Super Collider

Super Collider is a record of change on which Megadeth, while keeping sharp guitar at its core, greatly raises the weight of mid-tempo groove and vocal melody. Unlike its former taut thrash tension, the songs proceed with a more open, hard-rock feel. It is a record that presents another side of Megadeth, not all-aggression. From the powerful drive of the opener “Kingmaker” and the catchy title track “Super Collider” to the aggression of “Built for War” and “The Blackest Crow,” which even shows country elements, the songs show wide-ranging faces, while a cut like “Dance in the Rain” conveys the band’s new attempts. A cover of Thin Lizzy’s “Cold Sweat” is also included. Even so, the twist of the riffs and the character of the lead guitar remain throughout, never losing the band’s sharp outline. Pursuing a more melodic, accessible direction, it is a work with an experimental side. Though views are divided, on which a veteran band avoided complacency to seek new expression, it is an intriguing record.