JoeLumb's Album Review Megadeth's "Peace Sells But Who's Buying?" (1986)

 "Peace Sells But Who's Buying?" is Megadeth's second studio album. Released on September 19,1986 the record itself id highly regarded as a milestone of the American thrash metal movement along with two other thrash classics Metallica's "Master of Puppets" and Slayer's "Reign in Blood" 

Founder/songwriter/singer and guitarist Dave Mustaine stated in a Metal Forces interview in December of 1985 that the band already began writing and recording music for what would become "Peace Sells But Who's Buying?" Songs like "Bad Omen" and "Black Friday" were completed and according to Mustaine they were a total blur being much faster than "Rattlehead" taken from Megadeth's debut "Killing is My Business and Business is Good" Speaking about lyrical content for "Peace Sells..." Mustaine and bassist David Ellefson stated that they were wanting to change the public perception of heavy metal by writing songs that contained socially aware lyrics. Mustaine further noted that Megadeth was unaware of the poltical situation at the time and that some political beliefs were reflected  in the songs. 

When it came time to mix the record,it was originally handled by Combat Records resulting in the original mix being done by producer Randy Burns. Capitol Records then got involved bought the rights to the record and hired a new producer in Paul Lani to mix it himself. Recording the album was difficult for the band because of ongoing drug issues members had at the time that's what lead to the dismissal of Drummer Gar Samuelson and Guitarist Chris Poland after the album's promotional tour for drug abuse. 

The cover art for the album was done by Ed Repka it depicts the band's mascot Vic Rattlehead in front of a ruined United Nations Headquarters,portraying himself as a real estate agent selling destroyed remains of the organizations HQ. That artwork is considered to be Ed Repka's significant milestone work.

"Peace Sells But Who's Buying?" made it to #76 on the Billboard 200 and as of this writing received a Platinum award (selling 1 million in the United States alone)

What are my favorite tracks off the album? "Peace Sells" for one,"Wake Up Dead" which is the opener and "Devil's Island" I haven't listened to "Bad Omen" or "Good Mourning/Black Friday" but from what I get they are bangers. My overall rating for this album is a 75/100 and Ranked at #5 on my favorite albums of 1986.

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