Riff Retrospective: Megadeth's Youthanasia
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- Опубліковано 12 січ 2025
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Its time for a brand new Riff Retrospective with Uncle Ben Eller! This time, we are gonna be talking about possibly the most underrated Megadeth album of all time: Youthanasia , from 1994!
This record has INCREDIBLE production, some of Marty Freidman's best solos, and SICK RIFFS! I'm gonna take you all on a guided tour of my favorite groovy riffs from this record from start to finish!
Gear:
Schecter KM6 with Fishman Fluence Keith Merrow pickups
Bad Cat Lynx head
Suhr RL/IR
Not only the riffs, it's Dave's singing that really shines here as well as on Countdown to Extinction album, the syncopated singing and unpredictable changes. I love it.
Did you just use Dave's singing and shines in the same sentence?
@@SteelKicker01 this is super funny to point out, but real talk of ALL of Dave's singing, Youthanasia is his best work
@@SteelKicker01sounds comical I know. 😂 Have a re -listen. I listened again today. His voice is definitely the best it ever was.
@@mattjns I was actually quiet a big fan of his vocals on SFSGSW it suited the sort of punk metal sound. Other than that dude sounds like he's pinching his nose and taking a shit lmao
@@SteelKicker01 You’re not wrong. Tornado Of Souls would officially be the greatest song ever if not for the nose vocals. 😂
To me this really is Megadeth's 'Black Album'; great songs, great production, top performances, less speed and more melody
100%
WTF? Black Album doesn't even compare to Youthanasia. Every song from Youthanasia is memorable and HEAVY AF whereas the Black Album was mostly a bunch of songs that were totally forgettable plus a few played-out radio hits. I would rather listen to Load (which is actually very underrated) than the Black Album.
@@melchior2678 lol you're nuts. Black albums deep cuts are the best partof it. Through the Never, Of Wolf and Man, God that Failed, Misery, Struggle within. The opposite of forgettable.
Countdown is Megadeth's black album. Youth is water down Countdown
At least Youthanaisa has a fast song on there to cap it all off (Victory)
made the album feel like
"yeah, we're going commercial, but we haven't forgotten where we started from"
The best Megadeth album. All killers no fillers... My favourite track "addicted to chaos".
I totally agree. A lot of people go crazy over 80s Megadeth but for me, Youthanasia and Countdown are the best overall Megadeth records (I do have a love for Rust in Peace though too)
I was anointed into metal in 87 with Peace Sells which I bought because of the cover but this one definitely is underrated & never got the props it deserved. Not a bad song indeed. I live(not a typo) Addicted to Chaos but Blood of Heroes hits home as well. I got through Army bootcamp singing that in my head during ling runs & PT tests.
Glad to see someone gives this album the love it deserves
Ayyy it's Andrea
Victory was a killer song to end that album. All that song names fit into the lyrics. Marty and Dave trading off solos. Truly and end to an era.
Yes! As a big megadeth fan. For some reason i skipped over this album cause i had friends tell me it wasnt good. I revisited it a few years ago and Victory is my favorite tune on that record🤘🏼
Those solos were absolutely insane. A definitive end to their classic period.
Love seeing Youthanasia getting the recognition it deserves, it's my personal favorite out of Megadeth's discography: The riffs are amazing, the solos are tasty af, Dave's singing was at its peak... What's not to love about it?
That it's not thrash anymore but it's still good
I remember being really let down with that album as a teenager. My friends and I knew the words to every song on Countdown by heart. We were super pumped for Youthanasia and we all felt let down. Never got over that feeling. Perhaps as a 42 yr old man I can try to appreciate it now
It's all at the same tempo
Killing Road has one of their best solos!
@@_ProTrax how is the Killing Road not thrash?
I've never understood why this album is so overlooked. Some of the best tracks in the catalog. I feel like Cryptic Writings is due for some new love too.
I liked Cryptic Writings first time around. Much better than Load, his ex bandmates year prior "effort", imo. So did the UK metal press at the time.
@@blackcurtains4710 Why the need to compare it to Metallica bro that is so boring... why not just compare it on its own merit in the discography of megadeth?
@@nemesis8626 because I was the first in high school 95-97 to point out (in a pre-internet era*.....*UK or Metal Sludge '98 that is) that Mustaine was in "the other band" due to a bootleg CD with photos of their early 1980s LA and San Francisco days with ron mcgovney on bass prior to VH1S Behind the Music 2000s.
@@nemesis8626 I also owned Cds by Megadeth, Metallica AND Motley Crue for that matter* and in that order. Loved all 3 of them.
