United Abominations
Encyclopedia
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, and frontman Dave Mustaine
. While touring to promote the album, guitarist Glen Drover
left the band for personal reasons and was replaced by Chris Broderick
, leaving this as the only Megadeth studio album to which he contibuted.
United Abominations was well received by critics and debuted at number eight on the Billboard 200
, the highest chart position for the band since 1994's Youthanasia
. Greg Prato of Allmusic stated Megadeth "sound reborn" on United Abominations. The lyrics of the album deal with politics and the state the world is in, with Ed Thompson of IGN
stated the album is the band's most politically charged. The album was named the number one metal album of 2007 by Guitar World
.
. The band had troubles with music rights involving two former labels that carried Megadeth, Capitol
and Sanctuary Records
. This is the first Megadeth album since the 2004 album The System Has Failed
, which was released through Sanctuary. While on tour to support The System Has Failed, Megadeth frontman, guitarist, and vocalist Dave Mustaine
contemplated breaking up Megadeth to record as a solo artist. At a sold-out concert in Buenos Aires
, Mustaine stated the band would stay together. The show in Buenos Aires, at which this information was announced, was recorded and released on CD and DVD as That One Night: Live in Buenos Aires
.
Megadeth had a new band lineup, aside from Mustaine, comprising Glen Drover
(guitar), James LoMenzo
(bass guitar), and Shawn Drover
(drums). Mustaine chose these people for full time members rather than session musicians. He stated that he liked the Drovers' "sibling chemistry" and Lomenzo is a "legend".
. When bassist James Lomenzo
was asked about the lyrics of the album, he said to "talk to Dave about that". Although most of the band had no writing credits on the album, they stated that they were excited about recording the music.
United Abominations was recorded in 2006 at SARM Hook End Studios, London
, England; the Steakhouse, Studio City, California
; Big Fish Encinitas, California and Backstage Productions. Additional overdubs
were recorded at S.I.R. rehearsal studio, Hollywood, California and Mustaine Music, Fallbrook
, California. Most of the record was tracked in England because frontman Dave Mustaine
admired the fact that his favorite band, Led Zeppelin
, previously recorded there many times. Mustaine produced the album, with additional production handled by Jeff Balding
and Andy Sneap
.
Track 8, "À Tout le Monde (Set Me Free)", is a remake of "À Tout le Monde
" originally appearing on the 1994 album Youthanasia
. The song is a more uptempo version of the original song, and features Lacuna Coil
vocalist Cristina Scabbia
singing backing vocals. Scabbia stated she was "really surprised about it because 'À Tout Le Monde' is a song that I've always loved. It was a big surprise for me to get this invitation —I was really honored to be part of it." Mustaine chose Scabbia over three other choices because of her "reign in the heavy-metal business". Mustaine later stated that he originally intended for the song to be a B-side for Japan, but the president of Roadrunner Records (Megadeth's label for this release) wanted "À Tout le Monde (Set Me Free)" released as the album's first single.
The song "Gears of War
" is featured on the soundtrack to the video game of the same name
. Initially, the song had no lyrics; however, Microsoft
approached Megadeth, asking to use the song in Gears of War. The band accepted the offer and wrote lyrics for the song, but it was too late to use the lyrics in the version for the video game, as the game was near completion.
. The contestants were asked to design a new version of Vic Rattlehead
, the band mascot which appears on nearly every Megadeth album cover. Mustaine chose from the top 11 finalists to be included in the CD booklet. The cover was unveiled in August 2006, of which the image depicts the United Nations headquarters
in flames and being destroyed by flying oil barrels. Vic Rattlehead
(the Megadeth mascot) and the 'Angel of Deth' are pictured in the foreground. Although the cover of the CD was not the winner of the contest, Mustaine chose it as his favorite picture, and wanted it for the cover. No photographs of the band were taken for the CD booklet, leaving the entire design as fan-made artwork.
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United Abominations was originally set for an October 2006 release, but with the scheduled release date rapidly approaching, Mustaine told Billboard magazine in August 2006, "We're putting the finishing touches on it. We've got a little more work before it's finished, but it should be out some time next year." The completed album was leaked on to the internet in April 2007 and the first official pressing of the album was released exclusively in Japan on May 8 and contained a cover
of the 1970 Led Zeppelin
song "Out on the Tiles
". The album was released internationally with a missing track on May 15, and a day later in the United States. A week after its release in the United States, the album had sold nearly 60,000 copies in the first week and debuted at number eight on the Billboard 200
, 10 places higher than the band's previous album, 2004s The System Has Failed
. The album debuted at number two in Finland, five in Canada, and the top 30 in seven other countries.
