Megadeth Electric Ballroom 12-06-12


2 Days after a successful support slot to Black Sabbath at Download I arrived to see the queue going around the block for a very rare Megadeth UK headlining show.  The show sold out in minutes and everyone is ready to go and then the support act Sanguine came on and were frankly dreadful.


A 4 piece with a female singer who told us her vocals were shite today as she had a throat infection. Frankly no one cared. The guitarist played 4 chords at best and the shouty hardcore went nowhere. The only memorable moment was for what I think was called “Contagious” which had as the chorus laughing in the same way The Laughing Policeman did!!!


To come on to a crowd who are up for a good time and get no response at all not even indifference was quite amazing!!!


No problems for Megadeth as the rapidly filling venue bellowed their love for Mr Mustaine!


This gig will be remembered in years to come and thousands will say they were there. For the second time this year a chance to see one of the Big 4 in a small venue and again we were treated to something special.


With this setlist how could they go wrong.


Never Dead
Headcrusher
Hanger 18
She Wolf
Trust
Foreclosure Of A Dream
Dawn Patrol
Poison Was The Cure
Sweating Bullets
A Tout Le Monde
Angry Again
Guns Drugs And Money
Whose Life (Is It Anyways?)
Public Enemy No 1
Symphony Of Destruction
Peace Sells
Encore Of Holy Wars The Punishment Due


The place went mad. With an arena style light rig (in a small club) and an excellent sound we were in for a treat.


New song “Never Dead” was a great opener and then “Headcrusher” with its fantastic “Symphony” style riff near the end just let rip. Wonderful.


Dave just looked at the mayhem and started the riff to “Hangar 18”and it went up another notch. The guitar solo swopping at the end of the song, which was a feature of the whole show was quite incredible. Add to that the thunderous drumming by Shawn Drover and bass work from Dave Ellefson this song was a life highlight!!


In Chris Broderick on guitar Dave has found a perfect fit and he really can do it all. Riff, solo, shred the lot.


At the end of the song Dave just said “I’m really pleased we did this”!!


Dave now seems to be totally at peace with it all and the crowd roared it’s love for the man on more than one occasion!


Through a couple of songs from the much unloved “Cryptic Writings” cd “She Wolf” and “Trust” which I have to say went down very well and people knew all the words.


Dave was helped out on more than one occasion with the crowd bellowing it out. The start of “Sweating Bullets” was handed over to the crowd completely.


3 more songs off new cd “13” were greeted like old friends especially “Public Enemy No 1” and the thrashy “Whose Life”. The last 3 songs were all classics and raised the roof for a fitting finale to a quite wonderful gig.


A real treat to see someone who you expect in arenas playing a club.


Only downside was only a 85 minute setlist which for a £45 ticket was a little tight.


Don’t get me wrong it was a wonderful night but another few songs like “In My darkest Hour” and “Devils Island” and this would have been off the scale.

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