Megadeth - Gig Review & Photo Gallery 22nd March @ MC Arena, Melb VIC
Megadeth
MC Arena, Melbourne VIC
March 22, 2023
Support: In Flames
It's Knotfest Season! What an incredible feeling it was to walk into MC Arena on Wednesday night to a sea of black t-shirts, with local Melbourne metalheads united to bear witness to the double-header bill of the legendary Megadeth and In Flames. Wall of Sound was on-deck to capture the night, where fans of the bands would be treated to momentous sets from both acts in preparation for this weekend's festivals.
In Flames kicked things off with an epic hour-long set that seemed to try and cover as much as possible from their thirty-year-plus career, including fresh hits from the latest album Foregone. It was great to see plenty of fans in the audience tonight donning their In Flames tour t-shirts; speaking of which, this was their first Melbourne appearance in nine long years. Over the course of their set, they set a high standard for modern-day melodeath metal and gave those heading to Knotfest later this week just a taste of what is to come.
For Megadeth fans, this was a pretty special opportunity to see the band and their leader Dave Mustaine in a smaller arena setting than usual. When Megadeth takes to the stage, the crowd goes absolutely insane, particularly for Mustaine. It’s worth mentioning the love Melbourne gives Dave, as he has triumphed over serious health battles over the past few years and still knows how to rock out and give it his all, especially newer tracks from the catalogue from their 2022 album The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead! While Megadeth has gone through countless lineup changes over the years, they’re still an iconic force of thrash metal, with this current iteration of Mustaine, James LoMenzo (bass), Kiko Loureiro (guitars) and Dirk Verbeuren (drums) capturing the ferocity, anger and sheer-power that is world-renowned for.
How incredibly lucky Melbourne was to be treated to such an incredible double-header show tonight from Megadeth and In Flames. For those heading to Knotfest shows this weekend, be sure to catch both bands at their festival sets. They’re sure to go down as one of those “I was there when…” memories you can brag about to your mates years down the line.
Setlist
Hangar 18
Dread and the Fugitive Mind
The Threat Is Real
Angry Again
Sweating Bullets
She-Wolf
Conquer or Die!
Dystopia
Tornado of Souls
Trust
We'll Be Back
Symphony of Destruction
Peace Sells
Encore
Holy Wars... The Punishment Due
Get keen for Megadeth's return to the stage at Knotfest with KJ's Playlist here
Gig Review & Photo Gallery by Luke Sutton Insta: @LukeaSutton
Please credit Wall of Sound and Luke Sutton if you repost.
In Flames
Megadeth
