Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Thrash metal probably wouldn’t be where it is today today had it not been for Megadeth, who alongside Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax, revolutionized a more technically complex take on the guitar-charged genre.

Vocalist/guitarist Dave Mustaine is the one guy who’s been there since the very beginning, coming out of the early incarnation of Metallica with a vengeance for 1985’s “Killing Is My Business…And Business Is Good!” and continuing to lead the charge through 2022’s “The Sick, The Dying…And The Dead!”

Bits of them both and much of what came between were the subject of the “Destroy All Enemies” Tour, which filled lots of seats inside the Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, though the lawn was closed.

In any case, the fearless leader, fellow axeman Teemu Mäntysaari, bassist James LoMenzo and drummer Dirk Verbeuren delivered the bone-crushing likes of the latest title track, “Dread And The Fugitive Mind” and “Angry Again” throughout 95 minutes as a festival-worthy barrage of smoke, lights and their iconic logo beamed above.

They kept “Sweating Bullets” during the “Countdown To Extinction” and “Symphony Of Destruction,” ultimately rising from the ashes with the pummeling “Peace Sells” and explosive encore of “Holy Wars…The Punishment Due,” erasing any doubts of their ongoing dominance.

In the direct support slot, Illinois’ own Mudvayne brought the masks, make-up and mayhem, making up for a decade hiatus with an hour-long overview of its nu metal, alternative and progressive experiments.

“Not Falling,” “Silenced,” “Fall Into Sleep,” “Happy?” and “Dig” were amongst the many full-throttled aggressions, enhanced all the more by the band’s imaginative approach to horror-themed performance art.

The hard rock/metalcore men of All That Remains got it all going, blasting their way around “Chiron,” “Hold On,” “This Calling” and “Two Weeks,” all while echoing the others’ epic onslaught.

For additional information on Megadeth, visit Megadeth.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre include Outlaw Music Festival (Sept. 7); Staind and Breaking Benjamin (Sept. 14); Junior H (Sept. 15) and Korn (Sept. 28). For additional details, visit LiveNation.com.

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