This new album is a great mix of Megadeths whole career so far, with strong lyrical views and such just as older Megadeth albums.
As with the system has failed theres a strong Iraq/Afghanistan theme going on, maybe almost too heavily- about half the album is purely Afghanistan/US relationships, which gets a bit tedious. For anyone who isn't from the US, its gunna lose some of its appeal a tad due to its strong patriotism. Singing wise and levels/sound wise its similar to The System Has Failed.
Great tracks include tracks 2, 3, and 4, the other tracks will probably become greater with age. Track 3 is a great example of the album- classic Megadeth, but then a nice breakdown that reminds you that Megadeth have always adapted to keep up with current times, if not be ahead of them, with the almost Avenged Sevenfold esque segments. Track 4 has a really great typically simple but greatly dynamic riff for the verse.
This leads me to the one major dig at the album... Track 8 is a real fan splitter, its the remake of A Tout Le Monde, and by remake I don't just mean re-mixed, its a completely redone version with that Scabbia woman from Lacuna coil doing backup vocals. Firstly I'll just say that I'm sure its a good song if you didn't hear the original first, but compared to the original its crap! You'll notice when the song starts that its slightly faster, really uncomfortable, then you'll realise Mustaines voice isn't half as good at the smooth tone as it was back in those days. Next the Scabbia woman from Lacuna coil, she only sings 1 line, but does backing in other segments- its just odd, and I'm sure shes just there to increase record sales for that song (which I hear will be thier next single from the album). Finally the solo, it starts differently, then goes into the old one, so its very disorientating, as it just doesn't flow as well as the original. I'd just say skip this track if your a Megadeth fan, else listen to it- I'm sure its actually a great song. But enough digging on that song!
On the rest of the album the solos from Mustaine are typical, but the other lead guitarist has really let loose on this album, almost in attempt to rival Friedman (though his usage of notes is just incredible). But yer, the solos really shred it up, going faster than ever it seems; theres even some sweep picking arpeggios in there!
As a conclusion of the album as a whole, its definitely a must for fans, and I think this album will see Megadeth climb back into the ranks of more front line metal, rather than sitting on a high up perch behind the bands of today. I think even the cover kind of gives a really good hint that Megadeth have evolved yet again, and have managed to pull it off successfully. Better than System has Failed, not as good as Rust in Peace or Youthanasia.