A Massive Explosion of Sound

Dawn of Azazel/Megadeth/Slayer 26/01/10

Miserable weather greeted fans as they lined up to enter Auckland’s Logan Cambell Centre on Monday 5thOctober 2009. But the rain could not dampen the crowds highly charged enthusiasm for the event. Some of the biggest names in heavy metal were about to perform side by side. Slayer and Megadeth; two of the 1980’s “Big Four” American heavy metal bands of all time and legends in their own right. The air was electric.

Despite some vocal and mixing issues New Zealand support act Dawn of Azazel warmed the crowd up effectively with relentless raw black metal. They where, however, no match for the blistering guitar playing of Megadeth front man Dave Mustaine and new guitarist Chris Broderick. Ferocious flying V guitar shredding and duo arpeggio solos left no doubt that Megadeth were back with a vengeance. Mustain, always at his best lyrically when spitting venom towards his bureaucratic enemies, did not disappoint. Fans enthusiastically yelled out their requests between songs and then sang along word for word. Red hair flying, Mustaine strutted around the stage bringing the house down with his perfect execution of songs from their latest album End Game.  Megadeth recorded their 12th album at the bands newly constructed studio just outside of San Diego. Their live performance lived up to the recordings and then some. Sticking to what they know best but creatively pushing at the boundaries of heavy metal Megadeth are undoubtedly still a force to be reckoned with. Mustaines incoherent babbling at the end of their set just added to his Rock Star charisma. Arguably Megadeth look set to rival Metallica for the top spot in heavy metal stardom.

The PA amplifiers had barely cooled down when Slayer launched into a barrage of thrash metal that defied the laws of physics. Volume dial set to ten and beyond, Slayer’s raw energy and undiluted approach blew everybody’s cobwebs away. Auckland heralded the start of a worldwide tour for Slayer’s eleventh studio album World Painted Blood. Selling 41,000 copies in the US in its first week the album pulls no punches and is as good as any previous release. Screaming above the thunderous roar of the guitar stacks, front man Tom Araya knows just when to drop out and let the crowd sing the graphically violent lyrics. Barely breaking a sweat this seasoned performer makes bass playing look easy while head banging to songs with apocalyptic titles such as Hate Worldwide, Public Display of Dismemberment and South of Heaven. Guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King, wearing Illicit T-shirts, found the sweet spot of the deceptively small looking PA system with their infectious guitar licks, aggressively attacking with precision and dexterity. Dave Lombardo’s flawless performance once again ensures him the title of the godfather of double bass drumming. The mosh pit went crazy and the ushers gave up trying to control where people were seated. In general the capacity crowd was well behaved and security kept any stage diving to a minimum.

The massive explosion of sound from these bands reverberated around the parts of my skull wired to heavy metal music. This was a thoroughly enjoyable sensation.

Reviewer – River