Endgame (album)
Encyclopedia
Endgame is the twelfth studio album
by the American heavy metal
band Megadeth
. It was released via Roadrunner Records (the second of three Megadeth records) on September 9, 2009 and was produced by Dave Mustaine and Andy Sneap. Endgame was the first album featuring guitarist Chris Broderick
, following Glen Drover
's departure in 2008, and was the band's last studio album with bass guitar
ist James LoMenzo
; original bassist Dave Ellefson would rejoin the band only several months after the album's release.
There are eleven tracks on the album, with lyrics inspired by subjects ranging from The Lord of the Rings
and the Financial crisis of 2007–2010, to insanity
, torture and crime. Two singles were released from the album: "The Right to Go Insane
" and "Head Crusher
", the latter of which had been nominated for "Best Metal Performance" at the 52nd annual Grammy Awards
. Endgame entered the Billboard 200
at number 9 (marking the band's tenth overall top 10 debut) and reached number 1 on the U.S. Top Hard Rock Albums chart, and as of April 2011 has sold around 150,000 copies in the U.S. The album received generally positive reviews from music critics, and was thought of continuing the success from the band's previous album, United Abominations
.
, who also produced Megadeth's previous album, United Abominations
.
On May 27, 2009, Dave Mustaine confirmed 12 songs were complete and they were currently mixing and mastering the record. The first preview of music from Endgame was a six-minute video featuring Andy Sneap, describing the process of mixing the new Megadeth track "Head Crusher
" at his studio in Derbyshire, England
. In the video, Sneap had called the then-upcoming album "old-school". Endgame was recorded at the band's own personal studio, "Vic's Garage", in San Marcos, California
. The tracklisting on was initially revealed on July 2, 2009, although several track titles were later shortened for the final release.
Dave Mustaine had said about the album: "It is fast, it is heavy, there is singing, yelling, speaking, and guest voices (maybe not singing – more like in "Captive Honour
"), the soloing
is insane."
, which he wrote and directed. Jones stated that he had sent Dave Mustaine
a copy of the film after an appearance on the Alex Jones Show in 2008. It was later confirmed by Dave Mustaine in a subsequent appearance on the Jones' show that the album name was inspired by the Endgame documentary.
magazine's website were the first to review the album track by track. A week after its release, the album had sold 45,000 copies in the United States
and 8,200 copies in Canada
, debuting at number nine on the Billboard 200
, falling down one place from when United Abominations debuted at number eight in 2007. The album also placed as #1 on the Hard Rock Albums chart and #2 on the Rock Albums chart.
On May 10, 2009 Dave Mustaine announced on TheLiveLine that some music from Megadeth would appear in the film Land of the Lost
to raise awareness for Endgame. Whether this would be music from the new record was not entirely clear, however during the message Mustaine left on TheLiveLine, it was stated that there was new music playing in the background of the message. Ultimately, parts of the song "The Right To Go Insane", can be heard near the end of the film. Another song from the album, "This Day We Fight!
", was featured as a playable song on Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock
. As part of the promotion for Endgame, Megadeth made an appearance on the September 17, 2009 edition of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
, performing "Head Crusher".
Megadeth started touring in November 2009 in support of the album in Grand Rapids, Michigan
and ended on December 13, in Las Vegas
, Nevada
. The Tour featured Machine Head
, Suicide Silence
, Warbringer
, and Arcanium. In January 2010, Megadeth was set to embark on the "American Carnage" tour with Slayer
and Testament
, two of the largest bands of the thrash
and heavy metal
scene. The tour was scheduled to begin on January 18, but was ultimately postponed until later in the summer due to Tom Araya
's back surgery.
with the use of drums and flags in ancient war" and "This Day We Fight!
" drew inspiration from "an impassioned plea from Aragorn
to his loyal fighters in Lord of the Rings trilogy". "Head Crusher", on the other hand describes a medieval torture device
. "1,320" was written about nitro fuel
funny car
s. The title track was written "about a bill that ex-President George W. Bush
signed into law that gave him the power to put American citizens in detention centers here in the United States". "44 Minutes", described by Mustaine as having a "great lyric", is about the North Hollywood shootout
of 1997, and the title of the song itself is derived directly from the film 44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shoot-Out
(an FX Network original film that was based on the event.)
