Megadeth’s best in 15 years

Coming on the heels of 2007’s insipid “United Abominations,” any new Megadeth studio album would sound like a return to form. However, frontman Dave Mustaine wouldn’t permit himself to be satisfied with that.

Thankfully, the product is likely the best Megadeth album since “Youthanasia” dropped in 1994.

In contrast with the middling melodic rock that plagued their last five albums, most of “Endgame” is honest-to-God thrash metal in the vein of what made the band famous in the first place.

“This Day We Fight!” opens the album on a heavy note, and lead single “Head Crusher,” written about a medieval torture device of the same name (Iron Maiden anyone?), is the best song they’ve written in more than a decade.

The epic title track and obligatory ballad “The Hardest Part of Letting Go ... Sealed With a Kiss” finds Mustaine baring his soul to mostly positive results.

Megadeth is back with a vengeance, and there’s nothing you can do about it.