Megadeth started touring in March 2007 in support of the album in Canada opening for Heaven & Hell and Down
, followed by a North American tour opening for Heaven and Hell and touring with Machine Head
. On this tour, which lasted until May, the band debuted the songs "Gears Of War", "Washington Is Next!" and "Sleepwalker". After the Heaven and Hell tour, Megadeth started the worldwide Tour of Duty, which lasted until March 2008. Megadeth also toured in Australia on Gigantour with Static-X
, DevilDriver
, Lacuna Coil
, and Bring Me the Horizon as supporting acts. At one concert in Australia and in Italy (Milan), Cristina Scabbia
performed on stage with Megadeth for "À Tout le Monde (Set Me Free)".
said the album "is an unabashedly guitar-driven album, stuffed with riffs and leads coming from all directions. The sense of explosive instrumentation under precise control that was a hallmark of early Megadeth efforts is back, which means that Megadeth, in many ways, is back too." About.com
reviewer Chad Bowar stated the album "is the best Megadeth album in at least a decade." Greg Prato of Allmusic praised the album, stating "Megadeth's crunchy, venomous thrash has remained intact. Megadeth were never afraid to show off their prog-worthy chops, and the 2007 lineup appears custom-made for tackling 'tricky bits'. Mustaine and company certainly sound reborn." Rolling Stone
reviewer Evan Serpick noted a downside to the album, stating it sounded too much like all of the band's previous albums. Ed Thompson of IGN
praised the album and its political lyrics, saying "cranks out so much attitude, so much opinion, and so much firebranded speech that the album could be mistaken for a political rally." Commenting on the Megadeth's new lineup, Jon Weiderhorn from MTV
said "Once again, the system is fully operational." United Abominations was voted the best metal album of 2007 by the reader's poll in the June 2008 issue of Guitar World
and the Brave Pick of 2007 by Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles
.
On July 10, 2007, a rebuttal was posted by Mark Leon Goldberg on the United Nations
affairs blog against the accusations made in the title track of the album, "United Abominations". Goldberg reviewed the song verse-by-verse, pointing out what he believed were false accusations. The blog stated that "we at UN Dispatch refuse to let Megadeth's witless screed go unchallenged. We listened [to the song] so you don't have to".
Bonus track (pre-ordered copies)
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...
. Released on May 8, 2007, United Abominations is the first Megadeth release distributed through Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner 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:...
, and was recorded with an all new lineup excluding the band's singer, guitarist, songwriter, and frontman 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...
. While touring to promote the album, guitarist 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...
left the band for personal reasons and was replaced by Chris Broderick
Chris Broderick
Christopher Broderick is the virtuoso guitarist of the American thrash metal band Megadeth. He currently resides in Sherman Oaks, California...
, leaving this as the only Megadeth studio album to which he contibuted.
United Abominations was well received by critics and debuted at number eight 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...
, the highest chart position for the band since 1994's Youthanasia
Youthanasia
Youthanasia is the sixth studio album by American heavy metal band Megadeth, released on November 1, 1994 through Capitol Records. A remixed and remastered version, featuring several bonus tracks, was released in 2004....
. Greg Prato of Allmusic stated Megadeth "sound reborn" on United Abominations. The lyrics of the album deal with politics and the state the world is in, with Ed Thompson of IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
stated the album is the band's most politically charged. The album was named the number one metal album of 2007 by Guitar World
Guitar World
Guitar World is a monthly music magazine devoted to guitarists. It contains original interviews, album and gear reviews and guitar and bass tablature of approximately five songs each month. The magazine is published 13 times per year...
.
Background
Prior to the release of United Abominations, Megadeth signed a recording contract with 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:...
. The band had troubles with music rights involving two former labels that carried Megadeth, Capitol
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
and Sanctuary Records
Sanctuary Records
Sanctuary Records Group Limited was a record label based in the United Kingdom and a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. Until June 2007, it was the largest independent record label in the UK and the largest independent music management company in the world...
