United Abominations – Megadeth

Megadeth (AKA Dave Mustaine) follows up 2004’s politically charged The System Has Failed with, well, the politically charged United Abominations. Due to contractual obligations, TSHF had to be released as Megadeth, although it was primarily a Mustaine project. No report indicating why the new album also falls under the Megadeth moniker, but it does contain all the staples of a typical Megadeth record: Mustaine’s trademark vocals, soaring six-string solos, and insistent drums, matched by lyrics reflecting the state of affairs in the world as Mustaine sees it.

Complete with an album cover displaying the United Nations building under attack, United Abominations features catchy metal riffs set to Mustaine’s words of wisdom:

In a mire of hypocrisy, bribes, kickbacks, and corruption, the UN enables terrorism, and ignores sex crimes by its peace keepers. The UN is where our so-called allies undermine us, and we pay 22% of their tab to host our enemies here at home.

Yikes! There's also a running commentary in the background on the UN’s absence during traumatic world events, just in case Mustaine's subtlety is lost on you. The single, “A Tout Le Monde (Set Me Free)” (a re-make of the Youthanasia track but this time as a duet with Lacuna Coil singer Christina Scabbia), and “Gears Of War” continue with the angst, both personal and war wrought -- “Smart bombs, precision guided armament / A more sophisticated way to end up dead / Still we search and invent such intelligent weapons / That kill each other like the Gears of War.”

The rock is relentless but to be honest, the lyrics do get cheesy with the questionably named “Amerikhastan” coming in towards the end -- “A legion of uneducated, bankrupt souls / With a lust for revenge, answering the call / From New Yorqatar to Califarabia / Desperation provides fertile ground for religious extremism / This glorious brainwashing where prejudice lies / We are just a war away from Amerikhastan.”

Double yikes! All in all, United Abominations unsurprisingly paints a bleak picture of current events while catering to the band’s fans with true to form metal standards.

Megadeth: [official] [myspace]

Poison’d! – Poison

The mere mention of Poison can evoke insults and nostalgia alike. Their seventh full-length (Flesh & Blood was three if you’re keeping count at home), Poison’d!, is a covers record featuring Poison’s take on tracks by a wide variety of artists from David Bowie to Rolling Stones.

One might ask, “Why?”

Based on recent tours it seems like the band is more inclined to revel in past glories (of all sorts) than churn out any meaningful new material, and this probably falls right into that disposition. There are reasonable renditions of “Little Willy” (Sweet) and “Just What I Needed” (The Cars), less than inspiring ones like “I Never Cry” (Alice Cooper) and “Squeeze Box” (The Who), plus general hit or miss efforts like “I Need To Know” (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers) and “Rock N’ Roll All Night” (Kiss). Open Up and Say…Ahh! favorite “Your Mama Don’t Dance” (Loggins and Messina) and 20 Years Of Rock newbie “We’re An American Band” (Grand Funk Railroad) re-appear on Poison’d!, but our copy did not include a Wal-Mart exclusive “SexyBack” (Justin Timberlake). Currently, one can catch Poison’s live version of The Romantics’ “What I Like About You” on various Late Night shows. And you can carpool with us to Houston to watch ‘em at Sam Houston Park on July 7th.

Poison: [official] [myspace]