Everything about United Abominations totally explained
United Abominations is the eleventh
studio album by the American
thrash metal band
Megadeth. Released on
May 8,
2007,
United Abominations is the first Megadeth release distributed through
Roadrunner Records, and was recorded with an all new lineup excluding the band's singer, guitarist, songwriter, and frontman
Dave Mustaine. While touring to promote the album, guitarist
Glen Drover left the band for personal reasons and was replaced by
Chris Broderick.
United Abominations was well received by critics and debuted at number eight on the
Billboard 200, the highest chart position for the band since 1994's
Youthanasia. Greg Prato of
All Music Guide stated Megadeth "sound reborn" on
United Abominations. The lyrics of the album deal with politics and the state the world is in, with Ed Thompson of
IGN stated the album is the band's most politically charged. The album was named the number one metal album of 2007 by
Guitar World.
Background
Prior to the release of
United Abominations, Megadeth signed a recording contract with
Roadrunner Records. The band had troubles with music rights involving two former labels that carried Megadeth,
Capitol and
Sanctuary Records. This is the first Megadeth album since the 2004 album
The System Has Failed, which was released through Sanctuary. While on tour to support
The System Has Failed, Megadeth frontman, guitarist, and vocalist
Dave Mustaine contemplated breaking up Megadeth to record as a solo artist. At a sold-out concert in
Buenos Aires, Mustaine stated the band would stay together. The show in Buenos Aires, where this info was announced at, was recorded and released on CD and DVD as . Mustaine chose these people for full time members rather than session musicians. He stated that he liked the Drovers' "sibling chemistry" and Lomenzo is a "legend".
Writing and recording
Mustaine stated he didn't "go into making this record with any pre-conceived notions". He said some of the lyrics on
United Abominations were written about his frustration with his past record labels, stating "a lot of that translated into the intensity on the record." Mustaine wrote the songs for the album in an attempt to "stir something in the minds of the listener".
United Abominations was recorded in 2006 at SARM Hook End Studios,
London,
England; the Steakhouse, Studio City,
California; Big Fish Encinitas, California and Backstage Productions. Additional
overdubs were recorded at S.I.R. rehearsal studio,
Hollywood, California and Mustaine Music,
Fallbrooke, California. Most of the record was tracked in England because frontman
Dave Mustaine admired the fact that his favorite band,
Led Zeppelin, previously recorded there many times. Scabbia stated she was "really surprised about it because 'À Tout Le Monde' is a song that I've always loved. It was a big surprise for me to get this invitation —I was really honoured to be part of it." The contestants were asked to design a new version of
Vic Rattlehead, the band mascot which appears on nearly every Megadeth album cover. Mustaine chose from the top 11 finalists to be included in the CD booklet. The completed album was leaked on to the internet in April 2007 and the first official pressing of the album was released exclusively in Japan on
May 8 and contained a
cover of the 1970
Led Zeppelin song "
Out on the Tiles". The album was released internationally with a missing track on
May 15, and a day later in the United States. A week after its release in the United States, the album had sold nearly 60,000 copies and debuted at number eight on the
Billboard 200, 10 places higher than the band's previous album, 2004s
The System Has Failed. The album debuted at number two in Finland, five in Canada, and the top 30 in seven other countries.
Megadeth started touring in March 2007 in support of the album in Canada opening for
Heaven and Hell and
Down, followed by a North American tour opening for Heaven and Hell and touring with
Machine Head. On this tour, which lasted until May, the band debuted the songs "United Abominations", "
Washington Is Next!" and "Sleepwalker".
Departure of Glen Drover
On
January 14,
2008, it was announced that guitarist
Glen Drover was leaving Megadeth to focus on his family and that the constant touring was starting to have a negative effect on him. Mustaine said he was happy with Drover's decision and is pleased that his replacement is former
Jag Panzer and
Nevermore guitarist
Chris Broderick, whom he said was "doing just fine". Former Nevermore band member
Van Williams commented that Megadeth is "getting one hell of a good player, more importantly they're getting a great guy to hang out with and a true friend." Broderick said, "I realize I've some big shoes to fill and I'll do my best." His first concert with the band was on
February 4,
2008 in Finland.
About.com reviewer Chad Bowar stated the album "is the best Megadeth album in at least a decade." Greg Prato of
All Music Guide praised the album, stating "Megadeth's crunchy, venomous thrash has remained intact. Megadeth were never afraid to show off their prog-worthy chops, and the 2007 lineup appears custom-made for tackling 'tricky bits'. Mustaine and company certainly sound reborn." Ed Thompson of
IGN praised the album and its political lyrics, saying "cranks out so much attitude, so much opinion, and so much firebranded speech that the album could be mistaken for a political rally." Commenting on the Megadeth's new lineup, Jon Weiderhorn from
MTV said "Once again, the system is fully operational."
United Abominations was voted the best metal album of 2007 by the reader's poll in the March 2008 issue of
Guitar World and the Brave Pick of 2007 by
Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles.
On
July 10,
2007, a rebuttal was posted by Mark Leon Goldberg on the
United Nations affairs blog against the accusations made in the title track of the album, "United Abominations". Goldberg reviewed the song verse-by-verse, pointing out false accusations. The blog stated that "we at UN Dispatch refuse to let Megadeth's witless screed go unchallenged. We listened [tothe song] so you don't have to".
Track listing
All songs written by
Dave Mustaine, except where noted.
"Sleepwalker" – 5:53
"Washington Is Next!" – 5:19
"Never Walk Alone… a Call to Arms" (Mustaine, Glen Drover) – 3:54
"United Abominations" – 5:35
"Gears of War" – 4:26
"Blessed Are the Dead" – 4:02
"Play for Blood" – 3:49
"À Tout le Monde (Set Me Free)" – 4:11 (featuring Cristina Scabbia)
"Amerikhastan" – 3:43
"You're Dead" – 3:18
"Burnt Ice" – 3:47
"Out on the Tiles" - 4:03 (Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, John Bonham) – 4:03 (Led Zeppelin cover) (ONLY on the Japan pressing) this track is omitted from rest of the world second pressings.
Bonus track (pre-ordered copies)
"Black Swan" – 4:04
Personnel
Chart positions
| Chart |
Peak position
|
| Billboard 200 |
8 |
| UK Top 40 |
23 |
| Swedish Top 60 |
15 |
| Australia |
23 |
| Austria |
17 |
| Canada |
5 |
| Germany |
28 |
| Finland |
2 |
| Italy |
24 |
| Ireland |
31 |
| Netherlands |
49 |
| Norway |
21 |
| Switzerland |
38 |
Further Information
Get more info on 'United Abominations'.
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