. This is the first Megadeth album since the 2004 album The System Has Failed
The System Has Failed
-Songs:* "Blackmail the Universe" has numerous quotes from the movie Thirteen Days, which was about the Cuban Missile Crisis.* "Die Dead Enough" was released as a single, and was originally set to be featured in the movie Saw, but it was not used for undisclosed reasons.* "The Scorpion" was...
, which was released through Sanctuary. While on tour to support The System Has Failed, Megadeth frontman, guitarist, and vocalist 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...
contemplated breaking up Megadeth to record as a solo artist. At a sold-out concert in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Mustaine stated the band would stay together. The show in Buenos Aires, at which this information was announced, was recorded and released on CD and DVD as That One Night: Live in Buenos Aires
That One Night: Live in Buenos Aires
-Disc 2:-Unreleased songs from the performance:#"The Scorpion"#"Train of Consequences"#"Of Mice and Men"#"Sweating Bullets"-Personnel:*Dave Mustaine - Rhythm and lead guitar, Lead vocals*Glen Drover - Lead and rhythm guitar, Backing vocals...
.
Megadeth had a new band lineup, aside from Mustaine, comprising 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...
(guitar), 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 :...
(bass guitar), and Shawn Drover
Shawn Drover
Shawn Drover is a Canadian drummer, best-known for his work with the heavy metal band Megadeth....
(drums). Mustaine chose these people for full time members rather than session musicians. He stated that he liked the Drovers' "sibling chemistry" and Lomenzo is a "legend".
Writing and recording
Mustaine stated he did not "go into making this record with any pre-conceived notions". He said some of the lyrics on United Abominations were written about his frustration with his past record labels, stating "a lot of that translated into the intensity on the record." Mustaine wrote the songs for the album in an attempt to "stir something in the minds of the listener". The lyrics of the album were mostly about choices the American government were making at the time, which Mustaine found to be foolish. Mustaine stated recording the new songs was "super fun", despite having troubles with some of the complex music and vocal arrangements. All of the lyrics and music, with the exception of one song, were written by Mustaine. "Never Walk Alone... A Call to Arms" was co-written by Mustaine and guitarist Glen DroverGlen 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...
. When bassist 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 :...
was asked about the lyrics of the album, he said to "talk to Dave about that". Although most of the band had no writing credits on the album, they stated that they were excited about recording the music.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England; the Steakhouse, Studio City, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
; Big Fish Encinitas, California and Backstage Productions. Additional overdubs
Overdubbing
Overdubbing is a technique used by recording studios to add a supplementary recorded sound to a previously recorded performance....
were recorded at S.I.R. rehearsal studio, Hollywood, California and Mustaine Music, Fallbrook
Fallbrook, California
Fallbrook is an unincorporated community in northern San Diego County, California. The Fallbrook census-designated place population was 30,534 at the 2010 census, up from 29,100 at the 2000 census....
, California. Most of the record was tracked in England because frontman 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...
admired the fact that his favorite band, Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
, previously recorded there many times. Mustaine produced the album, with additional production handled by Jeff Balding
Jeff Balding
Jeff Balding is an American audio engineer, mixer and record producer. Primarily known for his work with country music acts such as Faith Hill, Trace Adkins, and LeAnn Rimes, Balding has also worked with top rock acts such as Megadeth and Giant, as well as pop stars such as Amy Grant and Celine...
and Andy Sneap
Andy 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:...
.
Track 8, "À Tout le Monde (Set Me Free)", is a remake of "À Tout le Monde
À Tout le Monde
"À Tout le Monde" is the fourth song on Megadeth's sixth studio album Youthanasia, released as a single in 1995. In 2007, a re-arrangement titled "À Tout le Monde " featuring Cristina Scabbia of Italian band Lacuna Coil was released as the second single from the band's album United...
" originally appearing on the 1994 album Youthanasia
Youthanasia
Youthanasia is the sixth studio album by American heavy metal band Megadeth, released on November 1, 1994 through Capitol Records. A remixed and remastered version, featuring several bonus tracks, was released in 2004....
