Peace Sells...But Who's Buying? Review

Date Of Release: September 19, 1986

You guys know Metallica right? Dave Mustaine certainly does, originally being Metallica's guitarist before being fired for being a drunk asshole. He's responsible for writing the riffs for almost all of the songs on Metallica's debut album Kill'em All, as well as one riff for Ride the Lightning.

Upon being fired he swore revenge, he vowed to form his own band. A band that would be even heavier and faster than Metallica could ever hope to be. The band in question? That would be Megadeth.

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Megadeth are an American thrash metal band formed in 1983 in Los Angeles, California. The band's lineup consist of: (Peace Sells Lineup)

• Dave Mustaine (Lead Vocalist, Lead Guitar)
• David Ellefson (Backing vocals, Bass)
• Chris Poland (Guitarist)
• Gar Samuelson (Drummer)

Megadeth is part of the "The Big 4" of the American thrash metal scene, alongside Metallica, Slayer, and Anthrax. As they were the first 4 bands to get a major record label.

Megadeth have sold 38 million copies worldwide, earned platinum certification in the U.S for 6 of their 15 studio albums, and won a Grammy award in 2017 for their song Dystopia off their album of the same name for, "Best Metal Performance".

Ever since I listened to their debut album, Killing is My Business...And Business is Good! a couple weeks ago, I've been listening to them heavily. I've listened to them beforehand but I didn't take them seriously, I was more of a Metallica fan back then. Apart from Killing is my business I also listened to Countdown to Extinction last week, as well as Rust In Peace, Peace Sells...But Who's Buying?, and So far, So Good...So What? last year.

I wanted to take a chance today to talk about my favorite out of all of them, Peace Sells, yeah you heard it right, I like it more than I do Rust In Peace. While I do acknowledge that Rust In Peace IS the better album overall, there's just something about Peace Sells that I can't help but like more.

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Songs

Wake Up Dead
The opening track to the album, it immediately let's you know what you're getting yourself into. That being fast paced, screeching guitars, with great drumming. Even though this song has lyrics it feels more like an instrumental. The lyrics are about a guy coming home late, drunk after a night out with the boys, terrified of the thought of waking his girlfriend up.

This song is essentially Dave Mustaine flexing his ability to write jaw dropping guitar riffs. As the song progresses they keep changing riffs and it's fucking sick. I love the part towards the end of the song where everything stops, only to start up again slower but with a ridiculously catchy, headbanging riff.

The Conjuring
Unlike the past song, lyrically this song brings in the heat. On this track Dave dabbles into the occult, he sings about summoning dark spirits and putting curses on people, all of that dark stuff. The intro to the song establishes this well by playing an evil sounding guitar riff, which is followed by Dave monologuing about a cult. It's almost cheesey but at the same time pretty badass. I would also like to mention that towards the middle of this song, Dave starts playing this beast of a riff that sounds and feels so good.

Peace Sells
This song starts off with one of if not the most famous metal bass line ever to be written, once you hear it there's no erasing it from your head. It's incredibly catchy and awesome, so much so it made me want to learn how to play it. Really this whole song is David Ellefson's time to shine. The intro being nothing but that fucking amazing bass line as well as a steady drum beat is doing a whole lot by doing very little. The verses Dave sings in the first half of the song are so goofy and cheesey yet I can't help but love it. For example "What do you mean I can't get to work on time? I got nothin' better to do".
The second half of the song ends abruptly only to resume all whilst picking up the speed. Chris Poland and Dave take turns going back and forth playing their riffs as well, which I find incredibly cool.

Devils Island
The intro to this song gives you a great sense of doom, like the world is gonna end. Throughout the song it has this feeling of a horse galloping, which is very classic in terms of thrash metal. The chorus while be simple, is very catchy especially when the whole band is shouting "Devils Island!" a few times. Gar Samuelson's drumming is awesome on here as well. All in all amazing song.

Good Mourning/Black Friday
I cannot overstate how incredible the intro "Good Mourning" is. It has a brooding aura to it, there's no guitar distortion only clean notes. Chris and Dave work together as lead guitar for the intro as well, taking turns playing riffs. Drums come in later on as well. All of this is the build up to the ladder part of the song "Black Friday" and what amazing build up it is.

Moving on to "Black Friday", holy shit I never thought Megadeth could write something that rivals Slayer in terms of lyric themes. This song is pretty graphic, lyrically it's about a murderous psychopath going on a killing spree. Describing in detail what said murderer does to the bodies and how they react to his violent acts. For example "Their bodies convulse in agony and pain. I mangle their faces 'till no features remain. A blade for butchering, I cut them to shreds", it's a bloodbath. The fast tempo and thundering instrumentals compliment the nature of the lyrics perfectly. To think this song was originally going to be an instrumental song with no lyrics, I was glad they changed their minds. This shit rocks.

Bad Omen
Like "The Conjuring" this song is about the occult but it takes on more of a horror story narrative. The story revolves around a satanic cult out in the woods, on a full moon. Sacrificing virgins for their lord Lucifer and all that fun stuff. I love how the intro sets the mood for the narrative, it gives off this dark, mystical vibe. It all slowly leads to the meat and potatoes of the song.

There's a part in here however towards the middle that left me speechless. A part so disgusting it should be illegal, all the instruments stop, only for it all to start up instantly and insanely fast with these high pitched guitars, almost as if they were crying. I can't do that part justice with just words alone, you really gotta hear it to understand it.

I Ain't Superstitious
This cover is Megadeth's take on guitar legend Jeff Beck's song "I Ain't Superstitious". If there's one thing I hate about Megadeth it's the songs they cover on their main albums. Their cover of "These Boots" by Nancy Sinatra on Killing is my business was SO shit I refuse to acknowledge it's existence. Their cover of "Anarchy in the U.K" by The Sex Pistols off their album So far, So Good...So What? was better but really it didn't do anything special whatsoever. It was really bland and I tend to skip it.

Thankfully though I really like this cover, I think they did a really good job. Compared to the other songs on this album this one is fun and lighthearted. Really a nice brake from all the dark themes we've been listening to so far. Although this song does talk about demons and classic superstitious things like black cats and breaking mirrors, it does so in a fun way.

My Last Words
The closer of this album, this song starts with silence only a guitar riff is being played that makes you feel icky, it reminds me of bugs. The main part of this riff is very reminiscent of those used in Killing is my business, very chaotic and fast. Lyrically this song this about two people playing Russian roulette, winner wins their life, which is metal as fuck. I also love the ending of this song. The lyric, "You, you! Next Victim! You, Next to Die!" Mainly because the whole band chants certain words, which I find awesome and I can imagine a whole mob watching all this go down. Overall a banger of a closer.

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Final Thoughts
In conclusion Peace Sells...But Who's Buying? is an incredible album all around. It's an album revolving around themes of demons, the occult, and murder. This album and Rust In Peace show what an absolute powerhouse Megadeth can be. This album and Megadeth as a whole are an essential to new listeners of thrash metal. Though I do acknowledge Dave Mustaine's whiny voice isn't for everybody and it's an aquired taste for many. For those interested in checking this band out I highly recommend you to listen to this album as well as Rust In Peace. You'll be glad you did.

If I had to rate it out of 10: 10/10

Favorite Songs:

• Wake Up Dead
• The Conjuring
• Peace Sells
• Devil's Island
• Good Mourning/Black Friday
• Bad Omen
• I Ain't Superstitious
• My Last Words

For those interested in checking it out here's a preview song: