Megadeth have gone through a few lineup changes over the years. All right, more than a few – a lot. Any time this happens there’s a lot of “this is the ultimate Megadeth lineup” rhetoric, or fans saying things like “this is the best lead guitar dude since Marty Friedman.” Tonight Megadeth featured Angra’s Kiko Loureiro on lead guitar and Lamb Of God’s Chris Adler on drums. But before we get to their performance, let’s not forget Children of Bodom.
Led by Alexi Laiho, Finland’s Children of Bodom deal in the kind of shred-heavy power metal that tops Guitar World reader polls, inspires signature model instruments and sends guitarists to the woodshed to learn new licks every time a new album is released. Latest album I Worship Chaos finds the band exploring heavier and more direct material than ever before. Judging by the warm reception, the metal heads of Melbourne are already intimately familiar with the record. The whole band were great, but the true highlight set was Laiho’s unearthly guitar talent. Here’s a player more than capable of sustaining an instrumental career, but instead employs his chops in the service of the song. His playing (and COB’s material in general) is rooted in a certain European aesthetic, but some of his lead guitar tricks are totally LA in the ‘80s. In a good way.
Now, Megadeth. I’ve seen Megadeth many times over the years with many different lineups, but I’ve never seen Dave Mustaine so energised, present and engaged. Perhaps it’s Loureiro, who brought a stage presence to Megadeth’s lead guitar role that hasn’t been there for a while. He faithfully reproduced Friedman’s iconic solos on tracks like Hangar 18, Tornado Of Souls and Symphony Of Destruction and yet added his own flair. Adler has made no secret of his status as the ultimate Megadeth fan boy, and his playing was very respectful to the original recordings, but with a slightly more aggressive and groove-based edge.
There were a few bold setlist choices, including tracks from recent albums Th1rt3en and Super Collider, and a cover of Thin Lizzy’s Cold Sweat. We also got the second-ever performance of Fatal Illusion from the forthcoming album Dystopia. The band sailed through, sans encore, to the reliable closer, Holy Wars …The Punishment Due.
It’s pretty amazing for a band to be this far into their career, with no need to prove anything, and still play as if their lives depended on it. If Megadeth can sustain this level of intensity through the Dystopia touring cycle, then this could represent a true rebirth.
BY PETER HODGSON
Photo by Ian Laidlaw
Loved: Mustaine’s smart-arse quips
Hated: No cool double-neck guitar for In My Darkest Hour.
Drank: The venom of the she-wolf. Yes, wolves have venom.
