Megadeth,Anthrax/Osaka,Japan 2017

The live in Japan of “THE BIG 2/4” is now available on 3 CDs! This performance in Japan was extremely memorable. ANTHRAX first came to Japan in March 1987, and MEGADETH came the following month. Exactly 30 years later, the two giants who brought “real thrash metal” to Japan went on a coupling tour. In particular, the headliner MEGADETH has only been coming to Japan for festivals recently. Although there were some bonus solo performances, this is the first time in 10 years that they have performed a main tour since the “UNITED ABOMNATIONS JAPAN TOUR” in 2007. Of these, this work includes “May 17, 2017: Zepp Osaka Bayside performance”. A 3-CD set with ANTHRAX on disc 1 and MEGADETH on discs 2-3. This is a 3-CD coupling version commemorating the 30th anniversary of the two giants’ first visit to Japan. First, let’s check the position of the show in the Japan schedule.・May 17: Zepp Osaka Bayside [This work] ・May 18: Zepp DiverCity Tokyo ・May 19: Zepp DiverCity Tokyo [Powerful sound super live album] All three performances. The Osaka performance of this work was the first day of the show. The biggest point of this work is not the 30th anniversary emotion …. The tremendous quality that even blows it away! No matter how 30 years it is, we will not press it with a bad recording. It is a purely tremendous sound that “I have to keep this forever”. After all, it was the one who made this work, Mr. “Western Japan’s Strongest Taper”, the best recording artist of the time. It is a special gem in his collection. “Zepp Osaka Bayside”, which was the scene, is a new venue that was just born in February this year, but Mr. “Strongest” has already conquered it. Even though the recording artists who are currently famous for their work have not yet fully grasped the sound, Steven Tyler’s masterpiece “OSAKA 2017” has achieved “sound like a sound board” and “better sound than the actual scene”. This work also has a winning formula that only the “strongest” knows. In fact, the sound of this work can be devoted to the words “like a sound board” without hesitation. At the beginning, “Can’t Turn You Loose” (familiar from the movie “BLUES BROTHERS”), which announces the opening of ANTHRAX, is ultra clear. That’s why the sound of the official live album, not just the sound board, spreads all at once. All the musical tones are intense, but the cymbals and vocals are especially wonderful. The sharp cymbals have zero reverberation, so much so that I think they really set a microphone on the drums. And while the precise guitar and bass create a wall of riffs, the vocals that break through them are also super clear. The official style is even more cheering. A loud cheer of “Wow!” rolls up for the clear “Can’t Turn You Loose”, but this balance really seems like an official version. Without one voice jumping out, the crowd’s unique detailed cheers rise. Thrash metal roars as if to overpower it… This balance is the result of Mr. “Strongest”‘s careful selection and setting of equipment, but in addition, the power of the position is also great. This time it seems to have been a huge success, almost full, but I kept the front seat of the second floor with my friends. The surfers’ wild enthusiasm rises like steam from the first floor, and there is no audience noise nearby. And because it is the front of the second floor, the musical sound with zero obstructions jumps straight in, and the sense of distance is offset by the equipment setting. People who experienced the scene have said that it was “quite a dumpling”, but I don’t think so from the sound of this work. It is exactly the one that “sounds better than the scene” … The headliner band MEGADETH is even more explosive. ANTHRAX also had a great sound, but MEGADETH is even clearer. While ANTHRAX’s riffs were like a “wall,” MEGADETH’s riffs felt like bullets being fired one by one. Just to be clear, ANTHRAX’s sound is not inferior. This difference is due to the on-site PA, which is the “individuality of the sound that the band produces.” It is faithfully and precisely depicted. [Best Selection ANTHRAX vs. Great Resurrection MEGADETH] The wonderful things about these two heroes depicted by such sounds… First of all, ANTHRAX has a gorgeous greatest hits. Moreover, they play the fierce rush of their major songs without wavering. The rhythm is just amazing. It’s amazing! Charlie Benante, the key player, is still the best in the world of thrash drummers, which is full of skilled and charismatic people, as are Scott Ian and Frank Bello. It’s not just fast, it’s not just accurate, it’s not just power-pushing. It’s full of groove, which flexibly changes and becomes a driving feeling. This free and ironclad rhythm monster is AC/DC class (although the music is far apart). In contrast to ANTHRAX’s best song selection, the headliner MEGADETH is dazzling with the brilliance of their golden age, which has returned. Of course, MEGADETH also has a full lineup of their major songs from “PEACE SELLS… BUT WHO’S BUYING” to “CRIPTIC WRITINGS”, but at the same time, they are featuring their latest work “DYSTOPIA”, and they are really generous with 7 songs out of a total of 18 songs. In recent years, even if new songs were included, the pattern was at most 2-3 songs, so this is intense. This is the first time they have played so many new songs since “BLACKMAIL THE UNIVERSE 2005”, which was the first revival. And the new songs are so wonderful that they are worthy of it. Not only did they reach third place in the US and win a Grammy, but the song itself is terribly cool, and the heavy tank-like power of “heavy MEGADETH” is amazing. New member Dirk Verbeuren is a former SOILWORK master, and Kiko Loureiro is a genius guitarist. Both stars have become familiar with MEGADETH through a series of successful tours, and they are truly captivating with the brilliance of their golden age. And Dave Mustaine, who is the most important, is also amazing. Although the key is different from the past, his deep voice is suitable for the heaviness that seeps out. At one point he was still struggling with not being able to speak, but he has made a wonderful comeback in this work. The audience for MEGADETH is also scorching hot. It is said that “DYSTOPIA is the best masterpiece since RUST IN PEACE”, and as if to support that, the heat of the venue that burned hot in this work is amazing. In fact, two performances in Tokyo for this tour were sold out, and Osaka was almost full. The Osaka performance two years ago, when the second and third floor seats were closed, was a huge home run-like hyper live performance that seemed like a lie. ANTHRAX, who still shows off their impressive live performance backed by their long career, is still going strong. MEGADETH, accompanied by their famous band, is enjoying a new golden age. This is not just a “30th anniversary coupling of the first visit to Japan,” but a live album that will give each band a tremendous metallic show. Live at Zepp Osaka Bayside, Osaka, Japan 17th May 2017 TRULY PERFECT/ULTIMATE SOUND(from Original Masters) ANTHRAX Disc 1(62:43) 1. Can’t Turn You Loose 2. Among the Living 3. Caught in a Mosh 4. Madhouse 5. Fight ‘Em ‘Til You Can’t 6. Breathing Lightning 7. Efilnikufesin (N.F.L.) 8. Blood Eagle Wings 9. Antisocial 10. Indians 11. Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll (Outro.) Joey Belladonna – lead vocals Scott Ian – rhythm guitar Jonathan Donais – lead guitar Frank Bello – bass Charlie Benante – drums MEGADETH Disc 2(54:57) 1. Prince of Darkness 2. Hangar 18 3. Wake Up Dead 4. In My Darkest Hour 5. The Threat Is Real 6. Sweating Bullets 7. She-Wolf 8. Conquer or Die! 9. Lying in State 10. Trust 11. Poisonous Shadows 12. Fatal Illusion Disc 3(47:14) 1. A Tout Le Monde 2. Tornado of Souls 3. Post American World 4. Dystopia 5. Symphony of Destruction 6. Peace Sells 7. MC 8. Holy Wars… The Punishment Due 9. Silent Scorn Dave Mustaine – lead vocals, guitar David Ellefson – bass, vocal Kiko Loureiro – guitar, vocal Dirk Verbeuren – drums, percussion