Dave Mustaine once admitted he wanted Countdown To Extinction to be Megadeth's "Metallica-Killer." And quite frankly, I think he succeeded. Countdown to Extinction is an excellent Megadeth album and stands as my second favorite by the band. Only Youthanasia is better IMO (though not by much).

Some people felt Youthanasia was Megadeth's "sell out album." Well, what they don't seem to realize is that Megadeth's slight change in sound really began with this album. Its songs are a bit slower than in earlier Megadeth releases, and they have a slightly more mainstream sound to them. And yet, some waited until the later Youth came out to say the band sold out. I guess Youthanasia suffered from what I like to call the "Eb syndrom." It seems that whenever a band tunes their guitars down to that key (also Ab in some songs), people claim their music got "a complete make-over" and the band sold out. As funny as it may seem, this has happened to a lot of bands: Metallica with their Load album, Ozzy Osbourne with The Ultimate Sin, and Megadeth with Youthanasia. Of course, Youthanasia still sounded like a Megadeth album regardless. Just a more atmospheric and melodic Megadeth album, which is what makes it the band's best IMO.

Countdown To Extinction's strongest point is its immense personality. The songs here are very catchy and (as with Youthanasia), are really something you can play in your mind during daily life. This, again, is mostly due to the fact that they're a bit slower than in earlier Megadethers, making them quite a bit easier to remember.

The album also has something many other metal albums don't have: A sense of humor. Mustaine constantly makes humorous references to real life situations and even expresses a lot of his thoughts in a humorous fashion. This is most evident in the song Sweating Bullets, where the verses are spoken in a manner that is likely to make even the most grumpy metal head crack a smile.

Other great songs include Skin O' My Teeth (which has a very catchy chorus and a good solo), Symphony of Destruction (with its neat riff and also catchy chorus), Architecture of Aggression (just an all around great song), Captive Honor (the funny court scene in this song is bound to make you laugh), and the title track (which seems to borrow its riff from a small portion of the Metallica song Ride The Lightning). Ashes in your Mouth is also a plus.

So overall, Countdown To Extinction is a great Megadeth album. If you're at the record store and confused as to whether you should buy Metallica's Black Album or this album, I strongly suggest you choose this one. Once you give it a listen you will see why.

Countdown to Extinction was released 8 years ago and still sounds fresh even buy today's standards. By far, this is the best effort by Dave Mustaine and company. This CD was the first release in which Megadeth toned their sound down a little bit....(only slightly though), and the first release that hit the big time. There are so many great catchy songs on this CD that you will end up singing along with: Symphony of Destruction, This Was My Life, and Countdown to Extinction to name a few. Musically, the guitars of Mustaine and Freidman are incredible. The drum work of Nick Menza is fantastic as is the bass guitar of Danny Ellefson.

This is one CD that I never get tired of listening to. Its heavy guitars, crashing drums and excellent vocals combined with well composed songs makes this one Hard Rock / Heavy Metal release that should be in everyone's collection. It is upbeat, and it will get your adrenaline pumping.

This is an excellent CD! Well worth the money spent!

This is a great album. But when I read most of the reviews on here I'm blown away by some of the love dished out.

Best ever? Thrash? Heaviest Megadeth album ever?

My good friends, let's not get carried away. Gushing love is a good thing but let's not overlook something obvious about this album: COMMERCIAL.

Yes folks. The big 'C' word. Ever notice how all these songs (except Ashes) are neat and trimmed for radio length? Ever notice how furious time changes and 18 different guitar riffs have been slimmed down to a mild handful? Ever notice how bad Psychotron is?

Don't profane the past. Listen to Rust In Peace, listen to So Far, and listen to Peace Sells, and then listen to this. You'll notice a huge difference. Don't get me wrong, I love this disc. Best tracks include: This Was My Life, Countdown, Ashes, AofA.

But please don't call this thrash. Please don't call this Megadeth's best ever. And please don't say it's the heaviest 'Deth because that is simply untrue.

After the huge leap from So Far, So Good...So What! to Rust In Peace, Megadeth came up with Countdown To Extinction...their masterpiece and one of the greatest heavy metal albums of all time. There is not a bad song on this entire album. Opening with Skin O' My Teeth, Extinction moves with a speed and a style that frame the entire makeup of Megadeth as a recognizable entity. (In other words: their sound has been perfected to distinction). Symphony Of Destruction is one of the best metal songs ever written!!! Architecture Of Aggression (say that fast a few dozen times) is fast and furious and totally addictive. Foreclosure Of A Dream rules! Sweating Bullets, a Megadeth staple, is revolutionary. If there are weak points to Extinction it is Psychotron & High Speed Dirt and these songs are not all that weak. The title track absolutely rocks and Ashes In Your Mouth is a great ending to one of the truly great metal albums. This is Megadeth's Master Of Puppets if you need a comparison with Dave's old bandmates, Metallica. This is the pinnacle. It can only go downhill from here. Unreal effort. I can never tire of listening to this.

Dig it!

Countdown to Extinction, in my opinion, is Megadeth's best album. I know that many "old time" Megadeth fans look at this release as the beginning of the decline of Megadeth. But that is hogwash!

CTE is Megadeth's best! You know why? Because Dave Mustaine has finally matured as a songwriter. Rust in Peace is good, but it was still a bit rough around the edges. CTE is polished yet maintains the aggression Megadeth fans love. Sure, the speed metal of previous efforts is almost non-existent on CTE. But that's okay. The guitar riffs are still brutal and thrashy, the drumming is still heavy and the vocal attack of Dave Mustaine is still gruff and in-your-face.

The title track, "Countdown to Extiction", is a great mix of heavy metal and semi-mainstream, catchy vocal melodies. "Symphony of Destruction" is a bruising, dark tune that pummels the listener with every chord. "Psychotron" is Mustaine at his gruff and growly best and the chorus soars! "Sweating Bullets" is a nasty, ominous tune that makes one want to beat up the neighbor after listening to it (I'm kidding). Nearly all the songs here are good.

No, this isn't Rust in Peace. Megadeth need not repeat themselves. This is Countdown to Extiction, Megadeth's best.