Megadeth w/ Amon Amarth, Suicidal Tendencies, Metal Church, Butcher Babies
WaMu Theater, Seattle, WA
09.27.16

When Megadeth’s tour package was announced it felt like Christmas was coming in September. With such a diverse line up, it was hard to even fathom that many great bands on one stage. Diversity in the metal genre was what this package was about.

Los Angeles, CA’s Butcher Babies kicked things off, after having replaced Havok on the tour. Heidi Shepherd and Carla Harvey ran back and forth trading screams, hair flying, pumping the crowd up during their high energy set. Shepherd even jumped down into the crowd for a short time.

Washington’s own Metal Church was back on the big stage, where they have worked hard to be. Front man Mike Howe was as dynamic a personality as his voice. It was all smiles from the band as they played to a hometown crowd.  Bassist Steve Ungar proudly wore his Seahawks Jersey as they crushed though their thrash-filled set.

Suicidal Tendencies blazed onto the stage, and never seemed to slow down.  One of the most dynamic and hard to categorize bands on the line up, they kept the pace up.  They were near impossible to photograph, as it was a marathon race watching front man Mike Muir interact with bassist Ra Diaz while dodging Dean Pleasants and Jeff Pogan. Behind them all Dave Lombardo (ex-Slayer fame) laid down a steady beat.

Swedish Vikings Amon Amarth were on fire. Back for a second time this year, supporting their new album Jomsviking, they were clearly a draw for the rabid fans. While all the previous bands had a stripped down stage there was no mistaking the huge Viking ship which housed the drum riser, and separated left from right. It was massive and not even the full ship they have used in the past.  It certainly added to the feel, making them look and sound even bigger. Riff after riff of Nordic metal flowed tonight and the crowd loved every minute of their set.

Megadeth have most certainly earned their spot in the “Big 4” of thrash metal.  This fantastic tour package closed with the headliner supporting their new album Dystopia. The stage set was a futuristic mechanical world, with broken machines, moving lights, and displays in front of a giant LED screen. As the countdown intro video began and smoke filled the stage, Megadeth opened with the classic ”Hangar 18.”

The new lineup of Dave Mustaine and Dave Ellefson as the mainstay band, with new members Brazilian guitarist Kiko Loreiro (Angra fame) and Belgian Drummer Dirk Verbueren (Soilwork) rounding it out, was one of the tightest line-ups in the band I’ve seen in several incarnations. You could see and feel the newfound chemistry on stage as Loreiero and Mustaine traded guitar licks back and forth in the spotlight. What a great set as Dystopia has been hailed as a return to form and one of the strongest Megadeth releases in years.

What a fantastic night of music. Something for everyone, and just looking around at the crowd, it seemed everyone got what they came for and more.

Megadeth Set List
Hangar 18
The Threat Is Real
Tornado
Poisonous Shadows
Wake Up Dead
In My Darkest Hour
Conquer Or Die
Fatal Illusion
She Wolf
Dawn Patrol/Poison
Sweating Bullets
A Tout Le Monde
Trust
Post American World
Dystopia
Symphony Of Destruction
Encore
Peace Sells, But Who’s Buying
Holy Wars, The Punishment Due

Amon Amarth Set List
Twilight Or the Thundergod
Pursuit Of Vikings
As Loke Falls
First Kill
On A Sea Of Blood
Runes To My Memories
Deceiver Of The Gods
Raise Your Horns
Guardians Of Asgard

Review and photos by Neil Lim Sang

Megadeth w/ Amon Amarth, Suicidal Tendencies, Metal Church, Butcher Babies