Megadeth performed their highly anticipated and sold-out show in São Paulo on Saturday night, the 2nd. The only show in Brazil was part of the This Was Our Life Tour and took place at Espaço Unimed — the same venue where the band will perform in 2024.
For this event, the context was Dave Mustaine 's farewell and the promotion of the group's final, self-titled album , released in January. Because of this, fans knew the weight and significance that the night would carry not only for him, but for the band itself, since this was the group's 17th visit to the country and their 42nd show here — a gigantic milestone.
The setlist included classics, recent songs, and surprises
With impeccable sound quality and an explosive atmosphere, the setlist featured timeless hits that need no introduction, such as “Symphony of Destruction”, “Hangar 18”, “Tornado of Souls”, “Wake Up Dead”, “Peace Sells” and “Holy Wars…The Punishment Due”, which drove fans wild from the first minute to the end of the performance. From more recent material, “Tipping Point”, “I Don't Care” and “Let There Be Shred” were played, standing out for the good reception from the audience, proving that they have become hits in such a short time.
However, the biggest surprise was the inclusion of "The Conjuring" in the setlist, since Mustaine converted to Christianity and has mentioned regretting writing it because it references satanic rituals.
Another highlight was the band playing a cover of Metallica; after all, it wouldn't be a farewell if Mustaine didn't play one of the biggest metal hits he co-wrote, marking the closing of a cycle in his career as a musician. The most missed performance by fans was "A Tout Le Monde," as a large part of the audience had been expecting to hear it, which didn't happen.
Despite the limitations of his voice, Dave is a winner in life, having faced cancer, and he silences any critic simply by playing his guitar. He does it with mastery, speed, and enviable technique, proving that without him, there would be no Thrash Metal either.
Like a true maestro, the guitarist has the audience in the palm of his hand and also counts on the support of the excellent veterans Dirk Verbeuren (drums) and James LoMenzo (bass) — who is in his second stint with the band. The newest member, guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari, has also proven to be a musician of the highest caliber, justifying Kiko Loureiro choice of him as his replacement.
Megadeth's show left a feeling of a return soon
Although announced as a "final farewell," it's hard to believe this is truly Megadeth's last chapter in Brazil. Last week, Dave mentioned at a recent show in Colombia that his band would return to the country "one last time."
If this actually happens, the tour should include more cities and be proportional to everything the band represents in metal, giving the Droogies a real and final opportunity to see Dave Mustaine shredding on the guitar, as he says in the track "The Last Note" from the new album: "I arrived. I commanded. Now, I disappear."
Check out the exclusive photos from our photographer Jéssica Marinho:
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