After his exit from
Metallica,
Dave Mustaine regrouped with his own band on this debut album, accentuating his own chaotic, driving rhythm guitar work and careening, lightning-fast solos. The music here is as raw as
Megadeth gets, and that can be both good and bad --
Megadeth's later precise, complex riffing and composition aren't completely developed, but the music is performed with a great deal of energy, while
Mustaine's vocals (never his strong point) are amateurish at best. Highlights include a retooled version of Nancy Sinatra's "Boots" and "Mechanix," a
Mustaine composition written with
Metallica, which turned into the latter's "The Four Horsemen." ~ Steve Huey