Cryptic Writings is equally amazing.
Elysian Fields. The bass glue, the harmonies, but that harmonica solo = goosebumps!
That chorus is one of the catchiest I've ever heard. So good, "Elyy-sian Fii-eelds..."
This song sounds alot like Dokken.
@@ColtraneTaylorI can see where you get that from but I think it’s more thrashy
@@aarorissanen930I could not agree mkre
Addicted to Chaos has always been my favorite song off of this album, and one of my favorite Megadeth songs in general. Glad to see some shine thrown onto this album. It's always been one of my favorite albums as well, and definitely doesn't get any of the attention it deserves. \m/_ _\m/
Yeah, definitely one of their best songs they’ve ever created.
The solo in Addicted to Chaos. BOOM!
Yeah Dave's best vocals on this song don't think he could ever match it live probably why they don't play it.
I love the way the riff works around Dave's vocals or vice versa , genuinely one of his best performances on any records
The solo section at the end of “victory” always blew my mind. Would love to learn it.
The Killing Road is one of their most underrated riffs AND solo's. For real the solo from that song is right up there with Tornado of Souls easily.
Ben is definitely right... it's just as brilliant, but easier to master.
@@eccehomer8182 I remember exactly where I was when I decided I wanted to play the guitar I was on the bus on the way home from school it was a rainy day and I had THIS SOLO in my ears. That was 27 years ago now my god.
@@Minty.Fresh.Tunes. been learning this solo over the past few weeks. Fucking fun man
It's one of Friedman's best solos. Really feels like he takes us on a journey. Love how he blends different minor scales and modes to reflect how different it is in every country where you tour. Almost perfectly composed.
one of my fav solos.
another underrated solo is FFF from Cryptic Writings
Dave's best singing ever was on that album. Drumming was out of this world perfect. Bass was huge sounding. Marty's solos ripped and were perfectly placed, timed, etc.
Victory was a great song and isn't even listened to afaic tell. What a shame. I don't care if its their best album either, its my favorite.
Ya Victory is such a Good song!! And it's so cool how he used the titles of his other songs for the lyrics.
Victory has one of Marty's craziest sleeper solos of all time. He does this amazing fast lead run in there that always stuck with me
I love how the lyrics of that song references classic songs from their entire discography.
The B-Side to "Train of Consequences," "Crown of Worms," is another underrated track from this era.
If we're going with non-main album tracks then I'd like to add the New World Order demo from the 2004 reissue. That intro kills.
@@PikkaBird Yeah but that's from 10 years later. This B-side is specific to the album is covering in the video
"Crown of Worms" is a hidden gem... It's a shame they never played it live except for one rare occasion...
@@wuphat The NWO demo was a B-side on the A Tout Le Monde single, although it was actually recorded during the Countdown sessions.
@@wuphatthe New World Order demo was on a Japanese special edition of Hidden Treasures. It was recorded during the CTE sessions.
I thought I was alone holding this album in so high regards, nice to see it get the recognition it deserves. We also need more cameos of the studio doggos.
RIP is Dave's Magnum Opus. Sorry, it just is. But what I love about Youthanasia is how listenable it is. The choruses especially were earworms for me. I vividly remember walking the halls freshman year of high school, a year before I ever got an iPod, hearing, "Still aaaalive...blood of heroes...neverrrrr die, etc." in my head. That was a rough year for me, and Megadeth helped propel me through it.
Youthanasia is their best produced album imo. Sounds huge but it's not overly loud or compressed.
I agree 100%
It's always sounded heavier to me than their previous albums.
To me Countdown was the best production…the drum and guitar tones were absolutely phenomenal.
Absolutely
@@theopinson3851 Oh yeah Countdown is well produced too, but I give the edge to Youthanasia mostly because of the low end. CTE always sounded kind of tinny and sterile to me, and I'm not wild about Ellefson's bass tone on that record.
@@doctorbarber1 fair. Youth sounds a little boxy to me, but both are definitely very good productions. Menza’s drums sound awesome on Countdown and IMO it had some of Dave’s best rhythm guitar tones.
Youthanasia came out during a dark time in my life. I love it because it was like a friend during hard times. I did hear though that Dave M. had some idea that songs had to be 120bpm to be hits so he did this a ton on this album. I think I read that somewhere.
Easily the most underrated album in their discography. My favorite is Blood of Heroes.
