Youthanasia
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Youthanasia is an album by Megadeth, released in 1994.
The title is a play on words of youth and euthanasia, implying that we are euthanizing our youth, which would be in keeping with Megadeth's (and Dave Mustaine's specifically) views. An alternate interpretation is that it is about a lack of respect and attention young people show toward the older generation, although the first interpretation matches up with the cover - babies being hung out to dry.
Youthanasia continued the trend toward slower, more melodic songs started by Megadeth's breakout album, Countdown to Extinction. This sound was slower than some older fans could tolerate, and contributed a division amongst Megadeth fans (this was due to producer Max Norman demanding each song would be played at the same tempo; Dave Mustaine has stated that certain songs would've ended up slower or faster than their original BPS tempo was set at). However, the album met with great financial success, despite the fact that it was plagued with problems from the outset.
Lyrically, the album displays a variety of influences: mythology ("Elysian Fields" and "Blood of Heroes"), rape and incest ("Family Tree"), nuclear war ("Black Curtains"), gambling ("Train of Consequences"), and even a hit that reportedly began as a suicide note, "A Tout Le Monde".
When originally released, the CD contained a sticker directing the purchaser to an Internet site for Megadeth. This is believed to be one of (if not the) first mention of an Internet site on a band's album, having been released in 1994, before most of the general public had ever heard of The Net.
Conception
Megadeth's previous album, Countdown to Extinction, was tremendously successful and the band was faced with the daunting task of making an album to follow it. It was a time of problems and conflicts for Megadeth, in that every two weeks or so according to Mustaine, there were "outrageous emotional interventions" in order to make the group a democracy. Many band meetings during this period concerned Mustaine's creative control over a "successful formula," so that the band could better exercise their creativity.Another problem was the indecision on where the recording would take place. Mustaine did not want to record in Los Angeles, so the band eventually decided to record in Phoenix in the home state of the majority of the band, Arizona. They began recording in Phase Four Studios (the studio in which the 2004 remaster was remixed), but due to problems they left and decided to find another studio. There were no likely choices in Phoenix, so producer Max Norman suggested building a studio of their own. The construction process was recorded on Evolver - The Making of Youthanasia.
Track listing
- "Reckoning Day" (Mustaine, Ellefson, Friedman) – 4:34
- "Train of Consequences" (Mustaine) – 3:26
- "Addicted to Chaos" (Mustaine) – 5:26
- "A Tout Le Monde" (Mustaine) – 4:28
- "Elysian Fields" (Mustaine, Ellefson) – 4:03
- "The Killing Road" (Mustaine) – 3:57
- "Blood of Heroes" (Mustaine) – 3:57
- "Family Tree" (Mustaine, Ellefson, Menza) – 4:07
- "Youthanasia" (Mustaine) – 4:09
- "I Thought I Knew It All" (Mustaine, Ellefson, Friedman, Menza) – 3:44
- "Black Curtains" (Mustaine, Friedman) – 3:39
- "Victory" (Mustaine) – 4:27
2004 bonus tracks
- "Millennium of the Blind" – 2:15
- "New World Order" (demo) – 3:45
- "Absolution" (instrumental) – 3:27
- "A Tout Le Monde" (demo) – 6:20
Additional information
- In The Song A Tout Le Monde the chorus translated in to English is To everyone,To all my friends, I love you ,I must leave
Personnel
- Dave Mustaine - vocals, guitar
- Marty Friedman - guitar
- Nick Menza - drums
- David Ellefson - bass guitar
| 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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