Megadeth - Cryptic Writings (1997) [Full Album]

Cryptic Writings is the seventh studio album by American heavy metal band Megadeth. Released on June 17, 1997, through Capitol Records, it was the band's last studio album to feature drummer Nick Menza. His departure would mark the end of the band's longest lasting lineup to date, having recorded four studio albums. Megadeth decided to produce the record with Dann Huff in Nashville, Tennessee, because they were not satisfied with their previous producer Max Norman. The album features twelve tracks with accessible song structures, specifically aimed for radio airplay. The lyrics were also altered, in order to make the music more inclusive for wider audience. These changes were met with mixed opinions from music critics, who noted the band moving away from their thrash metal roots.

The album debuted at number 10 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in October 1997 for shipping 500,000 copies in the United States. The first 500,000 copies of Cryptic Writings in the U.S. were released with silver background album cover. A remixed and remastered version, featuring four bonus tracks, was released in 2004. Seven years after its original release, the album sold 850,000 copies in the United States and won widespread praise from rock radio programmers. The song "Trust" was nominated for Best Metal Performance at the 1998 Grammy Awards and became the band's highest charting song on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks.

Tracklist:
00:00 Trust
05:08 Almost Honest
09:09 Use The Man
13:42 Mastermind
17:29 The Disintegrators
20:18 I'll Get Even
24:38 Sin
27:45 A Secret Place
33:10 Have Cool, Will Travel
36:38 She-Wolf
40:16 Vortex
43:50 FFF

Audio: 320 kbps 48.000 kHz

Megadeth
Dave Mustaine – guitars, lead vocals
David Ellefson – bass, backing vocals
Marty Friedman – guitars, backing vocals, acoustic guitar, sitar on "A Secret Place"
Nick Menza – drums, backing vocals