Agreed.
the solo on blood of heroes gets me hyped everytime...its so damn catchy
That one always gives me the chills
The fact you just admitted to being sheltered from "secular" music just raised my respect for you!!! I also grew up in a "conservative" household and heavy music was my guilty pleasure! Their ignorance was unjustified, but made me love this genre even more!!!!!!!!
Youthanasia was my first Megadeth album, and I saw them on the tour in 95. I'm so glad it's getting the attention it deserves, it's an amazing album.
That tone is absolutely killer. Crispy and chunky and full! Always loved the riffs on this album. Elysian Fields especially!
Elysian fields is top tier
Black curtain is one of my favorite songs. One of their more “simple” riffs. But absolutely killer
10:59 Dave straight up pilfered that one straight from the George Lynch handbook. That one is almost identical to that unison riff from “In My Dreams”. Not surprised either since all those 80s thrash guys were closet Dokken and Ratt fans but their fans would have probably disowned them had they known that lol. As always Uncle Ben, all killer no filler when it comes to the content. I Would love to see a Riff Retrospective on some more of the heavies from the 90s like Fear Factory & Nevermore or some At the Gates or In Flames if that’s more your cup of tea. Again, great video as always man.
The solo section for victory is so killer too. What a fantastic album
Dave has this really fantastic habit of taking something that would normally be a repeating rhythm, and changing to a rhythm that has a beginning, middle and ending.
Holy Wars is a prime example. Genius!!!🤯
I’ve recently rediscovered this album myself. Somehow I slept on it when it came out… for whatever reason, it seemed “less than” when it first came out, so I passed it by. Now as Megadeth’s entire body of work so clearly stands the test of time, I’ve really come to appreciate this album. It’s among my favorites.
That album had really excellent production, which made that album even better!!!🤘🏻
This is also an album that makes you want to sing along with it. It's one of my favorite Megadeth albums for sure. Thanks Ben - great vid!
Actually the Youthanasia album was the one that separated Megadeth from all of the other metal and thrash bands for me. I always knew about them, and always liked them, but this was the album that made me a specific Megadeth fan.
I'm glad you made this. This was also my gateway album into the band and heavier stuff in general, and for that reason I have a soft spot for it. The album was originally supposed to be faster and got slowed down. I'm happy with what we got, but I would like to hear that faster version in some alternate universe.
It’s their “Black Album” basically. Once you get over it’s deviation from last works you can appreciate it for what it is and realize it’s full of bangers.
One of my favorite Megadeth records. I love all the riffs, solos, the great production. I even had the making of VHS back in the day.
08:22 The Killing Road riff also sounds like a riff from a Havok song called "Intention to Decieve" (obviously, it was there before Havok, but thought it was worth mentioning).
Anyway, great video, Youthanasia is my favorite non-thrash albums by Megadeth! Been meaning to learn some more songs off the album, so I might pick some up! Thanks Uncle Ben!
I absolutely love Megadeths riffs. I'll need to give this full album a listen.
It will blow your mind
Perfect album for a few drinks, sit down and take it all in.
The album is so great and some of the riffs are perfect for warm ups.
Love this album! I remember buying this as a kid. Well produced, and well written songs. Every time I hear this record, it brings me back. Plus, IMO, this record can be played from beginning to end with no skipping. Great video Uncle Ben! 🎸🎼
Youthanasia has been my favorite Megadeth album since it's release when I was in Middle School. Nothing has changed except the lyrics mean so much more to me now that I've lived some life.
Youthanasia is one of my desert island albums! I grew up with it and it followed me my whole adult life! Amazing video, as usual😉
Finally! This album is so freaking awesome. The production, the riffs, Dave's lyrics and singing. The BEST drum sound ever.
Youthanasia was the first Megadeth album I listened to. I still remember the album commercial on MTV, which featured just the drums at the end of Reckoning Day and the album cover (back when MTV was... you know... the MUSIC television) and the clip for Train of Consequences. Countdown and Youthanasia are the only two Megadeth albums that I really come back to.
I immediately loved Youthanasia when it came out in '94, it's hard to say which track is the best, though I have a soft spot for A Tout Le Monde, always cracks me up a little to hear Dave sing in French.
Coming from the classic 80s British metal acts this album was my easy ticket to the whole US thrash thing. Still one of my all time favourite albums. I even prefer it over the black album. Thank you for giving it the recognition it deserves.
Man brings back old memories I used to watch the making of this album on vhs all the time it was fantastic 🔥
Youthanasia was the album I had on repeat all of junior and senior year of high school. Rust in Peace is still my favorite but Youthanasia holds such a special place in my heart. Dave's voice is the best it ever was and it's chock full of some very underrated Marty solos. The original mix that's on Spotify is MASSIVE. Nick's drums are monstrous.
