Megadeth's 14th studio outing finds the venerable metal outfit parting ways with Roadrunner Records, but not with producer
Johnny K (
Disturbed,
Staind), who brought some much needed sonic heft to 2011's
Th1rt3en. Standout cuts include the blistering "Kingmaker," a thrashy, cautionary tale about oxycontin which evokes classic
Megadeth; the banjo-led
Rob Zombie-meets-
Mark Lanegan lament "Blackest Crow," and the outstanding "Built for War," a surprisingly agile, apocalyptic anti-anthem which was co-written with drummer
Shawn Drover and guitarist
Chris Broderick, the latter of whom supplies the track with some truly impressive riffage. ~ James Christopher Monger