"The Hardest Part of Letting Go…Sealed With a Kiss" is, according to PopMatters
reviewer Adrien Begrand, a "twisted love [song]" Begrand describes "The Right to Go Insane" as "[Mustaine's] usual 'I’m slowly going nuts' shtick"., however, Mustaine stated that the song was "about having been wiped out, like so many Americans, from the recession and potential depression
years of 2000". Mustaine said that "Bite the Hand" was written "about the greed of the fiduciary leaders of the financial world and how they just didn't care about the responsibility they had to the public."
official website, a download of "Head Crusher" was available for 24 hours on July 7, starting at 11:00 AM Eastern Time Zone
(EDT) (the availability of the download ended the morning of July 8). The track was previously available for listening by calling Dave Mustaine's number through the TheLiveLine.com, a service he launched that enables musicians to connect to their audience over the phone. The song was eventually nominated for "Best Metal Performance" for the 52nd annual Grammy Awards – the band's first Grammy nomination since the 1997 song "Trust
" – and received a music video directed by Bill Fishman
.
The second single off the album was announced eight months later, and it was confirmed to be "The Right to Go Insane". A music video for "The Right to Go Insane" (roughly based on the story of Shawn Nelson
) was released in April 2010, making it the first video with David Ellefson
since his return to the band. The video premiered live at Austin, Texas on March 26 during their Rust in Peace
anniversary tour. The song hit position 34 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks.
said that the album is "their most reliable and proficient album since Rust in Peace
." She also noted that Megadeth "are once again asserting their right to be considered one of the best and most consistent heavy metal groups on the planet." Chad Bowar of About.com
awarded four and a half stars saying, "Megadeth is still at the top of their game. Endgame has some old-school moments, but also modern ones. 2007’s United Abominations garnered a lot of critical praise and was on many year-end best of lists that year... Endgame is even better." Allmusic's Eduardo Rivadavia said that "Megadeth's second release for Roadrunner, Endgame, whose title apparently refers to "coming full circle" rather than any sort of goodbye, and finds the latest iteration of Megadeth – debuting new guitarist Chris Broderick
(ex-Nevermore
, Jag Panzer
) – working primarily within their technical thrash comfort zone (think Peace Sells
through Rust in Peace), with only a few latter-day elements and rare experimental diversions."
Adrien Begrand of Popmatters
noted that "not a moment is wasted on Endgame" and said "it's all due to Mustaine sticking to his strengths, and with the extraordinarily talented Broderick as his new wingman, the record positively scorches with an intensity we haven’t heard since Rust in Peace. With its furious back-and-forth solos, opening instrumental 'Dialectic Chaos' wastes no time in showcasing that dynamic between Mustaine and Broderick, and combined with the pure speed of 'This Day We Fight!', longtime fans will be instantly reminded of the bracing 'Into the Lungs of Hell'/'Set the World Afire' one-two punch that kicks off 1988's great So Far, So Good... So What!
." Mark Eglinton of The Quietus
described the album as "a return to form" for Megadeth. Musician Slash
gave a favorable review to Endgame via twitter
.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by the American heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
. It was released via Roadrunner Records (the second of three Megadeth records) on September 9, 2009 and was produced by Dave Mustaine and Andy Sneap. Endgame was the first album featuring guitarist Chris Broderick
Chris Broderick
Christopher Broderick is the virtuoso guitarist of the American thrash metal band Megadeth. He currently resides in Sherman Oaks, California...
, following Glen Drover
Glen Drover
Glen Drover is a heavy metal guitarist from Missisauga, Ontario, Canada. He currently resides in MississaugaOntario. Drover is best known as the former lead guitarist in Megadeth and King Diamond, as well as his own band Eidolon, along with his brother Shawn Drover.-History:Glen Drover began...
's departure in 2008, and was the band's last studio album with bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
ist James LoMenzo
James Lomenzo
James "JLo" LoMenzo is a metal bassist known for his roles as a former member of White Lion and Megadeth. He is also known for his work in Black Label Society .-Past bands and other works :...
; original bassist Dave Ellefson would rejoin the band only several months after the album's release.
There are eleven tracks on the album, with lyrics inspired by subjects ranging from The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a high fantasy epic written by English philologist and University of Oxford professor J. R. R. Tolkien. The story began as a sequel to Tolkien's earlier, less complex children's fantasy novel The Hobbit , but eventually developed into a much larger work. It was written in...
and the Financial crisis of 2007–2010, to insanity
Insanity
Insanity, craziness or madness is a spectrum of behaviors characterized by certain abnormal mental or behavioral patterns. Insanity may manifest as violations of societal norms, including becoming a danger to themselves and others, though not all such acts are considered insanity...
, torture and crime. Two singles were released from the album: "The Right to Go Insane
The Right to Go Insane
"The Right to Go Insane" is a song by the American heavy metal band Megadeth, written by Dave Mustaine. It is the final track and second single from their twelfth studio album Endgame, which was released on September 15, 2009...
" and "Head Crusher
Head Crusher
"Head Crusher" is the first single from Megadeth's twelfth studio album, titled Endgame, which was released on September 15, 2009. The single was released on July 7, 2009. According to Roadrunner Records official website, a download of "Head Crusher" was available for 24-hours on July 7...
", the latter of which had been nominated for "Best Metal Performance" at the 52nd annual Grammy Awards
52nd Grammy Awards
The 52nd Annual Grammy Awards took place on January 31, 2010, at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Neil Young was honored as the 2010 MusiCares Person of the Year on January 29, two days prior to the Grammy telecast. Only ten of the 109 awards were received during the broadcast...
. Endgame entered the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
at number 9 (marking the band's tenth overall top 10 debut) and reached number 1 on the U.S. Top Hard Rock Albums chart, and as of April 2011 has sold around 150,000 copies in the U.S. The album received generally positive reviews from music critics, and was thought of continuing the success from the band's previous album, United Abominations
United Abominations
United Abominations is the eleventh studio album by the American heavy metal band Megadeth. Released on May 8, 2007, United Abominations is the first Megadeth release distributed through Roadrunner Records, and was recorded with an all new lineup excluding the band's singer, guitarist, songwriter,...
.
Writing and recording
The album was produced by Andy SneapAndy Sneap
Andy "Undie" Sneap is an English record producer, recording engineer, mixer, guitarist, and songwriter. He is best known for producing and mixing many acclaimed heavy metal albums.-Musician:...
, who also produced Megadeth's previous album, United Abominations
United Abominations
United Abominations is the eleventh studio album by the American heavy metal band Megadeth. Released on May 8, 2007, United Abominations is the first Megadeth release distributed through Roadrunner Records, and was recorded with an all new lineup excluding the band's singer, guitarist, songwriter,...
.
On May 27, 2009, Dave Mustaine confirmed 12 songs were complete and they were currently mixing and mastering the record. The first preview of music from Endgame was a six-minute video featuring Andy Sneap, describing the process of mixing the new Megadeth track "Head Crusher
Head Crusher
"Head Crusher" is the first single from Megadeth's twelfth studio album, titled Endgame, which was released on September 15, 2009. The single was released on July 7, 2009. According to Roadrunner Records official website, a download of "Head Crusher" was available for 24-hours on July 7...
" at his studio in Derbyshire, England
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
. In the video, Sneap had called the then-upcoming album "old-school". Endgame was recorded at the band's own personal studio, "Vic's Garage", in San Marcos, California
San Marcos, California
San Marcos is a suburb of San Diego in the North County section of San Diego County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 83,781. Outside the San Diego region, it is best known as the home of California State University, San Marcos...
. The tracklisting on was initially revealed on July 2, 2009, although several track titles were later shortened for the final release.
Dave Mustaine had said about the album: "It is fast, it is heavy, there is singing, yelling, speaking, and guest voices (maybe not singing – more like in "Captive Honour
Countdown to Extinction
Countdown to Extinction is the fifth studio album by the American heavy metal band Megadeth. It was released on July 14, 1992 through Capitol Records. Countdown to Extinction is Megadeth's best-selling album, eventually achieving double platinum status...
"), the soloing
Guitar solo
In popular music, a guitar solo is a melodic passage, section, or entire piece of music written for an electric guitar or an acoustic guitar. Guitar solos, which often contain varying degrees of improvisation, are used in many styles of popular music such as blues, jazz, rock and metal styles such...
is insane."
Title
On the September 10, 2009 edition of the Alex Jones Show, Jones suggested that the title and cover of Endgame was inspired by the documentary EndgameEndgame (2007 film)
Endgame: Blueprint for Global Enslavement is a 2007 American documentary film written and directed by Alex Jones.-Subject matter:In the documentary, director Jones describes the Bilderberg Group, tracking them to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their private meetings and reveals an alleged...
, which he wrote and directed. Jones stated that he had sent Dave Mustaine
Dave Mustaine
David Scott "Dave" Mustaine is the founder, main songwriter, guitarist, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Megadeth. Prior to Megadeth, Mustaine was the first lead guitarist and a co-songwriter of the heavy metal band Metallica until he was fired from the band in 1983. In 2009, he...
a copy of the film after an appearance on the Alex Jones Show in 2008. It was later confirmed by Dave Mustaine in a subsequent appearance on the Jones' show that the album name was inspired by the Endgame documentary.
Release and promotion
As of May 19, Megadeth had finished recording the album and on June 18, the album title was revealed to be Endgame. The cover artwork was officially released onto the internet on July 27, 2009. John Lorenzi, who designed the cover for the previous album, United Abominations, returned to design the album cover for Endgame The release date for Endgame was announced on the Megadeth official website as September 15, 2009, and Metal HammerMetal Hammer
Metal Hammer is a monthly heavy metal music magazine published in the United Kingdom by Future Publishing, and in several other countries by different publishers. Metal Hammer articles feature both mainstream bands and more unusual acts from the whole spectrum of heavy metal music...
magazine's website were the first to review the album track by track. A week after its release, the album had sold 45,000 copies in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and 8,200 copies in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, debuting at number nine on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, falling down one place from when United Abominations debuted at number eight in 2007. The album also placed as #1 on the Hard Rock Albums chart and #2 on the Rock Albums chart.
On May 10, 2009 Dave Mustaine announced on TheLiveLine that some music from Megadeth would appear in the film Land of the Lost
Land of the Lost (film)
Land of the Lost is a 2009 American science-fiction comedy film directed by Brad Silberling and starring Will Ferrell, Danny McBride and Anna Friel, based on the 1974 Sid and Marty Krofft TV series of the same name.-Plot:...
to raise awareness for Endgame. Whether this would be music from the new record was not entirely clear, however during the message Mustaine left on TheLiveLine, it was stated that there was new music playing in the background of the message. Ultimately, parts of the song "The Right To Go Insane", can be heard near the end of the film. Another song from the album, "This Day We Fight!
This Day We Fight!
"This Day We Fight!" is a song by the American heavy metal band Megadeth, which appears on their twelfth studio album Endgame, which was released on September 15, 2009, written by frontman Dave Mustaine...
", was featured as a playable song on Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock
Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock
Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock is a music video game and the sixth main entry in the Guitar Hero series for the PlayStation 3, Wii, and Xbox 360 consoles. The game was released September 24, 2010 in Europe, September 28, 2010 in North America and September 29, 2010 in Australia...
. As part of the promotion for Endgame, Megadeth made an appearance on the September 17, 2009 edition of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jimmy Fallon on NBC. The show premiered on March 2, 2009, as the third incarnation of the Late Night franchise originated by David Letterman....
, performing "Head Crusher".
Megadeth started touring in November 2009 in support of the album in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
and ended on December 13, in Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. The Tour featured Machine Head
Machine Head (band)
Machine Head is an American heavy metal band from Oakland, California. Formed on October 12, 1991, the group was founded by Robb Flynn and Adam Duce. There have been 4 member changes since their inception. The current lineup of the band comprises Flynn , Duce , ex-Vio-Lence guitarist Phil Demmel ,...
, Suicide Silence
Suicide Silence
Suicide Silence is an American extreme metal band from Riverside, California. The group consists of vocalist Mitch Lucker, guitarists Chris Garza and Mark Heylmun, drummer Alex Lopez and bassist Dan Kenny. Formed in 2002, the band has released three full-length studio albums, one EP and seven music...
, Warbringer
Warbringer
Warbringer is an American thrash metal band. The band formed in 2004. Warbringer is signed to Century Media Records. Century Media signed Warbringer after seeing them at a local show in LA. Originally, a Century Media rep was at the show to see another LA thrash metal band but decided to sign...
, and Arcanium. In January 2010, Megadeth was set to embark on the "American Carnage" tour with Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
and Testament
Testament (band)
Testament is an American metal band from Berkeley, California, formed in 1983. They are often credited as one of the most popular bands of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
, two of the largest bands of the thrash
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
and heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
scene. The tour was scheduled to begin on January 18, but was ultimately postponed until later in the summer due to Tom Araya
Tom Araya
Tom Araya is a Chilean musician, best known as the bassist and vocalist of the American thrash metal band Slayer...
's back surgery.
Songs
Endgames lyrical themes are diverse. Mustaine has said that "How The Story Ends" was about "warrior creed from the great Sun TzuSun Tzu
Sun Wu , style name Changqing , better known as Sun Tzu or Sunzi , was an ancient Chinese military general, strategist and philosopher who is traditionally believed, and who is most likely, to have authored The Art of War, an influential ancient Chinese book on military strategy...
with the use of drums and flags in ancient war" and "This Day We Fight!
