LAST UPDATED: April 23 at 11 AM. The journalist had written that the band only played the chorus of "Peace Sells," but the song was played in its entirety. The excerpt has been corrected.
Megadeth released their latest album, The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!, which was definitely one of the best releases of the year. The band is currently on the Crush The World , which finally arrived in Brazil last Thursday, the 18th, for a single show in São Paulo, at Espaço Unimed.
Although tickets were not sold out, the venue was full, with fans of all ages, including a large number of teenagers.
Megadeth's stage was eye-catching, featuring a large image of the cover art from the band's most recent album, which also illustrates one of the best and most iconic appearances of Vic Rattlehead, the iconic mascot that adorns the artwork of the band's records.
The last few years have been turbulent for Megadeth, with lineup changes and frontman Dave Mustaine throat cancer diagnosis . Regarding the illness, the frontman has since recovered, and as for the new musicians, the band is incredibly well-integrated.
At the end of 2023, then-guitarist Kiko Loureiro announced his departure from the group, and was replaced by Finnish guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari , who was praised by Mustaine , and rightfully so. The guitarist is truly very good.
Lights dimmed, screams erupted, and cell phones were raised high. Megadeth had already taken the stage in grand style, performing the excellent title track "The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!". It's definitely a great way to start the show: it's an energetic song with great riffs and guitar solos, plus explosive drumming. Within minutes of the show, Mäntysaari had already demonstrated his incredible skill on the instrument.
Without giving them time to breathe, “Skin O' My Teeth” began and drove the audience wild, who got even more excited during the chorus of the track from Countdown To Extinction (1992).
Another classic followed, “Angry Again” literally had people screaming at the top of their lungs and jumping. The track is spectacular in its studio version, but live it's spine-tingling. This new Megadeth lineup is phenomenal, and this performance was just a small sample of all the power the band possesses.
A brief, very brief, pause preceded “Wake Up Dead,” a performance that shook the entire Unimed venue, with speed and the band demonstrating all their technique, in an explosion of thrash metal combined with the lights, generating a frenetic rhythm. The band then launched into “In My Darkest Hour.”
Pulsating drums and handclaps sum up the introduction of "Countdown To Extinction," which, despite being a heavy song, follows a ballad rhythm, without elaborate solos or fast drums, but does feature a beautiful solo.
“Hello, me. Meet the real me” has to be one of the most iconic phrases in metal, and yes, Megadeth fans screamed the intro to “Sweating Bullets,” as well as the chorus and other spoken parts of the track. In other words, it was a total success. An explosion of lights accompanied the incredibly talented drummer Dirk Verbeuren before Dave Mustaine blew everything away with his solo.
“Dystopia”, the title track from the 2016 album, followed. This is one of those songs where the solos and instrumental parts are more exciting than the sections with vocals.
“See if you recognize this song,” said Mustaine before they played “Hangar 18,” from Rust In Peace (1989), a fan favorite, with an impeccable performance by the band, especially Mäntysaari who, when joined by Verbeuren on drums, thrills any metal fan.
There's no other word to describe the introduction to "Trust" other than "explosive." James LoMenzo joined the band in 2021 , replacing longtime bassist David Ellefson . He and Verbeuren form a spectacular duo for the track, which also features one of the best choruses of the band's career. The whole song is spectacular and a joy for the Brazilian audience who were able to hear it.
Another one for the fans of the classics. “Tornado Of Souls” had the audience singing at the top of their lungs. Rightfully so. An exceptional track, and once again, Megadeth impresses with their ability to sound even more powerful live.
Clapping accompanied the introductory riff of “A Tout Le Monde,” the only song from the excellent album Youthanasia (1994). A powerful ballad to slow down the fast pace of the show. Another one that charmed, especially when they played it to the audience, who sang the chorus along with the drums and clapping.
Dave Mustaine was responsible for the fast introductory riff of "Devil's Island." Here, the frontman encountered some vocal problems, making it impossible to hear his voice in some parts.
“Symphony Of Destruction” needs no introduction. The alternation between more linear and more rhythmic moments creates the perfect combination that is the track, coupled with the lights, creating an even more incredible atmosphere.
“Peace Sells” came at the end of the American group's performance, which featured Vic Rattlehead on stage, and they bid farewell to the audience before the encore.
To close the night, they returned to the stage with a vengeance and played "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due," in a performance that concluded in the same way it began: with excellence.
Technique, speed, and precision. That's the Megadeth show. In a performance packed with classics, the band delivered a flawless show and thrilled the fans.
With few pauses and even less talking, Megadeth had the São Paulo audience in the palm of their hand; there were few moments when the fans weren't singing along, headbanging, and jumping to the rhythm of the music. The setlist choice was perfect, with only one detail, and this is a completely personal opinion: the band could have added more tracks from the album Youthanasia , which is full of exceptional songs that sometimes end up being forgotten.
Even Dave Mustaine's fiercest critics can't find fault with his voice during this show. The points to be raised regarding this aspect are minimal, and the frontman delivered a performance worthy of praise.
This new lineup is truly phenomenal live, delivering everything it promises and much more. The new guitarist seems very comfortable and connected with the band, which plays in complete harmony.
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