The System Has Failed
Studio album by Megadeth
Released	September 14, 2004
Recorded	2004
Genre	thrash metal
Length	51:31
Label	Sanctuary Records
Producer	Dave Mustaine & Jeff Balding
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link BBC Music link Blender link Bright Eyes Germany (12/13) Lords of Metal (84/100) link The Metal Observer link MetalReviews.com (85/100) Rocknworld.com link Tartarean Desire link Ultimate Metal Reviews link
Megadeth chronology
Still Alive... And Well? (2002) The System Has Failed (2004) Greatest Hits: Back to the Start (2005)

The System Has Failed is the first Megadeth album to be released after the break-up of the band in 2002. It was released on September 14, 2004. Cover for the album The System Has Failed by Megadeth This is an album cover. ... A studio album is a collection of previously unreleased, studio-recorded tracks by a recording artist. ... Megadeth is an American thrash metal band led by founder, frontman, and evangelical[1] songwriter Dave Mustaine. ... is the 257th day of the year (258th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music, one of the extreme metal subgenres that is characterised by its signature high speed and aggression. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Sanctuary Records is a record label based in the United Kingdom and a subsidiary of Universal Records. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... David Scott Mustaine(born September 13, 1961 in La Mesa, California, United States) is the lead/rhythm guitarist, songwriter, and singer for the speed/thrash metal band, Megadeth. ... Jeff Balding is an American audio engineer, mixer and record producer. ... The All Music Guide (AMG) is a metadata database about music, owned by All Media Guide. ... Image File history File links 4_stars. ... The domain name bbc. ... Image File history File links Stars10080. ... Blender is an American magazine that bills itself as the ultimate guide to music and more. ... Image File history File links 3_stars. ... German Metal and Hardrock Magazine - founded 1999 BRIGHT EYES GERMANY ... Image File history File links Stars10055. ... Image File history File links 4_stars. ... Image File history File links Stars10080. ... Image File history File links Stars10085. ... Megadeth is an American thrash metal band led by founder, frontman, and evangelical[1] songwriter Dave Mustaine. ... ‹ The template below has been proposed for deletion. ... Megadeth is an American thrash metal band led by founder, frontman, and evangelical[1] songwriter Dave Mustaine. ... is the 257th day of the year (258th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The "system" referred to in the album's title is "the American system and western civilization" which in Mustaine's opinion dictates what the world follows. Mustaine cites examples of such failure in America's educational system, which underpays its teachers, and its court system, which allows criminals to escape punishment.

Musical style

The album's sound is characterized by fast, muscular, palm-muted riffs. The record was viewed by many as a return to the speed metal style exhibited on Rust in Peace, although it contains few traces of the technical complexity showcased on that record. The palm mute, also known as palm muting, is a playing technique for the guitar or (less commonly) bass guitar. ... Rust in Peace is the fourth album by American thrash metal band Megadeth. ...

Production and marketing

Originally intended to be a solo album by its author Dave Mustaine, the record was re-branded with the Megadeth name as a result of contractual obligations owed to Mustaine's record company EMI (Mustaine also admitted that, after listening to and playing the songs multiple times, he claimed "they were Megadeth songs, not solo songs"). In an effort to avoid the financial cost and interpersonal conflicts associated with re-assembling the band's original line-up, Mustaine hired session musicians Vinnie Colaiuta (drums) and Jimmy Sloas (bass) to perform on the record. In a surprising move, Mustaine also hired former Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland to perform guitar solos on a number of tracks. David Scott Mustaine(born September 13, 1961 in La Mesa, California, United States) is the lead/rhythm guitarist, songwriter, and singer for the speed/thrash metal band, Megadeth. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Jimmy Sloas is an American session musician who plays bass. ... Chris Poland (born as Christopher Poland on December 1, 1957) is a jazz - fusion guitar player. ...

Mustaine co-produced the record with Jeff Balding, who had previously engineered Cryptic Writings and Risk. Cryptic Writings is the seventh studio album by heavy metal band Megadeth, released in June of 1997, with a remixed and remastered version released in 2004. ... Risk is an album by the metal band Megadeth released in 1999. ...

Track listing

All songs written by Dave Mustaine except where is noted.

1. "Blackmail The Universe" – 4:33
2. "Die Dead Enough" – 4:18 (sample (help· info))
3. "Kick The Chair" – 3:57
4. "The Scorpion" – 5:59
5. "Tears In A Vial" – 5:22
6. "I Know Jack" – 0:40
7. "Back In The Day" – 3:28
8. "Something That I'm Not" – 5:07
9. "Truth Be Told" – 5:40
10. "Of Mice and Men" – 4:05
11. "Shadow Of Deth" – 2:15
12. "My Kingdom Come" – 3:04
13. "Strange Ways" (Kiss cover) (Ace Frehley) (BestBuy Bonus Track) - 3:13

Image File history File links Die_Dead_Enough. ... Something That Im Not is a song on Megadeths album The System Has Failed. ... Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in 1973. ... Paul Daniel Frehley (born April 27, 1951[1]), better known as Ace Frehley, is an American guitarist best known as a founding member and lead guitarist for the rock band Kiss. ...

