Megadeth celebrates 20th anniversary of Rust in Peace with live DVD
Band's masterpiece gets its due in front of sell-out Hollywood crowd
Rust in Peace: Live (DVD)
Megadeth
(Shout! Factory)
megadeth.com, shoutfactory.com
Band's masterpiece gets its due in front of sell-out Hollywood crowd
Rust in Peace: Live (DVD)
Megadeth
(Shout! Factory)
megadeth.com, shoutfactory.com
By Thom Copher
Rust in Peace, the fourth album by thrash-metal pioneers Megadeth, has universally
been considered the most important and pivotal release in the band's long (and often
times tumultuous) career. The seminal 1990 album exercised guitaritst/vocalist Dave
Mustaine's compositional prowess for the ultra-heavy while allowing him to expand on
progressive phrasings which had been hinted upon with the band's three previous
albums. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Rust, Megadeth embarked on a
22-date trek which was captured during the tour's final date on March 31, 2010 at
The Palladium in Hollywood, CA.
Rust in Peace, the fourth album by thrash-metal pioneers Megadeth, has universally
been considered the most important and pivotal release in the band's long (and often
times tumultuous) career. The seminal 1990 album exercised guitaritst/vocalist Dave
Mustaine's compositional prowess for the ultra-heavy while allowing him to expand on
progressive phrasings which had been hinted upon with the band's three previous
albums. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Rust, Megadeth embarked on a
22-date trek which was captured during the tour's final date on March 31, 2010 at
The Palladium in Hollywood, CA.
True to the "anniversary" format, Rust... Live presents the album in its entirety via the original track listing. "Holy Wars... The
Punishment Due" kicks off the show with all of the anticipated fire and brimstone and is immediately followed by the bombastic hit,
"Hangar 18." These being (the studio) Rust's two most identifiable songs, it is obvious that Mustaine and company have sharpened the
knives to inject a live edge. However, the performance is so true to the studio recordings from which they are taken that it's downright
mesmerizing. Undoubtedly, much to be said of that comes in the form of bassist David Ellefson who rejoined Megadeth just prior to this
tour after an eight-year hiatus. Along with Chris Broderick (guitar) and Shawn Drover (drums), this may very well be Megadeth's
mightiest line-up ever.
Punishment Due" kicks off the show with all of the anticipated fire and brimstone and is immediately followed by the bombastic hit,
"Hangar 18." These being (the studio) Rust's two most identifiable songs, it is obvious that Mustaine and company have sharpened the
knives to inject a live edge. However, the performance is so true to the studio recordings from which they are taken that it's downright
mesmerizing. Undoubtedly, much to be said of that comes in the form of bassist David Ellefson who rejoined Megadeth just prior to this
tour after an eight-year hiatus. Along with Chris Broderick (guitar) and Shawn Drover (drums), this may very well be Megadeth's
mightiest line-up ever.
Megadeth: Shawn Drover, Dave Mustaine, Chris Broderick and David Ellefson
Whenever an album is showcased, there are (of course) performances of
the "deeper cuts" which are not regularly featured in a band's set list.
As the original Rust in Peace withstands the test of time as a great,
complete album, it's a special treat to experience the power of "Poison
Was the Cure," "Tornado of Souls" and "Dawn Patrol" in a live setting.
These, along with the remaining Rust tunes - including a reprise of
"Holy Wars..." which features bandmembers' introductions - more than
solidify the original disc's position as one of metal's best and most
influential releases of all time.
There are, too, some non-Rust numbers to fill out the evening's
activities: Post-Rust numbers "Skin o' My Teeth," "She-Wolf," "Trust"
and "Symphony of Destruction" represent Megadeth's mid/late 90s run
while two of the band's pre-Rust biggies, "In My Darkest Hour" and
the iconic "Peace Sells," also appear. My only gripe is that the bonus
the "deeper cuts" which are not regularly featured in a band's set list.
As the original Rust in Peace withstands the test of time as a great,
complete album, it's a special treat to experience the power of "Poison
Was the Cure," "Tornado of Souls" and "Dawn Patrol" in a live setting.
These, along with the remaining Rust tunes - including a reprise of
"Holy Wars..." which features bandmembers' introductions - more than
solidify the original disc's position as one of metal's best and most
influential releases of all time.
There are, too, some non-Rust numbers to fill out the evening's
activities: Post-Rust numbers "Skin o' My Teeth," "She-Wolf," "Trust"
and "Symphony of Destruction" represent Megadeth's mid/late 90s run
while two of the band's pre-Rust biggies, "In My Darkest Hour" and
the iconic "Peace Sells," also appear. My only gripe is that the bonus
tracks are offered in a separate section - it would have been nice to simply allow the concert to run in tact... oh WELL!!
The sound quality of Rust... Live is outstanding. There are three Dolby settings from which to choose, all of which provide precise
separation between the instruments. The camera work offers up the best seats in the house, be it front-and-center, middle of the pit or
stageside. Also, musicians - especially guitarists - can rejoice at the extended focus on the actual playing instead of the usual second-
and-a-half teasers.
Now, some fans may be doing the ol' "Rock, Paper, Scissors" as the release of Rust... Live coincides with that of The Big 4: Live From
Sophia - the extravaganza which presents thrash's forefathers (Megadeth, along with Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax) appearing together,
remarkably, for the first time. I have this to say from a Megadeth standpoint... dig deep and go for both, because the setlists between
the two have only minimal overlaps. 2010 has been an epic year in the storied history of Megadeth, and hopefully it is a glimpse into what
could be a long and productive run for this lineup.
The sound quality of Rust... Live is outstanding. There are three Dolby settings from which to choose, all of which provide precise
separation between the instruments. The camera work offers up the best seats in the house, be it front-and-center, middle of the pit or
stageside. Also, musicians - especially guitarists - can rejoice at the extended focus on the actual playing instead of the usual second-
and-a-half teasers.
Now, some fans may be doing the ol' "Rock, Paper, Scissors" as the release of Rust... Live coincides with that of The Big 4: Live From
Sophia - the extravaganza which presents thrash's forefathers (Megadeth, along with Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax) appearing together,
remarkably, for the first time. I have this to say from a Megadeth standpoint... dig deep and go for both, because the setlists between
the two have only minimal overlaps. 2010 has been an epic year in the storied history of Megadeth, and hopefully it is a glimpse into what
could be a long and productive run for this lineup.