. The song is a more uptempo version of the original song, and features Lacuna Coil
Lacuna Coil
Lacuna Coil is an Italian gothic metal band from Milan. Formed in 1994, the group has had two name changes since being previously known as Sleep of Right and Ethereal and was inspired by the combination of gothic imagery and music...
vocalist Cristina Scabbia
Cristina Scabbia
Cristina Adriana Chiara Scabbia is an Italian singer, best known as one of the two vocalists in the Italian gothic metal band Lacuna Coil. She also writes an advice column in the popular rock magazine Revolver, alongside musician Vinnie Paul. Scabbia is featured in a Megadeth song, "À Tout le...
singing backing vocals. Scabbia stated she was "really surprised about it because 'À Tout Le Monde' is a song that I've always loved. It was a big surprise for me to get this invitation —I was really honored to be part of it." Mustaine chose Scabbia over three other choices because of her "reign in the heavy-metal business". Mustaine later stated that he originally intended for the song to be a B-side for Japan, but the president of Roadrunner Records (Megadeth's label for this release) wanted "À Tout le Monde (Set Me Free)" released as the album's first single.
The song "Gears of War
Gears of War (song)
"Gears of War" is the fifth track on the Megadeth album United Abominations. Dave Mustaine was inspired to write the song by the Xbox 360 video game of the same name, as stated in a 2007 podcast interview with Major Nelson. The song was first played on October 17, 2006 in Nagoya, Japan. The song...
" is featured on the soundtrack to the video game of the same name
Gears of War
Gears of War is a military science fiction third-person shooter video game developed by Epic Games and published by Microsoft Game Studios...
. Initially, the song had no lyrics; however, Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
approached Megadeth, asking to use the song in Gears of War. The band accepted the offer and wrote lyrics for the song, but it was too late to use the lyrics in the version for the video game, as the game was near completion.
Album artwork
All artwork for the album was selected from a contest held by DeviantArtDeviantArt
deviantART is an online community showcasing various forms of user-made artwork. It was first launched on August 7, 2000 by Scott Jarkoff, Matthew Stephens, Angelo Sotira and others. deviantArt, Inc...
. The contestants were asked to design a new version of Vic Rattlehead
Vic Rattlehead
Vic Rattlehead is the mascot of the heavy metal band Megadeth. Vic is a skeletal figure who embodies the phrase, "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil." His eyes are covered by a riveted-on visor, his mouth is clamped shut, and his ears are closed with metal caps.His image appears on several...
, the band mascot which appears on nearly every Megadeth album cover. Mustaine chose from the top 11 finalists to be included in the CD booklet. The cover was unveiled in August 2006, of which the image depicts the United Nations headquarters
United Nations headquarters
The headquarters of the United Nations is a complex in New York City. The complex has served as the official headquarters of the United Nations since its completion in 1952. It is located in the Turtle Bay neighborhood of Manhattan, on spacious grounds overlooking the East River...
in flames and being destroyed by flying oil barrels. Vic Rattlehead
Vic Rattlehead
Vic Rattlehead is the mascot of the heavy metal band Megadeth. Vic is a skeletal figure who embodies the phrase, "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil." His eyes are covered by a riveted-on visor, his mouth is clamped shut, and his ears are closed with metal caps.His image appears on several...
(the Megadeth mascot) and the 'Angel of Deth' are pictured in the foreground. Although the cover of the CD was not the winner of the contest, Mustaine chose it as his favorite picture, and wanted it for the cover. No photographs of the band were taken for the CD booklet, leaving the entire design as fan-made artwork.
Release and promotion
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of the 1970 Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
song "Out on the Tiles
Out on the Tiles
"Out on the Tiles" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin, from the 1970 album Led Zeppelin III. The title of the song is derived from the British phrase for going out for a night on the town. Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham would talk about going "out on the tiles," meaning to go to bars,...
". The album was released internationally with a missing track on May 15, and a day later in the United States. A week after its release in the United States, the album had sold nearly 60,000 copies in the first week and debuted at number eight 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...
, 10 places higher than the band's previous album, 2004s The System Has Failed
The System Has Failed
-Songs:* "Blackmail the Universe" has numerous quotes from the movie Thirteen Days, which was about the Cuban Missile Crisis.* "Die Dead Enough" was released as a single, and was originally set to be featured in the movie Saw, but it was not used for undisclosed reasons.* "The Scorpion" was...
. The album debuted at number two in Finland, five in Canada, and the top 30 in seven other countries.
Megadeth started touring in March 2007 in support of the album in Canada opening for Heaven & Hell and Down
Down (band)
Down is an American heavy metal supergroup that formed in 1991 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The band's current lineup consists of vocalist Phil Anselmo, guitarist Pepper Keenan, guitarist Kirk Windstein, bassist Pat Bruders and drummer Jimmy Bower. Since their formation, Down has gone on hiatus twice...
