 The System Has Failed is the tenth studio album by American thrash metal band Megadeth . Released on September 14 , 2004 , it was the band 's second and final studio album distributed by Sanctuary Records . The System Has Failed was the first of three Megadeth records not to include original bassist and co @-@ founder David Ellefson . Instead , the album features session players , including former Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland on lead guitar . However , Poland only provided lead guitar parts and solos on a contractual basis and did not rejoin the band . 
