Editing So Far, So Good... So What! (section)

==Music and lyrics==
According to music critic [[J. D. Considine]] of ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'', ''So Far, So Good... So What!'' displays music performed at "volumes approaching the threshold of pain".<ref name="Spin 2"/> This was the first album where another band member other than Mustaine contributed to writing, with bassist [[David Ellefson]] contributing to either lyrics or music on half of the album's songs. The album features fast guitar solos, multiple tempo changes and technical dexterity.<ref name="LA review"/> Mike Stagno of Sputnikmusic observed that the album offers the classic "take no prisoners" style which is commonly associated with Megadeth; however, he noted that the sound does not differ much from the other underground metal bands from that period.<ref name=Sputnik>{{cite web |last=Stagno |first=Mike |title=Megadeth - So Far, So Good... So What! (staff review) |url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/11863/Megadeth-So-Far,-So-Good...-So-What!/ |website=Sputnikmusic |date=April 25, 2007 |access-date=July 15, 2012}}</ref> Jim Farber of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' called Mustaine's vocals "bloodthirsty" and praised the musicianship for keeping rhythmic pace even at the "most anarchic moments".<ref name="RS"/> ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' journalist Dennis Hunt noted that the music was filled with extensive and "torrid" instrumentals and described Mustaine's singing as a combination of extreme shrieking and screaming.<ref name="LA Times"/> Despite the positive overview, "Anarchy in the U.K." received some negative criticism, partially because it was perceived to lack the rebelliousness of the original version.<ref name="Allmusic"/>

The lyrical themes on the album explore a variety of subjects, from [[nuclear holocaust]] ("Set the World Afire") to revisionism and censorship ("Hook in Mouth").<ref name="LA Times">{{cite news |last=Hunt |first=Dennis |date=March 6, 1988 |title=Meeting Mr. Megadeth, Dave Mustaine |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-03-06-ca-1027-story.html |access-date=November 10, 2013}}</ref> Still, the majority of the songs are accompanied by the same sentiment of disillusion and nihilism as their previous two albums.{{sfn|Joyner|2002|p=301}} Unlike traditional topics related to [[heavy metal music]], the song "In My Darkest Hour" contains emotional lyrics which deal with loneliness and isolation.{{sfn|Arnett|1996|p=50}} Dave Mustaine revealed that he tried to write about subject matters that were in touch with reality, including social issues and taboo topics.<ref name="LA Times"/> The lyrics on Megadeth's cover of "Anarchy in the U.K." were slightly mistaken because Mustaine claimed he had heard them incorrectly.<ref name=MSN/>