The return of live music has arrived and among the traveling caravans among the most anticipated this season is the combination of two of metal music’s most revered and relevant purveyors in Megadeth and Lamb of God.
Helming the Metal Tour of the Year, the assertive title is now a week in and undeniably delivering on what the marquee billing suggests. Further sealing the deal, the supporting crew of Trivium and Hatebreed make for a kind of all killer, no filler line up that offers a true indicator of the health of modern metal.
Adding to the significance of the run, Metal Tour of the Year marks the first domestic trek for Megadeth since 2017 and the first since Dave Mustaine endured a bout with cancer in 2019.
Performing a comprehensive setlist that includes a focused collection of Megadeth essentials, classics like "Peace Sells" and "Holy Wars...The Punishment Due" are presented with the band's modern era anthems like "Dystopia" in a way that is both timeless and timely.
For groove metal titans Lamb of God, Metal Tour of the Year serves as the vehicle to properly introduce the live transitions of the band's triumphant 2020 self-titled LP - giving the band the first chance to play these tracks for a live audience. New bangers like "Memento Mori,""Resurrection Man," and "New Colossal Hate" add to the arsenal of familiar favorites like "Redneck," "Ruin," and "Now You've Got Something to Die For" and the result is an all out explosion - complete with plenty of pyro.
For Floridian firestarters Trivium, Metal Tour of the Year coincides with the band's recent announcement of their 10th studio album with In The Court of the Dragon. Delivering both the title track and their most recent cut in "Feast of Fire," Trivium's trajectory continues to climb even after a banner 2020 that saw the universally-praised release of What The Dead Man Say.
The latest addition to the Metal Tour cavalcade is hardcore stalwarts Hatebreed. The seasoned veterans are out in support of their colossal eighth album, Weight of the False Self. Though the band is handling the opening ceremonies of each tour stop, the kind of pulverizing performances that have become synonymous with Hatebreed ensure there will be no lulls in the action.
After an unprecedented stretch away from the stage, the bands have all performed with a collective sense of gratitude that's evident - feeding off the fans energy and uninhibited excitement. The connection between the bands on stage and fans on the floor is as strong as it has ever been, with each tour stop boasting impressive attendance and incendiary performances.
Trivium frontman Matt Heafy offered his assessment of the tour after the first week of getting back to the business of owning stages. “Having not been able to play a show for 2 years was a crushing blow to all of us… however thankfully - we’re currently on one of the biggest and best tours of our entire 21-year career.
The crowds are massive; the energy, the love, the smiles, the screams of happiness from the audience - this tour is everything the world needs right now.”
Get tickets and information on the remaining dates of the Metal Tour of the Year - HERE.
Check the collection of images from the first week of shows featuring Megadeth, Lamb of God and Trivium below.
Megadeth
Lamb of God
Trivium
Hatebreed