I have to say I was pumped when this album came out, still listen to it today. There was a nationwide rock show on the radio at the time and a classmate of mine was actually able to get in and talk to Dave. He received a signed Album and a shirt in the mail. I thought it was crazy awesome.
Youthanasia and Countdown have been my favorite Megadeth albums for years. Pure attitude. Great stuff, Ben!
Nice video. Youthanasia is a fantastic album, but rarely comes up in Megadeth top albums discussions. The Killing Road has one of the best solos. Good work, Uncle Ben!
I’ve always loved this album! Thanks for going through these amazing riffs!
Love the Schecter highly under rated guitars , sounds and looks amazing!
Great job as always Ben !
Uncle Ben, regarding the tuning - the original version was in Eb, but when it came to the remasters some (if not all?) songs were pitched shifted ever so slightly, and speeds adjusted. I remember when I got the remasters not being able to play along anymore because of the pitch difference. I just did this on Spotify. If you load up the Killing Road intro on the original version and then immediately play the remaster you'll hear the pitch difference. I think Blood of Heroes is another obvious one. Thanks for the awesome video!
Ben you always manage to pick classics from my childhood and I couldn't be happier.
Love this album and still listen to it on a regular.
Killing Road solo is one of their best , Black Curtains is another great song on here. Underrated album for sure.
Reckoning Day, Train of Consequences, Blood of Heroes and Elysian Fields are all amazing. Some of the first Megadeth I ever listened to. Also your tone here is INSANE
Great video..and I adhere with you about Youthanasia, and of course, Load and Reload...
Thanks for all this fantastic tips , Ben!
I always though youthanasia is super underrated too. It just produces such a unique vibe (even the production feels unique), if it was released by some alternative rock band it would probably be regarded as one of the best albums ever
The Killing Road is one of (if not #1) my favorite Megadeth songs.
I’ve always had a special connection to this album as well. This and Countdown to Extinction. Glad to see it get the recognition it deserves.
That verse Killing Road riff is so damn good, I remember learning that and just being tranced tf out while playing it, super fun to play, not just to listen to
Most complete Megadeth album ever imho. Saw them on that tour back in '95. Just mind-blowing.
5:57 best metal riff ever!! Maybe Addicted to chaos verse riff is worth mentioning. Or Blood of heroes verse riff. Thank you so much for this video!!! Finally someone revealing the truth ;-).
Btw., isn't the first note of the Youthanasia verse riff an open e string?
Youthanasia is one of the best Megadeth albums !!
Great video Ben, totally agree with you on Youthanasia, it's the perfect amount of catchy vocal melodies, well constructed heavy riffs and blistering solos. Your guitar sound is also absolutely bone crushing and you do Justice to these Riffs! Thanks a lot
The Killing Road has one of the coolest solos
Exactly, Dave is a master of COMPOSITION, actually developing a musical idea and evolving it. Something the vast majority of songwriters have completely forgotten.
I thought I was the only fan of this album. Here for Darla & Turkey, too. I don’t care what my step-dad of a boss says, production can wait. I have to immediately watch Uncle Ben’s slice of fried gold. Lovely breakdown. I have to get back to it, bottles are piling up here at the Shotz Beer plant. Hey, where’s my glove?
I love to see that Youthanasia is getting attention in 2023!! Thank you Uncle!!
Train of Consequences, one of my top 5 Megadeth songs ✊️
Great video man. "Lucretia" is the one I choose for a Dave - Marty duel of awesomeness and badassery. Great riffs, creepy lyrics...I will check out this album again though based on your recommendations. Thanks again.
I'm glad this album receives the recognition that deserves! I was waiting for Victory though haha. This is one of the albums that proves that you can play heavy without playing fast. Thank you very much, uncle Ben!
As a side note, i'm wondering when are you going to talk about Testament's Alex Skolnick playing 👀 he deserves a video on your channel. Cheers!
Addicted to Chaos, Fuck me what a song! Thanks for putting some attention on this record it's well deserved. Easily one of the top 10 albums of the 90's.
I’d forgotten how good the vocals are on this record. I’m sure he wishes he could sing like that now! Especially like Killing Road, ToC and Addicted to Chaos. Great riffs and great vocals. Good one, Uncle Ben!
Btw, Dave sings with Sammy Hagar on one of the covers on his new album. It’s great to hear Megadeth with those kind of vocals again.
