| The System Has Failed | |||||
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| Studio album by Megadeth | |||||
| Released | September 14, 2004 | ||||
| Recorded | 2004 | ||||
| Genre | Thrash metal | ||||
| Length | 51:31 | ||||
| Label | Sanctuary Records | ||||
| Producer | Dave Mustaine Jeff Balding |
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| Megadeth chronology | |||||
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The System Has Failed is the tenth studio album released by American thrash metal band Megadeth, and the first 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.
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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 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.
Cover art
The cover art by Mike Learn features Vic Rattlehead at a podium in front of the United States Supreme Court building selling a not-guilty verdict to George W. Bush. Saluting is Hillary Clinton, next to Bill Clinton. Behind Bush in line is Dick Cheney holding a briefcase labeled "plan B". Behind him is Condoleezza Rice and others.
Track listing
All songs written by Dave Mustaine, except where is noted.
- "Blackmail the Universe" – 4:33
- "Die Dead Enough" – 4:18 (sample )
- "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
BestBuy bonus track
- "Strange Ways" (Ace Frehley) - 3:13
- Kiss cover
Personnel
- Dave Mustaine - guitar, vocals
- Chris Poland: guitar (Session Member)
- Jimmy Sloas: bass guitar (Session Member)
- Vinnie Colaiuta: drums (Session Member)
- Mike Learn: Cover art
Trivia
- This is the band's fourth studio album that is not named after a specific song on the album, following So Far, So Good... So What!, Cryptic Writings and Risk. However, the title is heard in a lyric for the song "Kick the Chair".
- On the original cover, the politicians depicted resemble George W. Bush, Donald Rumsfeld, John Ashcroft, Dick Cheney, Condoleezza Rice, and Bill Clinton. It also shows a $100 bill with Vic Rattlehead's face in instead of Benjamin Franklin.
- "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.
- "Shadow of Deth" is Psalm 23 from the Bible, written by David. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death;I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me"
- The track "I Know Jack" includes a sample of Texas Senator Lloyd Bentsen's famous response to Indiana Senator Dan Quayle during a 1988 vice-presidential debate.
- "Back in the Day" was featured in the Duck Dodgers episode "In Space, No One Can Hear You Rock".
- "Blackmail the Universe" has numerous quotes from the movie "Thirteen Days", which was about the Cuban missile crisis.
Charts
Album
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | The Billboard 200 | 18 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | "Die Dead Enough" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 21 |
| 2005 | "Of Mice and Men" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 39 |
External links
- Rock Pages interview with Dave Mustaine
- UnderGroundOnline interview with Dave Mustaine by Craine C
- Megadeth official site
