The Sick, the Dying… and the Dead!
Megadeth · 2022
66 min · 14 tracks · heavy metal
A ferocious blend of thrash metal aggression and melodic hooks wrapped in a narrative of mortality and resilience.
Top tracks — play these first
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The Sick, the Dying… and the Dead! Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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Night Stalkers — This track features blistering riffs and an intense lyrical narrative about modern warfare, encapsulating the album's themes of conflict and survival.
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Dogs of Chernobyl — Drawing inspiration from historical events, this song combines haunting melodies with powerful instrumentation, highlighting Megadeth's ability to address real-world issues through their music.
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We’ll Be Back — With its anthemic chorus and driving rhythm, this track serves as a rallying cry for perseverance, reflecting Mustaine's personal journey and reinvigoration as an artist.
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Mission to Mars — This song stands out for its exploratory lyrics and complex arrangements, showcasing Megadeth’s progressive tendencies while remaining rooted in their thrash identity.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong songwriting and production but has some uneven pacing and thematic repetition.
What we noticed
- Several songs incorporate tempo shifts, with moments of slower, heavier riffs contrasting against faster thrash sections.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic journey with peaks
- pummeling riffs for intensity
- dark themes exploring mortality
- wave-like pacing for engagement
Maybe skip if you
- prefer lighthearted or upbeat
- seek instant gratification tracks
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Shows continued vitality and strong songwriting after a health crisis.
- Themes
- warfare narratives· mortality reflections· socio-political critique
- Career context
- The Sick, the Dying… and the Dead! marks Megadeth's sixteenth studio album and their first since the release of Dystopia in 2016. This album arrives during a period of renewed energy for the band, following extensive touring and lineup stability, with frontman Dave Mustaine continuing to navigate his battle with cancer while crafting new material.
Tracklist
- 1 The Sick, the Dying… and the Dead! Start here 5:04
- 2 Life in Hell 4:12
- 3 Night Stalkers 6:38
- 4 Dogs of Chernobyl 6:14
- 5 Sacrifice 4:08
- 6 Junkie 3:39
- 7 Psychopathy 1:20
- 8 Killing Time 5:12
- 9 Soldier On! 4:54
- 10 Célebutante 3:51
- 11 Mission to Mars 5:23
- 12 We’ll Be Back 4:29
- 13 This Planet’s on Fire (Burn in Hell) 5:04
- 14 The Conjuring (live) 5:49
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reign in Blood
Slayer
Shares intense riffs and dark themes, with a relentless pace reflecting mortality and societal violence.
Among the Living
Anthrax
Explores similar socio-political themes through aggressive instrumentation and complex arrangements.
Burn My Eyes
Machine Head
Combines heavy riffs and personal angst, addressing themes of struggle and resilience in a brutal soundscape.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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