Retro Recommendation: Megadeth - So Far, So Good....So What

Once a week I'll turn the blog over to Dan Marsicano for his Retro Recommendation, giving you a chance to learn about underrated and overlooked gems from metal's past.  This week Megadeth is in the spotlight.

Three of the "Big 4" of thrash metal has already been covered in this column, so why not finish it off with a look at a lost gem from Megadeth? Tucked between the groundbreaking albums Peace Sells...But Who's Buying? and Rust in Peace is the often-overlooked So Far, So Good...So What! The band's third album was recorded during a period of turmoil in the band, as Dave Mustaine's drug addiction grew out of control alongside an unstable line-up.

Fans and critics were almost mystified as to how Megadeth went from Peace Sells...But Who's Buying? to this album. Over time, So Far, So Good...So What! has grown into a cult favorite among Megadeth fans and has proved to be a glowing representation of some of the best and worst moments in the band's history. It's unevenly paced and sloppy as hell, but when the band hits their stride, they come off as the undisputed kings of thrash.

The album gets off to a thrilling start with instrumental "Into The Lungs Of Hell," which leads into the thrash epic "Set The World Afire." Mustaine has always had a knack for killer riffs and the opening one can rank as one of his top five. The band puts in a fine performance, which is the only constant throughout the album. Guitarist Jeff Young and drummer Chuck Behler don't reach the notoriety of their predecessors, but do a bang-up job considering the circumstances.

"In My Darkest Hour" is a grim number that was written after the death of Metallica bassist Cliff Burton. It's a personal song that showed a side of the band that hadn't been heard up to that point. No other work from Mustaine has reached the emotional nakedness that "In My Darkest Hour" exposed. While Mustaine's lyrics have never been Shakespearian, "Hook In Mouth" is a masterfully written, vicious tirade against the NPRC.

Megadeth does have a lot of bright moments on So Far, So Good...So What!, but for every highlight lies a low point. The infamous cover of The Sex Pistols "Anarchy In The U.K." is awful, complete with incorrect lyrics and Mustaine trying to go all punk. "502" is a laughable mess that tries to pass off fake sirens and low-quality sound effects as musical substance and "Liar" is nothing more than a crude knock against former guitarist Chris Poland.

The good-to-bad ratio is too close for comfort, but even the terrible songs have some redeeming value. Behler's sick fills on "502" and the guest guitar solo from Steve Jones on the Sex Pistols cover avoid those songs from becoming immediately forgettable. Megadeth would go on to do bigger and better things, but So Far, So Good...So What! should be considered more than just a small footnote in their long history. For its raw production and drug-fueled aggression, So Far, So Good...So What! gets the nod for this week's Retro Recommendation.