Except for a few tracks, Megadeth offered a concert similar to his last visit to Quebec. And yet the Californian quartet ended up with a new work in hand, on which we find several solid pieces of metal.
Of the 14 tracks played, there was only one new song from the opus The Sick, the Dying… and the Dead! and four titles they hadn’t played in 2022.
From the start, let’s assume that Dave Mustaine and his band put on a solid and furious performance of “old-school” thrash metal before being met with critical acclaim from critics. There is nothing to say about that. The quartet, members of the “Big Four”, is as solid as ever.
We just would have liked to hear more new material. Especially since the last work, which was released last September, is one of the good metal albums of 2022.
Introduced with the title “Prince of Darkness”, Megadeth opened in the smoke and in a slick stage setting with Hangar 18, where the tall redhead gives way to Brazilian guitarist Kiko Loureiro for a few solos.
René Baillargeon\QMI Agency
The crowd explodes and the quartet continues with Dread and The Fugitive Mind. An audience that will react strongly to an excellent, blistering version of Sweating Bullets where Mustaine’s voice was perfect.
After “Trust” came the quiet guitar sounds of Kiko Loureiro, which announced one of the big moments of the evening.
“To everyone, to all my friends, I love you guys, I have to go. Those are the last words. I will ever speak And they’ll set me free,” the crowd chanted, accompanying Dave Mustaine’s hoarse voice.
René Baillargeon/QMI Agency
On the giant screen, a snowy street appeared behind the musicians, followed by the traditional “Ohé, ohé, ohé” chanted by the audience.
“I don’t speak much. let me speak I would like to thank you for the reception of our new album. There was COVID and cancer that I defeated. “Thank you for your encouragement,” the singer-guitarist began before the rendition of “We’ll Be Back” from the opus “The Sick, the Dying… and the Dead!”.
After the indispensable “Symphony of Destruction” with war imagery “Peace Sells”, Dave Mustaine had a big surprise in store with a huge, very snarky version of “Mechanix”, the original version of “The Four Horsemen” he composed with Metallica.
After years in Metallica’s shadow, Dave Mustaine has slowly and uncompromisingly regained his peerages. Megadeth has proven with its last two tours that it has its place among the greats and has nothing to envy to Metallica. Nothing.
RENÉ BAILLARGEON/QMI AGENCY
From “talking”
Before Megadeth, the band Bullet for My Valentine took the stage to the strains of the efficient Carmina Burana.
Her last visit to Quebec dates back to an appearance in the first part of Avenged Sevenfold in January 2018. It took a while.
The quartet from Wales heated up the audience for a good hour with jerky lights.
“You’re amazing. Thank you for your support,” said vocalist and guitarist Matt Tuck, unable to believe the crowd’s reaction.
The spectators on the floor were quite active slamming and body surfing.
Sometimes it’s the cell phones that get in the way, sometimes it’s the endless chat sequences that never end. Like these two guys during the Bullet For My Valentine performance, talking loudly at high volume, penetrating the high decibel reading. This too is disturbing and intolerable.
ONI’s Ontario prog metal
Early in the evening at 7pm, Ontario band ONI really got going with a solid half hour of progressive metal.
The quintet, led by vocalist Jake ONI, a colossus with long hair, pressed the pedal to the floor from the first notes of their performance. It went back to the post office.
The formation performed the track Secrets, on which we find the voices of Iggy Pop and Randy Blythe from Lamb of God on the album Loathing Light. The public has repeatedly shown their joy, and with good reason.
The three teams will be presented on Thursday at the Place Bell in Laval.