Personnel

• Dave Mustaine: vocals and lead/rhythm guitar
• Chris Poland: lead/rhythm guitar
• Jimmy Sloas: bass guitars
• Vinnie Colaiuta: drums

David Scott Mustaine(born September 13, 1961 in La Mesa, California, United States) is the lead/rhythm guitarist, songwriter, and singer for the speed/thrash metal band, Megadeth. ... Chris Poland (born as Christopher Poland on December 1, 1957) is a jazz - fusion guitar player. ... Jimmy Sloas is an American session musician who plays bass. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Charts

Album

Singles

Trivia

• This is the band's fourth studio album that is not named after a specific song on the album, following So Far, So Good... So What!, Cryptic Writings and Risk. However, the title is heard in a lyric for the song "Kick The Chair".

• On the original cover, the politicians depicted resemble George W. Bush, Donald Rumsfeld, John Ashcroft, Dick Cheney, Condoleezza Rice, and Bill Clinton. It also shows a $100 bill with Vic Rattlehead's face in instead of Benjamin Franklin.

• "Of Mice and Men" was selected as the second video from the album. In this video the new Megadeth line up is performing - Dave Mustaine, Shawn Drover, Glen Drover and James MacDonough. The majority of the video was shot on January 20, 2005 in Los Angeles. Numbers of Megadeth fans turned up to be in the video through a "contest" held by Sanctuary Group who funded the video. The video follows the autobiographical lyric of the song which tells the life of Dave Mustaine between the age of 17 to 25 years old. The title of the song is taken from the famous novel of the same name.

• "Shadow of Deth" is Psalm 23 from the Bible, written by David. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death;I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me"

• The track "I Know Jack" includes a sample of Texas Senator Lloyd Bentsen's famous response to Indiana Senator Dan Quayle during a 1988 vice-presidential debate.

• "Back In The Day" was featured in the Duck Dodgers episode "In Space, No One Can Hear You Rock".

• "Blackmail The Universe" has numerous quotes from the movie "Thirteen Days", which was about the Cuban missile crisis.

So Far, So Good. ... Cryptic Writings is the seventh studio album by heavy metal band Megadeth, released in June of 1997, with a remixed and remastered version released in 2004. ... Risk is an album by the metal band Megadeth released in 1999. ... The Combat Records incorrect version of Vic Rattlehead. ... Benjamin Franklin (January 17 [O.S. January 6] 1706 – April 17, 1790) was one of the most well known Founding Fathers of the United States. ... Megadeth is an American thrash metal band led by founder, frontman, and evangelical[1] songwriter Dave Mustaine. ... David Scott Mustaine(born September 13, 1961 in La Mesa, California, United States) is the lead/rhythm guitarist, songwriter, and singer for the speed/thrash metal band, Megadeth. ... Shawn Drover is the drummer with the bands Megadeth & Eidolon. ... Glen Drover (born May 25, 1969) is a heavy metal guitarist from Ottawa, Ontario Canada. ... James MacDonough was born on April 3, 1970 in Jacksonville, Florida U.S.A. and is currently the bassist for Megadeth. ... January 20 is the 20th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The title is taken from Robert Burnss famous poem, To a Mouse, which is often quoted as: The best-laid plans of mice and men go oft awry (or astray). ... The theme of this psalm casts God in the role of protector and provider. ... This article is about the Biblical king of Israel. ... Official language(s) No official language See languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Largest metro area Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 261,797 sq mi (678,051 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ... A senate is a deliberative body, often the upper house or chamber of a legislature. ... Lloyd Millard Bentsen Jr. ... Senator, you are no Jack Kennedy was a famous statement made by U.S. Democratic vice-presidential candidate Senator Lloyd Bentsen to Republican vice-presidential candidate Senator J. Danforth Quayle during the 1988 vice-presidential debate. ... Official language(s) English Capital Indianapolis Largest city Indianapolis Area  Ranked 38th  - Total 36,418 sq mi (94,321 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 270 miles (435 km)  - % water 1. ... A senate is a deliberative body, often the upper house or chamber of a legislature. ... James Danforth Dan Quayle (born February 4, 1947) was the forty-fourth Vice President of the United States under George H. W. Bush (1989–1993). ... Duck Dodgers was an American animated television series based on the classic cartoon short Duck Dodgers in the 24½th Century produced by Warner Bros. ... DVD cover Thirteen Days (2000) is a film is about the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. ...

References

• Rock Pages interview with Dave Mustaine Retrieved January 19, 2005.

• UnderGroundOnline interveiw with Dave Mustaine by Craine C Retrieved January 19, 2005.
• Megadeth official site