It isn’t only Prong wanting to re-enter the European concert halls. In 2008 another veteran gets off the grid: MEGADETH. The story is quite similar: the new album United Abominations is much better than the comeback record in 2004, and MEGADETH go powerfully back to the roots again ;) Much to the delight of all the fans :) As it was spread everywhere, there was a lot of change in the line-up. For good I’d say ;) Fresh blood for new creativity and for new energy, presenting such a lively band as never seen before.
This way convinced the North-Rhine Westphalia audience was not. The clinically naked and uncomfortable (exhibition) hall wasn’t even half filled (around 800 of possible 2000). That might be due to the expensive ticket prizes (approx. 35 Euro). Additionally the merchandise prizes have been exorbitant (shirt 30 Euro, hooded sweater even 60 Euro). And for your car one had to shell out 5 Euro as well. How convenient! However, that’s definitely not the way to fill concert halls! They should have booked the Zeche in Bochum or Essen instead :P

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Don’t ask me way, but for some reason I had Engel in mind regarding the support slot. In fact • EVILE • entered the stage. And I tell you… they were so cute! Don’t laugh; I’m serious about that ;) Anyways, these Brits could have been the kids of Slayer and Metallica, not only regarding age, but also musically. EVILE almost perfectly melted the mentioned band’s styles. Hehehe… old school Thrash played by young cats. Sometimes they were too close to their idols, but it was much fun. Sound was strange but EVILE didn’t care. These guys had a blast on stage and were shooting one after another track from their debut record Enter The Grave into the lame crowd ;) 30 minutes of energetic outbursts. I’m much curious of what has still to come from this band.

Although the equipment of both support bands already stood on stage and the roadies just had to clear, it though took 30 minutes till • MERCENARY • went on. Well… sound was still shitty, badly balanced what especially was bad for singer Mikkel Sandager, who had many problems with his voice. He didn’t notice or wasn’t misled by that and just screamed his soul off the body. Sometimes it sounded fabulous, sometimes really weird and off-key. But he communicated in German language, causing surprised faces in the audience and finally the crowd got drawn out of its shell. Yeah! MERCENARY remunerated in return with a brand new song entitled Embrace The Nothing, taken from the upcoming fifth record Architect Of Lies, set to be released on March 21. What a crusher! If the entire album is like this song, then expect something great ;) Ok, I already have seen better MERCENARY shows, but it was again lively, full of actions and big gestures and… cute :P
Setlist: Soul Decision, Embrace The Nothing, My Secret Window, World Hate Center, My World Is Ending, 11 Dreams

The clock strikes 10, the huge stage is empty and ready for • MEGADETH • who have much room to go wild. And they did. Ok… means, 4-stringer James Lomenzo did, and new entrant Chris Broderick. Drummer Shawn Drover disappeared behind a huge drum kit and Dave Mustaine? Well… Dave Mustaine is Dave Mustaine is Dave Mustaine. He always was and he always will be! He stood like nailed behind his micro, the red mane in his face playing the diva. He only moved when he pissed off went to the mixer nagging about the sound. And so Wake Up Dead got untimely broken up (and the photographers kicked out of the pit). In fact, Dave apologized for this little problem afterwards ;) Oh, and he also talked to the fans announcing Washington Is Next! and to Gears Of War. Besides, he changed and presented his Dean guitars playing media-effective the one and other solo. Well, they look great, indeed and he cut it ;) Old and new songs likewise bring the fans to life, finally, while two or three crowd surfers seemingly run a competition, at least for the first 15 minutes ;) Dave’s singing is still the same. Nothing has changed over the years. His voice is still raspy, snarling, surely kinda odd but definitely charismatic ;) James and Chris – who actually perfectly suits the band – bustle around in best mood, pose like rock stars and balance the cool aloofness of the red-head. After just 60 minutes the show is over and MEGADETH get screamed back on stage for encores. Symphony Of Destruction and Peace Sells are definitely the highlights, leaving lucky fans. Nevertheless, as for me… still too short for a headliner show at this category.
Setlist: Sleepwalkers, Take No Prisoners, Wake Up Dead, Skin O’ My Teeth, Washington Is Next!, Kick The Chair, In My Darkest Hour, Hangar 18, Gears Of War, A Tout Le Monde, Tornado Of Souls, Ashes In Your Mouth, Never Walk Alone / Burnt Ice, Symphony Of Destruction, Trust, Peace Sells, Holy Wars

Well, considering the ticket prizes more an overpriced show in a too big and absolutely impersonal location. No idea why, the live reports from the shows before told something completely different. Berlin was great, as it was told, and the Scandinavian shows even sold out. I guess the NRW-audience is too supersaturated and thus (rightly) much stingy with the money. For the tonight’s ticket prizes one might get 3 underground shows in a homey ambience with more enthusiastic bands and fans.
The plus for me personally (beside the interview with James, who’s really a nice guy): a lost thought friend and drummer of a once legendary band from WAF/MS stumbled over my feet, or I did over his? Whatever… ;)

story & pics © Dajana