I love this series - and this album is criminally underrated! Thanks Uncle Ben!
Super tight riffs and songwriting on this album.
The killing Road solo is a hidden gem, and for sure my favorite marty solo as well!!
Such a great album. Countdown was my first real metal album so I was really looking forward to Youthanasia. Probably Megadeth's most polished album. It's got the riffs, great tone, hooks, Marty madness... Love it!
Favourite riff: Black Curtains. All of them! But it is hard to pick cos there are so many great moments on this record.
Youthanasia is my second favorite Megadeth album. Marty's expression on every solo is absolute perfection.
My favorite album next to rust in peace. So many great riffs on this album!
Haven't even watched the video yet, but THANK YOU, Youthanasia is a platonically ideal hard rock/metal album with zero bad songs, endless tasty riffs, great soloing, a lot of Dave's best songwriting and singing, etc. A true gem.
The breakdown in "Addicted to Chaos" is seriously the best breakdown i've ever heard.
Simple, harmonical and completely FIRE🔥🔥
...which part of the song do you refer to as the "breakdown" ?? The outro?? :O
For me this album is top 3 in their discography, amazing singing from dave, hard hitting riffs, great melodys, some of marty's best solos, just an great album from front to back, my favorite song has to be addicted to chaos, such a well written song, both lyrically and instrumentaly wise
Youthanasia is my all time favourite Megadeth album! Thanks a bunch for this! 🤘🤘
Max Norman is why that album sounds so freaking good.
He made a lot of heavy records sound fantastic in those days. Dude is legend.
I've always been a champion for promoting this album as Megadeth's best album so far. Not as fast or heavy as other, but man, every song just grabs you and takes you to another place. Best Megadeth Album ever...
Me too
A Tout Le Monde! Great intro, groovy "decapitated power chords", and then very cool arpeggios. Also a masterpiece
This and Cryptic Writings are closet masterpieces! Tickles me in all the right places.
Yep, Youthanasia and Cryptic Writings is Megadeth at it's peak if you ask me. It kinda went downhill after that.
@@Hybe123 There was a lot of personal baggage that went into those two albums and it shows, the songwriting is amazing
I remember ordering this cassette tape from BMG back in the day. This entire album is a masterpiece. Literally cover to cover, not a mediocre song anywhere to be found!
Lost? Yeah, this one launched them from being one of my favorites to possibly my number one for at least three years. Flawless songwriting, pristine production, and just good vibes(for a struggling teenager anyway) all the way through. The music is as colorful as the album cover.
I've thought this exact same thing about Youthanasia ever since I picked it up back in high school. Criminally underrated then, even more so now. Thanks for showcasing this hidden gem on your channel...it made this veteran metalhead smile!
God how I love this album.
"Discovered" Megadeth at the beginning of the nintees when I was a teen. Been a fan ever since ! But I must agree this perticular album is a masterpiece ! Definitly underrated . Thanks for the work put in your vids. Great content as always ! You are a great performer and "teacher" .You rock,man!
Another album that is really underrated especially after relistening is cryptic writings.
Great video! One of my all time favorite albums!
This has always been my favorite Megadeth album. Dave writes such good songs, I hate seeing that go by the wayside in his more recent quests to be as heavy as possible.
Marty’s solo in killing road followed by Dave tastefully cooling off the section makes this just fucking perfect!
Oh yes, I just recently came back to this album after a good while. There really isn't a weak link on the album, just a lot of good ol' simple but effective s o n g s. They ain't technical, they ain't complicated, but my gawd are they good.
Thank you, sir. Much appreciated! I've always kind of skipped this record, bu because of your great analysis, I will give it a chance.
I remember when my uncle introduced me to that record: He said “this is the best metal album of the nineties” It was in ‘95 or ‘96 and i’ve been a megadeth fan ever since.
A few years later it turned out he just might have been right🤔
Love the cover to. Pink slippers!
Agree on the killing road riff - a masterpiece intro/ verse build-up riff💪
Nah. Not even close. It’s a rock/metal album. Death and black metal bands had infinitely better records in the 90s.
This album is so underrated. So glad you did this Ben!
Speaking of underrated Marty Friedman solos, I think vortex is definitely one of them. I'm kinda surprised nobody ever talks about that one
The whole vortex is a really good song, is I think the most thrashier song in the album
I'm an amateur drummer since 1982ish and I LOVE the riffs on this record! Such killer groove, and rhythm, and fun! Great job, Ben, KILLER job as always!