The World Needs A Hero - Release and Reception

Release and Reception

The album was released on May 15 in the United States and sold about 61,000 copies in its first week of release, entering the Billboard 200 at #16. The album sold another 25,000 copies in its second week, falling to #59. The album charted in Germany (#36), Poland (#17), Sweden (#38) and Switzerland (#55) as well.As of December 2005, The World Needs a Hero had sold about 219,000 copies in the United States.

Megadeth started on a tour to promote the album on June 8, 2001 at Milton Keynes National Bowl in England where they were featured alongside acts like AC/DC, The Offspring and Queens of the Stone Age. An appearance at the Dynamo Festival in the Netherlands was cancelled without explanation. A show scheduled for August 2, 2001 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia was cancelled after Megadeth was banned from performing in the country due to the band's imagery being considered "unsuitable".

The World Needs a Hero received generally mediocre reviews. Writing for Allmusic, reviewer Steve Huey opined that Mustaine "tries to conjure memories of ", but while comparing "Dread and the Fugitive Mind" to "Sweating Bullets" (from Countdown to Extinction in 1992) also said that much of the material "feels like rehashed Megadeth lite." Huey critiques the production as still being "radio-friendly" and says that because of that, the group "never quite kicks up the fury or flash of past glories." Huey gave the album two-and-a-half stars out of five.

Meanwhile, reviewer Greg Pratt of Bravewords.com was more sympathetic, and rated the album at 7.5/10. Pratt, after briefly critiquing the lack of a thrashy sound on the record, positively compared the record to Youthanasia (1994) or Countdown to Extinction. Additionally, he commented that even in the absence of longtime members Nick Menza and Marty Friedman, that the band still sounded good. Pratt reacted positively to a number of the album's songs, but cited "Recipe for Hate... Warhorse" as being the album's "most intense moment." Mike Stagno of Sputnikmusic reviewed the album, giving it a rating of 3/5. While Stagno noted that the album was advertised as a return towards the band's roots, he explained that those who were hoping for an album in the style of the band's first four records (Killing is My Business... and Business is Good! through Rust in Peace) would be disappointed. Stagno ultimately defined the album as "more of an all-out metal record."

In the Rolling Stone Album Guide, the album received two out of a possible five stars. The World Needs a Hero was described as "sluggish" and "retrograde"and was called a "step back for the band."

Former Megadeth guitarist Marty Friedman stated he was "a little disappoint" by the album. Friedman specifically singled out the album's cover for criticism, though he also commented that he thought that the music was "very well done".