United Abominations is the eleventh studio album by American thrash

metal band Megadeth. Released on May 15, 2007, United Abominations is the first
Megadeth release distributed through Roadrunner Records and, with the exception
of the band's frontman Dave Mustaine, was recorded with an all-new line-up.[7] It is
the first album since The World Needs a Hero (2001) to be recorded by a full-time
line-up as the previous studio album The System Has Failed (2004) was recorded by
Mustaine alongside session musicians. 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 contributed.

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 until it was succeeded by 2013's Super Collider. 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 stating the album is the band's most politically charged. The album was
named the number one metal album of 2007 by Guitar World. In the
2007 Burrn! magazine Reader's Poll, it was voted Best Album Cover, and
"Washington Is Next!" was voted Best Tune.[8]

Background
[edit]
Prior to the release of United Abominations, Megadeth signed a recording contract
with Roadrunner Records. The band had troubles with music rights involving two
former labels that carried Megadeth, Capitol and Sanctuary Records.[9] 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.[9]

Megadeth had a new band lineup, aside from Mustaine, comprising Glen
Drover (guitar), James LoMenzo (bass guitar), and Shawn Drover (drums).[10]
[11]
Mustaine chose these people for full-time members rather than session musicians.
He stated that he liked the Drovers' "sibling chemistry" and that LoMenzo was a
"legend".[12]

Writing and recording

[edit]
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."[13] Mustaine wrote the songs for the album in an attempt to "stir
something in the minds of the listener".[13] 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.[13] 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 Drover. 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.[14]

Cristina Scabbia of Lacuna Coil performed guest vocals on "À Tout le

Monde (Set Me Free)". She appeared on stage with Megadeth to perform the song in
Australia and Italy.
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 Mustaine admired the fact that his favorite
band, Led Zeppelin, previously recorded there many times.[13] Mustaine produced the
album, with additional production handled by Jeff Balding and Andy Sneap.

"À Tout le Monde (Set Me Free)", is a remake of "A Tout le Monde" which originally
appeared 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.[15] Scabbia stated she was "really surprised about it because 'A 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."[15] Mustaine chose Scabbia over
three other choices because of her "reign in the heavy metal business".[15] 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.[16]

"Amerikhastan" is about "immigration and fighting in between religions". Mustaine

said the song was "basically (a) part 2 to 'Holy Wars'."[17]

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.[13]

Album artwork
[edit]
All artwork for the album was selected from a contest held by DeviantArt.[18] 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.[18] 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. Rattlehead and the "Angel of Deth" are pictured
in the foreground. Although the cover of the CD was not the contest's winner,
Mustaine chose it as his favorite picture and wanted it for the cover. No band
photographs were taken for the CD booklet, leaving the entire design as fan-made
artwork.[10][18] The album cover was made digitally using dated equipment with dated
programs, created by John Lorenzi. The contest in which he had taken part of had
stiff competition; for example Ed Repka and Hugh Syme were contestants.[19]

Release and promotion

[edit]

Dave Mustaine on tour promoting United Abominations

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."[20] 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".[21] The album was released internationally
on May 15. The album had sold nearly 60,000 copies in the US in its first week and
debuted at number eight on the Billboard 200, 10 places higher than the band's
previous album, 2004's The System Has Failed.[22] The album debuted at number two
in Finland, five in Canada, and the top 30 in seven other countries.[23][24][25] As of
August 19, 2007, the album had managed to sell about 122,000 copies in the US. [26]

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.[27] On this tour, which lasted until May, the
band debuted the songs "Gears of War", "Washington Is Next!" and "Sleepwalker".
[13]
After the Heaven and Hell tour, Megadeth started the worldwide Tour of Duty,
which lasted until March 2008.[27] Megadeth also toured in Australia
on Gigantour with Static-X, DevilDriver, Lacuna Coil, and Bring Me the Horizon as
supporting acts.[27] At one concert in Australia and in Italy (Milan), Cristina
Scabbia performed on stage with Megadeth for "À Tout le Monde (Set Me Free)". [28]
Critical reception
[edit]

Professional ratings

Review scores

Source Rating

[29]
About.com

[30]
AllMusic

Blabbermouth.net 7.5/10[31]

IGN 8.5/10[32]

[33]
musicOMH

PopMatters 7/10[34]

[35]
Rolling Stone

Spin 4/10[36]

[37]
Sputnikmusic

Stylus Magazine D+[38]

United Abominations received generally positive reviews, and was thought of as a

return to form for Megadeth by critics. Don Kaye of Blabbermouth.net 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."[31] About.com reviewer Chad Bowar stated the album "is the best
Megadeth album in at least a decade."[29] 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."[30] 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 it "cranks out so much
attitude, so much opinion, and so much firebranded speech that the album could be
mistaken for a political rally."[32] Commenting on the Megadeth's new lineup, Jon
Weiderhorn from MTV said "Once again, the system is fully operational."[39] In a less
enthusiastic review, BBC Music's Eamonn Stack wrote that even though the thrash
musicianship is evident, the edge has been "sacrificed for the sake of speed and
technical playing".[40] 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.[41][42]

On July 10, 2007, a rebuttal was posted by Mark Leon Goldberg on the UN Dispatch
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".[43]

Track listing
[edit]
All tracks are written by Dave Mustaine, except where noted[5]

No. Title Music Length

1. "Sleepwalker" 5:53
2. "Washington Is Next!" 5:19
3. "Never Walk Alone... A Call to Arms" Mustaine, Glen Drover 3:54
4. "United Abominations" 5:35
5. "Gears of War" 4:25
6. "Blessed Are the Dead" 4:02
7. "Play for Blood" 3:49
8. "À Tout le Monde (Set Me Free)" 4:11
(featuring Cristina Scabbia)
9. "Amerikhastan" 3:43
10. "You're Dead" 3:18
11. "Burnt Ice" 3:47
Total length: 47:56
Japanese edition/2019 remaster bonus track[44][45]
No. Title Music Length
12. "Out on the Tiles" (Led Zeppelin cover) Jimmy Page, Robert 4:03
Plant, John Bonham,
Total length: 51:59
Preorder bonus track
No. Title Length
12. "Black Swan" 4:04
Total length: 52:00
Personnel
[edit]
Production and performance credits are adapted from the album liner notes, except
where noted.[5]

Megadeth

 Dave Mustaine – lead vocals, guitars

 Glen Drover – guitars, backing vocals
  James LoMenzo – bass, backing vocals
 Shawn Drover – drums, percussion, backing vocals
Additional musicians and guests

 Chris Rodriguez – backing vocals

 Axel Mackenrott – keyboards
 Cristina Scabbia – guest vocals on "À Tout le Monde (Set Me Free)"
 Brett Caldas-Lima – French voice on "United Abominations"[46]
 Marie Soler – French voice on "United Abominations"[46]
Production

 Dave Mustaine – production

 Jeff Balding – production, recording
 Andy Sneap – production, mixing, mastering, recording