This Day We Fight!
"This Day We Fight!" is a song by the American heavy metal band Megadeth, which appears on their twelfth studio album Endgame, which was released on September 15, 2009, written by frontman Dave Mustaine...
" drew inspiration from "an impassioned plea from Aragorn
Aragorn
Aragorn II is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, one of the main protagonists of The Lord of the Rings. He is first introduced by the name Strider, which the hobbits continue to call him...
to his loyal fighters in Lord of the Rings trilogy". "Head Crusher", on the other hand describes a medieval torture device
Head crusher
-Use:The metal device featured a plate that sat below the victims' jaw, which was connected by a frame to the head cap. The cap could be screwed down at the whim of the torturer.-Results:...
. "1,320" was written about nitro fuel
Nitro engine
A nitro engine generally refers to an engine powered with a fuel that contains some portion of nitromethane mixed with methanol. Nitromethane is highly combustible substance that is generally only used in very specifically designed or modified engines.Nitro engines used for R/C models are highly...
funny car
Funny Car
Funny Car is a drag racing car class. In the United States, other "professional" classes are Top Fuel, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle. Funny cars have forward-mounted engines and carbon fiber automotive bodies over the chassis, giving them an appearance vaguely approximating manufacturers'...
s. The title track was written "about a bill that ex-President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
signed into law that gave him the power to put American citizens in detention centers here in the United States". "44 Minutes", described by Mustaine as having a "great lyric", is about the North Hollywood shootout
North Hollywood shootout
The North Hollywood shootout was an armed confrontation between two heavily armed bank robbers and officers of the Los Angeles Police Department in the North Hollywood district of Los Angeles on February 28, 1997...
of 1997, and the title of the song itself is derived directly from the film 44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shoot-Out
44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shoot-Out
44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shoot-Out is a 2003 American film directed by Yves Simoneau. The film premiered on the FX Network in June 2003.-Plot:...
(an FX Network original film that was based on the event.)
"The Hardest Part of Letting Go…Sealed With a Kiss" is, according to PopMatters
PopMatters
PopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...
reviewer Adrien Begrand, a "twisted love [song]" Begrand describes "The Right to Go Insane" as "[Mustaine's] usual 'I’m slowly going nuts' shtick"., however, Mustaine stated that the song was "about having been wiped out, like so many Americans, from the recession and potential depression
Depression (economics)
In economics, a depression is a sustained, long-term downturn in economic activity in one or more economies. It is a more severe downturn than a recession, which is seen by some economists as part of the modern business cycle....
years of 2000". Mustaine said that "Bite the Hand" was written "about the greed of the fiduciary leaders of the financial world and how they just didn't care about the responsibility they had to the public."
Singles
The album's lead single was "Head Crusher". According to Roadrunner RecordsRoadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records is an American record label that concentrates primarily on heavy metal bands. It is currently a subsidiary of Warner Music Group.-History:...
official website, a download of "Head Crusher" was available for 24 hours on July 7, starting at 11:00 AM Eastern Time Zone
Eastern Time Zone
The Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
(EDT) (the availability of the download ended the morning of July 8). The track was previously available for listening by calling Dave Mustaine's number through the TheLiveLine.com, a service he launched that enables musicians to connect to their audience over the phone. The song was eventually nominated for "Best Metal Performance" for the 52nd annual Grammy Awards – the band's first Grammy nomination since the 1997 song "Trust
Trust (Megadeth song)
"Trust" is the first song on Megadeth's seventh studio album Cryptic Writings. It was released on May 8, 1997 in both English and Spanish language versions...
" – and received a music video directed by Bill Fishman
Bill Fishman
Bill Fishman is an American film director, whose work includes the cult film Tapeheads, starring Tim Robbins and John Cusack, as well as the film version of the TV classic Car 54, Where Are You?...
.
The second single off the album was announced eight months later, and it was confirmed to be "The Right to Go Insane". A music video for "The Right to Go Insane" (roughly based on the story of Shawn Nelson
Shawn Nelson
Shawn Timothy Nelson was a U.S. Army veteran and unemployed plumber who stole a M60 Patton tank from a United States National Guard Armory in San Diego, California and went on a rampage on May 18, 1995, destroying cars, fire hydrants, and an RV before being shot by police.-Prior to the...
