Super Collider

Thirty years after Dave Mustaine put together Megadeth following his infamous stint as Metallica's lead guitarist, he's returned with Megadeth's 14th studio album, a mix of the thrash he pioneered and other hard rock styles. After the expected high-speed chase through synthetic-opiate addiction in "Kingmaker," Mustaine does the nearly unthinkable and slows the band down for the arena-rock challenge of the title track. "Built for War," however, returns with a gnarled and twisted riff that's sure to confound the legions of guitar warriors who see Mustaine's leads as challenges to be mastered. "Dance in the Rain" contains a few monologues and a guest vocal from Disturbed's David Draiman among the nearly danceable rhythms: a far cry from the abrasive militia attack of his best-known work. "The Blackest Crow" adds a banjo (!) to a tune nearly suited for an Appalachian murder ballad. A cover of Thin Lizzy's "Cold Sweat" is an inspired choice and much closer to Megadeth's current sound than anything from its debut album 30 years ago.