Published: April 21, 2008 07:02 pm            

Gigantour decimates Houston

The 2008 version of Gigantour rolled into Houston, Texas this past Thursday, much to the delight of the several thousand metalheads in attendance.

The near capacity crowd was witness to approximately five hours of metal music from some of the up-and-comers of the metal scene, as well as headliner and metal titans, Megadeth.

Due to travel time and the show’s 5:30 p.m. start, I missed out on sets by High on Fire, Job for a Cowboy, and Children of Bodom. However, several fan reports stated Job for a Cowboy basically stole the show, while Children of Bodom were just brutal.

In Flames, a metal quintet from Sweden, served as main support, and this band was very impressive.

Only a couple of songs pummeled listeners with jackhammer-style snare drum beats, but it was majority of the remaining 40 minute set which left fans screaming for more and showing respect for their brethren from across the Atlantic.

In Flames vocalist Anders Fridén appeared to truly appreciate the fans who attended Thursday’s concert, and thanked them numerous times.

The band is touring in support of its recently released album, “A Sense of Purpose,” which includes “Move Through Me, a song which received roaring approval from the crowd.

This could be the album the band has long hoped to break them into mainstream America. Fridén said the group would return in November.

Wasting little time in between set changeovers, the band which most everyone had come to see was next.

As the curtain dropped, the furious sound that is Megadeth roared to life from the opening track “Sleepwalker” into the classic “Wake Up Dead.”

Founder, vocalist and guitarist Dave Mustaine appeared to be a man on a mission by unleashing a barrage of songs many fans have not heard in some time, while keeping many of the classics most would expect.

The show continued with tracks “Take No Prisoners” and “Skin O’ My Teeth” unleashing the moshing action, and the politically charged “Washington is Next” from the group’s 2007 CD, “United Abominations,” kept the action going.

The quartet, which includes Mustaine, James Lomenzo, bass; Chris Broderick, guitar; and Shawn Drover, drums, never missed a beat through the 90 minute marathon.

The show continued as “Kick the Chair” segued into the latter half of “In My Darkest Hour,” only to see the crowd erupt when the opening salvo of “Hangar 18” rang across the Verizon Wireless Theater.

Other songs from the metal masters included “Gears of War,” “A Tout Le Monde,” “Tornado of Souls,” and the rare gem, “Ashes in Your Mouth.” The band continued with “Burnt Ice,” from the new disc, and mega-hit “Symphony of Destruction.”

Mustaine snarled and sneered through “Trust” and band’s defining song, “Peace Sells,” before returning with its molten metal monster “Holy Wars” for an encore.

With more than 20 years as the founder of Megadeth, Mustaine and his current lineup appear to have many albums and years left in the proverbial gas tank if Thursday’s concert can be used as a measuring guide.

        

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