The System Has Failed is the tenth studio album by the thrash metal band Megadeth, released on September 14, 2004. It was the band’s second and final studio album to be distributed by Sanctuary Records. The System Has Failed was the first album to be released after Dave Mustaine recovered from his arm injury sustained in 2002.
It is also the first of four Megadeth studio albums not to include original bassist and co-founder David Ellefson. The album features former Megadeth member Chris Poland (guitar), who previously performed on Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good! (1985) and Peace Sells… but Who’s Buying? (1986), as well as session drummer Vinnie Colaiuta and bassist Jimmie Lee Sloas.
The System Has Failed received positive reception from critics and debuted at number 18 on the Billboard 200. The album was generally thought of as being a return to form for the band, after the release of more commercially accessible albums through the 1990s.
Die Dead Enough and Of Mice and Men were released as singles in 2004, and “The Scorpion” was released as a single in 2005. The track “Back in the Day” was featured in the Duck Dodgers episode “In Space, No One Can Hear You Rock” in 2005, which featured an animated version of the band performing the song. The cover art was designed by Mike Learn.
Tracklist:
- Blackmail the Universe
- Die Dead Enough
- Kick the Chair
- The Scorpion
- Tears in a Vial
- I Know Jack
- Back in the Day
- Something That I’m Not
- Truth Be Told
- Of Mice and Men
- Shadow of Deth (Psalm 23, credited to David)
- My Kingdom
Megadeth
Dave Mustaine: lead vocals, lead and rhythm guitar
Chris Poland: lead guitar on all tracks except “I Know Jack”, “Truth Be Told” and “The Scorpion”
Jimmie Lee Sloas: bass
Vinnie Colaiuta: drums
Session musicians
Chris Rodriguez: backing vocals (1–5, 7–10, 12)
Celeste Amber Montague: voice of the Reporter on “Blackmail the Universe”
Darien Bennett: voice of the General on “Blackmail the Universe”
Ralph Patlan: voice of the Politician on “Blackmail the Universe”, additional vocals (2, 7 and 9)
Tim Akers: keyboards (1, 7–12)
Eric Darken: percussion (1–2, 5, 7, and 9–10)
Michael Davis: sound effects (1, 4 and 11)
Robert Venable: additional vocals (2, 7 and 9)
Lance Dean: additional vocals (2, 7 and 9)
Charlie Judge: keyboards (2, 4 and 5)
Jonathan Yudkin: strings (4–5 and 9), banjo (“Something That I’m Not”)
Scott Harrison: additional vocals (7 and 9)
Justis Mustaine: background spoken part on “Something That I’m Not”
Production
Produced and recorded by Jeff Balding and Dave Mustaine
Mixed by Jeff Balding
Assisted by David Bryant, Ralph Patlan, Scott Kidd, Jesse Amend, Lance Dean, and Jed Hackett
Additional recording by David Bryant, Jed Hackett, and John Saylor
Mastered by Adam Ayan
Digital editing by Mark Hagen and Jed Hackett
Production coordination by Mike “Frog” Griffith
Cover art by Mike Learn, based on a concept by Dave Mustaine
Design by t42design
