction | Youthanasia | Cryptic Writings | Risk | The World Needs a Hero | The System Has Failed | United Abominations |
| Live albums: Live Trax | Rude Awakening |
| Compilations: | Still Alive... And Well? | Back to the Start |
| Extended plays: Hidden Treasures | Cryptic Sounds |
| Videos and DVDs: Rusted Pieces | Exposure of a Dream | Rude Awakening | Video Hits | Arsenal of Megadeth |
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