Megadeth and Mudvayne Thrashed Hollywood Casino Apmhitheatre in St. Louis

 

–by Shannon Mills

–photos by Keith Brake/KBP Studios

 

On Thursday night thrash metal icons Megadeth returned to the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Saint Louis on their “Destroy all Enemies“ tour.

All that Remains opened the night with a small but animated following of fans. They played several fan favorites as well as 2 new songs: “Divine” and “Let it Go”.

I was mesmerized with how Jason Richardson, the lead guitarist, played what I consider a more melodic type of metal. The set ended to enthusiastic applause and a definite amping of the energy as the crowd prepared for Mudvayne.

Just before the sun set for the evening, Mudvayne took to the stage. Vocalist, Chad Gray, was the demonic clown with a gunshot wound in the center of his forehead complete with streaming rivulets of blood across his face and down his shoulders and arms.

His growling voice commands the stage, and the crowd roared after the first song. Bassist, Ryan Martinie (who oddly was giving me an Adam Ant vibe with his makeup, dang am I telling my age? lol) slapped the five-stringed bass as he moved all about the stage keeping the crowd engaged equally as well as Gray did.

Mudvayne ended their set with “Dig” and the crowd was electrified as they waited in anticipation for Megadeth.

Megadeth’s set began with a masked plague doctor pulling a wooden cart yelling to “bring out your dead!” after which the band exploded into “The Sick, The Dying …and the Dead!”

Dave Mustaine was on top of his vocals and together with bassist, James LoMenzo, drummer Dirk Verbeurun and guitarist Teemu Mantysaari, the band kept it technically tight as they performed 16 songs. Just two years ago, performing with Lamb of God, Megadeth’s set was only ten songs. This tour has added some less played songs like “Washington is next” and “Liar”.

Megadeth’s newest addition, Teemu Mantysaari, was sheer perfection. Whether he was playing with Mustaine in harmony or shredding a solo, this guy was killing it! When “Sweating Bullets” began, the crowd energetically sang along while head banging.

The backdrop and the posters for this tour place Megadeth mascot, Vic Rattlehead, seated as if he were in the Lincoln memorial. Late in the set, Vic Rattlehead made an appearance on stage.

The show ended with an encore which included the classics “Symphony of Destruction” and “Holy Wars…The Punishment Due”. Headbanging and fist pumping moments were abundant, and Megadeth continues to deliver a quality show for all metal lovers.

Be sure to check out the complete gallery of photos from the night after the setlist below.

Megadeth Setlist:

1. Th Sick, the Dying … and the Dead!
2. Dread and the Fugitive Mind
3. Angry Again
4. Skin o’ My Teeth
5. Washington is Next!
6. Wake Up Dead
7. Hangar 18
8. Sweating Bullets
9. Trust
10. Countdown to Extinction
11. Tornado of Souls
12. We’ll Be Back
13. Mechanix
14. Peace Sells

Encore:

15. Symphony of Destruction
16. Holy Wars…The Punishment Due

Mudvayne Setlist:

1. Not Falling
2. Silenced
3. Internal Primates Forever
4. Fall Into Sleep
5. Death Blooms
6. Dull Boy
7. Nothing to Gein
8. World So Cold
9. Happy?
10. Dig