, followed by a North American tour opening for Heaven and Hell and touring with 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 ,...
. On this tour, which lasted until May, the band debuted the songs "Gears Of War", "Washington Is Next!" and "Sleepwalker". After the Heaven and Hell tour, Megadeth started the worldwide Tour of Duty, which lasted until March 2008. Megadeth also toured in Australia on Gigantour with Static-X
Static-X
Static-X is an American industrial metal band from Los Angeles, California. They were formed in 1994. They are signed to Warner Bros. Records and have released six albums, their most recent being Cult of Static, which was released on March 17, 2009....
, DevilDriver
DevilDriver
DevilDriver is an American heavy metal band from Santa Barbara, California, formed in 2002. The band was originally named Deathride, however, due to copyright issues and the name being taken by several bands, Deathride changed its name to DevilDriver, which refers to bells Italian witches used to...
, Lacuna Coil
Lacuna Coil
Lacuna Coil is an Italian gothic metal band from Milan. Formed in 1994, the group has had two name changes since being previously known as Sleep of Right and Ethereal and was inspired by the combination of gothic imagery and music...
, and Bring Me the Horizon as supporting acts. At one concert in Australia and in Italy (Milan), Cristina Scabbia
Cristina Scabbia
Cristina Adriana Chiara Scabbia is an Italian singer, best known as one of the two vocalists in the Italian gothic metal band Lacuna Coil. She also writes an advice column in the popular rock magazine Revolver, alongside musician Vinnie Paul. Scabbia is featured in a Megadeth song, "À Tout le...
performed on stage with Megadeth for "À Tout le Monde (Set Me Free)".
Critical reception
United Abominations received generally positive reviews, and was thought of as a return to form for Megadeth by critics. Don Kaye of Blabbermouth.netBlabbermouth.net
Blabbermouth.net is a website dedicated to heavy metal and hard rock news, as well as album and music DVD reviews. Blabbermouth.net was founded and is run by Borivoj Krgin. The first version of the website was officially launched in March 2001...
said the album "is an unabashedly guitar-driven album, stuffed with riffs and leads coming from all directions. The sense of explosive instrumentation under precise control that was a hallmark of early Megadeth efforts is back, which means that Megadeth, in many ways, is back too." 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....
reviewer Chad Bowar stated the album "is the best Megadeth album in at least a decade." Greg Prato of Allmusic praised the album, stating "Megadeth's crunchy, venomous thrash has remained intact. Megadeth were never afraid to show off their prog-worthy chops, and the 2007 lineup appears custom-made for tackling 'tricky bits'. Mustaine and company certainly sound reborn." Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
reviewer Evan Serpick noted a downside to the album, stating it sounded too much like all of the band's previous albums. Ed Thompson of IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
praised the album and its political lyrics, saying "cranks out so much attitude, so much opinion, and so much firebranded speech that the album could be mistaken for a political rally." Commenting on the Megadeth's new lineup, Jon Weiderhorn from MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
said "Once again, the system is fully operational." United Abominations was voted the best metal album of 2007 by the reader's poll in the June 2008 issue of Guitar World
Guitar World
Guitar World is a monthly music magazine devoted to guitarists. It contains original interviews, album and gear reviews and guitar and bass tablature of approximately five songs each month. The magazine is published 13 times per year...
and the Brave Pick of 2007 by Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles
Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles
-External links:* *...
.
On July 10, 2007, a rebuttal was posted by Mark Leon Goldberg on the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
affairs blog against the accusations made in the title track of the album, "United Abominations". Goldberg reviewed the song verse-by-verse, pointing out what he believed were false accusations. The blog stated that "we at UN Dispatch refuse to let Megadeth's witless screed go unchallenged. We listened [to the song] so you don't have to".
Track listing
Bonus track (Japan pressing)Bonus track (pre-ordered copies)
Personnel
Megadeth
|
Additional musicians and guests
|
Production
|
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... |
8 |
| UK Top 40 | 23 |
| Swedish Top 60 | 15 |
| Australia | 23 |
| Austria | 17 |
| Canada | 5 |
| Germany | 28 |
| Finland | 2 |
| Italy | 24 |
| Ireland | 31 |
| Netherlands | 49 |
| Norway | 21 |
| Switzerland | 38 |
| Japan | 9 |