Album Details

• Artist: Megadeth
• Album: Peace Sells...but Who's Buying
• Label: Combat
• Year of Release: 1986
• ME Rating: Indie Classic
• Reviewed by: solitaryman on 2011-11-08

After a largely promising debut, Megadeth were definitely improving musically heading into their sophomore release, but underlying difficulties in the lineup would cause inner turmoil on a very large scale. That Peace Sells...But Who's Buying? even was created is a bit of a testament to the efforts of all involved to overcome personal addictions and other assorted troubles. That it has remained so immediately accessible and dubbed a "thrash classic" by so many lends itself to the talents of Megadeth.

An excellent collection of songs, many will know this album by it's psuedo-title track "Peace Sells" and it's intro bassline. Anyone who used to watch MTV in it's heyday will certainly know what I'm talking about. Beyond that (and the awesome track that follows it), each song on Peace Sells... offers up a great dose of one of the most popular (relatively speaking) sounds of the 80's. For me, "Bad Omen" and My Last Words' always stood out the most, featuring some of the best guitar work Mustaine, Poland and the whole of Megadeth have ever produced. But there isn't a bad song to be found here, no filler, vastly improved from their debut and seemingly destined for great things. And they were...but not as they appeared here.

After this, both Chris Poland and drummer Gar Samuelson would be let go and a new version of Megadeth would soon appear. But, this album, in tandem with their debut, are so often seen as pinnacles of the thrash scene at that time that despite their increased popularity later on, they cannot and should not be overlooked. Peace Sells...But Who's Buying? is certainly a thrash classic, an album that inspired a number of bands and musicians to come. It's status in the vault is rightly justified. 

User Reviews and Comments

on 2012-08-26 SolitaryMan Said:

Undoubtedly, my good man.

Rating: 10/10

on 2012-08-24 markclaytor Said:

Classic Megadeth Album! Set up Dave and Co. as here to stay.
Rating: 10/10