) was released in April 2010, making it the first video with David Ellefson
David Ellefson
David Warren "Dave" Ellefson is a bassist and founding member of the American thrash metal band Megadeth. He also goes by "Junior." He currently resides in Scottsdale, Arizona...
since his return to the band. The video premiered live at Austin, Texas on March 26 during their Rust in Peace
Rust in Peace
Rust in Peace is the fourth studio album by American heavy metal band Megadeth. Released on September 24, 1990, it was the third Megadeth album distributed through Capitol Records. The album was the band's only collaboration with record producer Mike Clink who was the first producer to...
anniversary tour. The song hit position 34 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks.
Critical reception
Endgame received generally positive reviews from critics. Stephanie Burkett from BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
said that the album is "their most reliable and proficient album since Rust in Peace
Rust in Peace
Rust in Peace is the fourth studio album by American heavy metal band Megadeth. Released on September 24, 1990, it was the third Megadeth album distributed through Capitol Records. The album was the band's only collaboration with record producer Mike Clink who was the first producer to...
." She also noted that Megadeth "are once again asserting their right to be considered one of the best and most consistent heavy metal groups on the planet." Chad Bowar of About.com
About.com
About.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
awarded four and a half stars saying, "Megadeth is still at the top of their game. Endgame has some old-school moments, but also modern ones. 2007’s United Abominations garnered a lot of critical praise and was on many year-end best of lists that year... Endgame is even better." Allmusic's Eduardo Rivadavia said that "Megadeth's second release for Roadrunner, Endgame, whose title apparently refers to "coming full circle" rather than any sort of goodbye, and finds the latest iteration of Megadeth – debuting new guitarist Chris Broderick
Chris Broderick
Christopher Broderick is the virtuoso guitarist of the American thrash metal band Megadeth. He currently resides in Sherman Oaks, California...
(ex-Nevermore
Nevermore
Nevermore is an American heavy metal band from Seattle, Washington. Formed in 1991, they are known to incorporate elements from styles such as thrash, power, progressive, and neo-classical metal into their songs, and also makes use of acoustic guitars and a wide range of vocal styles.-Early years...
, Jag Panzer
Jag Panzer
Jag Panzer were an American power metal band from Colorado Springs, Colorado.-Biography:Jag Panzer came together in late 1981, being inspired by the onslaught of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal...
) – working primarily within their technical thrash comfort zone (think Peace Sells
Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?
-25th Anniversary 2-CD reissue:-25th Anniversary box set:Disc 5 contains both the original album, and the above listed 1987 show in hi-resolution audio....
through Rust in Peace), with only a few latter-day elements and rare experimental diversions."
Adrien Begrand of Popmatters
PopMatters
PopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...
noted that "not a moment is wasted on Endgame" and said "it's all due to Mustaine sticking to his strengths, and with the extraordinarily talented Broderick as his new wingman, the record positively scorches with an intensity we haven’t heard since Rust in Peace. With its furious back-and-forth solos, opening instrumental 'Dialectic Chaos' wastes no time in showcasing that dynamic between Mustaine and Broderick, and combined with the pure speed of 'This Day We Fight!', longtime fans will be instantly reminded of the bracing 'Into the Lungs of Hell'/'Set the World Afire' one-two punch that kicks off 1988's great So Far, So Good... So What!
So Far, So Good... So What!
- 2004 bonus tracks :† The intro makes use of a sample from The Ink Spots' 1941 song "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire"- Personnel :- Charts :-RIAA Certifications:- External links :*...
." Mark Eglinton of The Quietus
The Quietus
The Quietus is a British online rock music and pop culture magazine, focusing on arts news, reviews, and features. The site is an editorially independent publication led by John Doran and a group of freelance journalists and critics, some of whom have worked for other media outlets...
described the album as "a return to form" for Megadeth. Musician Slash
Slash (musician)
Saul Hudson , known by his stage name Slash, is a British-American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the former lead guitarist of the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. During his later years with Guns N'...
gave a favorable review to Endgame via twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
.
Track listing
Chart positions
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
9 |
| Top Rock Albums | 2 |
| Top Digital Albums | 10 |
| Top Hard Rock Albums | 1 |
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
24 |
| Australian Albums Chart | 11 |
| Austrian Albums Chart | 22 |
| Canadian Albums Chart | 4 |
| Finnish Albums Chart | 7 |
| German Albums Chart | 21 |
| Ireland Albums Chart | 27 |
| Italian Albums Chart | 26 |
| New Zealand Albums Chart | 17 |
| Norway Albums Chart | 15 |
| Poland Albums Chart | 19 |
| Switzerland Albums Chart | 32 |
| Swedish Albums Chart | 17 |
Personnel
Megadeth
|
Additional musicians
|
Production
|