Megadeth’s “Rust In Peace” As Reviewed By A Tenth Grader
Introduction
American public schools are strange places. While multiple educational researchers insist that students should receive a culturally relevant, personally meaningful education to give them the skills they need to participate in an increasingly competitive global market, state mandated standards for what constitutes a “proper” education (along with monetary resources) continue to inhibit educator’s abilities to make this type of instruction actually happen. It is rare, even in an English studies classroom, where there are unique opportunities for students to thoughtfully examine different ideas, consider multiple possibilities, and learn more about themselves through personal and exploratory writing, that they get to do so. Instead, essays continue to follow strict formulas, literary elements are relentlessly hammered into still developing brains, and the word “INFERENCE” is uttered so much that it prompts one to think that someone somewhere believes that every time it’s used, a kitten gets its wings. Students seldom get to write about things they care about; which is shame, because I (and many, many others) think if they did, and papers were graded less for technicalities, but more for actual content, academic performance would improve.
I experimented with this theory recently by giving my students a record review assignment in which the students got to choose what artist (or band) they wanted to write about. The assignment on the whole was a huge success-the kids all did a great job and I was super proud of them all. The reviews were thoughtful, enthusiastic, and at times, deeply moving. A girl’s review of Beyoncé literally had me choking up by the end of it (mind you, I am NOT a crier), it was just so touchingly sweet and honest (it kind of wound up being about how Beyoncé makes her feel and what she would like to do if she met her, but whatever). The record review you are about to read is by a student who I felt best understood my expectations for the assignment and (seems to) love music as much as I do. I really enjoyed reading his piece, and I think you will too.
Megadeth’s “Rust in Peace”: A Record Review by A. Rivera
Megadeth’s landmark thrash record “Rust in Peace” broke new boundaries in the spring of 1990. Produced by Capital Records, “RIP” spawned two singles, “Holy Wars…The Punishment Due” and “Hangar 18” along with a slew of musically inventive masterpieces including “Lucretia.”
The opening track “Holy Wars…The Punishment Due” is a two part song based on the religious conflict in Northern Ireland and the Marvel comic book character “The Punisher.” This song is made up of complicated and edgy riffs that blend amazingly with Mustaine’s unique voice and lyrics. The second track “Hangar 18” is about a secret government testing base. It includes groovy, slick, and suspenseful rhythmic turnarounds. This is attributed to Mustaine’s jazzy rhythms. It also has a large mouthwatering selection of trading solos between Dave Mustaine and Marty Friedman (of cacophony fame) Teacher’s note: He included this because he used it in a journal entry one day and taught my cooperating teacher how to spell it correctly. He likes to use when he can now. ”Hangar 18’s” beginning guitar riff is based off of a D minor chord progression in Metallica’s “The Call of Ktulu” which they [allegedly] stole from Mustaine.
The best part of “Rust in Peace” is the fact that every track has something superb to offer which is probably why it hit platinum status. My personal favorite song on “RIP” is “Lucretia” because it accurately shows the nail biting, technical, emotional, and melodic wizardry that Megadeth as a group brings to the table. (The song is is about a ghost living in Mustaine’s attic.) Three songs is unfortunately not enough to showcase Megadeth’s pouring creativity with all of its themes such as religion, politics, nuclear warfare, love, the environment, addiction, and the supernatural. Teacher’s note: I asked all of my students to write about at least three songs.
Megadeth has always been compared to their commercially more successful competitors, Metallica. This album dwarfs Metallica’s self titled album by a long shot in a musical sense. Metallica stripped their sound down to idiotic, catchy, radio-friendly riffs for money. I have heard Megadeth on the radio ONE time in my life and bad Metallica more times than I want to know.
Since 1981, Dave Mustaine has been shaping the world of metal music. “Rust in Peace” is only evidence of this. I give this album a 10 out of 10 because there is literally nothing bad to say about any of the songs. To anyone looking for a great, dense, and classic metal record, “Rust in Peace” IS the way to go.
A. Rivera is a tenth grader at Albany High School. In addition to Megadeth, he likes to listen to other bands such as Sonic Youth and The Velvet Underground. He thinks Miss S.’s class is pretty alright but he wishes she would stop threatening to beat him so much.
I would never have thought to put “Megadeath” and “groovy” together. Super sick, I digs it!
AWESOME!!! A. Rivera, keep listening to awesome bands and writing about them.
“This album dwarfs Metallica’s self titled album by a long shot in a musical sense. Metallica stripped their sound down to idiotic, catchy, radio-friendly riffs for money.”
TRUTH.
Awesome. This should be a weekly series.
Awesome post!
awesome review. saw megadeth play this album all the way through at the glens falls civic center last summer. it was awesome then and it is awesome now. whats with all the teachers notes? you keep stepping all over this dudes rhythm.
that being said, i will let making fun of the self titled slide, but, lets lay off metallica. dont make me put together a master of puppets cover band, because i will frenching do it.
Definitely a sick album. There’s no doubt that these dudes could shred harder than most at the time.
Dude, Ryan. I wanted to go to that show so badly, but I didn’t think I could survive hanging with Slayer fans.
Whenever I hear the word “inference” I will now and forever think of kittens with wings. A sincere thank you for bringing that bit of joy into my life.
Yeah Wes, those Slayer fans probably wouldn’t beaten that mustache and haircut right off of you, and rightly so. But anyway, great job A. Rivera, way to show some metal love to the B3nson page! MegaDeth is awesome and although Metallica is even more painfully awesome (at times, while other times being downright painful), Mustaine has been able to keep it real for the past 30 years and not turn into a weiney for the corporate machine. You’re an excellent writer, keep it up and you could be reviewing albums for a living some where! And SAMSE LETS DO THAT COVER BAND! B3nson has never done anything metal related and its really reeeeaaally lame. Lets let Mr. Rivera be our inspiration! Have we grown so old and lame that we’ve forgotten how to shred? Lets do it!
would’ve! WOULD’VE!!!******** Darn you sausage fingers and tiny brain! I can’t even insult Wes on the internets. This is brutal.
Possibly the most awesome cover art ever.
WHY YOU ALWAYS GOTTA HATE RYAN?
you are misinterpretting me, trudy. if anything i am filled only with love. my comments and observations are born out of the womb of love, sent with the tidings of love, and meant to be recieved only with the warmest and purest of love. so please, with love and nothing else in your heart and soul, turn off your frenching caps lock key.
Way to blow the cover on my first name when he and whatever other students I know read this, RYAN. Weeks of trying to actually be professional RUINED IN ONE FELL SWOOP.
was that a thing? i didnt even know that was a thing.
apologies.
those l;ast apologies were real, by the way.
I like the review, love the Metallica hate. This kid has restored my faith in the current high school cohort. He also seems to have a knack for writing so tell him to keep it up.
I saw them too and they were so good! But slayer and testament were awesome too…thanks for the cool comments I really appreciate it
and yeah the first 4 metallica albums were great and then they made the black album, load and all that other crap
heyhey man. The Black album was still pretty rad and you know its SAD BUT TRUUUUUUEE WAHDUNDUNDUNWANANANANA.
And Trudy, Ryan blew your cover? Isn’t Troodo kind of obvious? haha
Maybe…but it’s still not my real name. Whatever though if any of my students try to use it in class I will just threaten them with lots of POP QUIZZES and CRITICAL LENS WRITING PRACTICE ::meaningful glare::
This goes down as one of the best posts and comment strings…ever. Also, I will forever be paranoid when writing posts and comments, as I do not want to have grammatical errors with English Teachers around!
Great Job!
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