Considered one of the “Big Four” of thrash metal, Megadeth has reaped massive success due to the band's mastermind, singer/guitarist Dave Mustaine.

Megadeth's lineup has shifted so often that it basically consists of Mustaine and whomever he deems worthy to create head-banging, larger-than-life music.

The band's latest tour de force, “Endgame,” — released mid-September — falls nothing short of these high standards and has even been acclaimed as one of their best works.

“Endgame” is Megadeth's 12th studio release and is equally as furious as the gritty, ardent anthems found on “Countdown to Extinction” and “United Abominations.” On first listen, the album's instrumental opener “Dialectic Chaos” is a fitting introduction to the raw might supplied by dueling guitars, booming bass and signature double-pedal metal from the feral foursome.

This recent record can be deemed one of the group's most savage, mind-blowing works with mosh-madness like “Head Crusher” and direct political indictments on “Bite the Hand” and “How the Story Ends.” Nevertheless, this blood-pounding album doesn't sacrifice noise and power for creativity.

In fact, “Endgame” has constructed intertwining twin guitars and bass to drum synchronization surpassed by even the likes of the Metallica golden boys. Mustaine's snarling vocals enrich the layered “This Day We Fight!” and empower the achingly heartfelt “The Hardest Part of Letting Go.”

The album's self-titled track howls about an apocalyptic new world order and tells the story of some of the most extremely plausible political corruptions. Like a good piece of prose, “Endgame” is an album filled with layers and under- the-surface meanings. The average listener will admire the clockwork creativity and think nothing more.

And the careful listener paying close attention to the lyrics might unearth deep meanings that leave the listener ashamed of some American government actions and loathsome P.O.W. terror tactics. Megadeth has generally kept an outspoken political opinion, which has usually been downplayed by the media and always by past political candidates.

Although Mustaine's growling lyrics convey a purpose, they also create consistent, hair-raising imagery. The singer's catchy alliteration and the puzzle-fitting word choice is generally overlooked in the heavy metal genre.

One of the factors Megafans will adore is the naturalness of “Endgame.” Megadeth hasn't gone too far in attempting to make a monumental album; the mutual chemistry between the quartet achieved a sound strikingly close to their earliest titles.

“Endgame” is a powerhouse not solely due to its rapid-fire solos, cleverly written lyrics and universal motif, but rather to its entire process. Endgame reveals the travail, painstaking effort and grit it takes to construct an album of this magnitude. Truth be told, this short 45-minute madness is evidence of what happens when a band loses sleep trying to reach deeper inside themselves to create a product that will leave its audience mesmerized.