VARIOUS ARTISTS – Gigantour

Mister Dave Mustaine needs no introduction. Whenever the world is about to forget him, there’s always that other band badmouthing him, or vice versa, and you’d think it’s just to get back into the headlines whenever there is promotion to be done. Hopefully, it’s not this way, and hopefully Dave Mustaine one day will be remembered by people not only as the brain, singer, and great guitar player behind the band Megadeth, or the guy who was kicked out of that other band –- oops, there came that introduction after all –- but, as the man who dared to challenge Ozzfest with a bunch of bands that without a doubt whatsoever deserve more time in the spotlight than Sharon Osbourne’s calculated and money profiting tattooed and pierced, same-sounding NWOAHM crapsters. It hasn’t paid off for Mustaine yet, as days off on the road are spent at McDonald’s, but Gigantour is still an up-‘n’-coming event (no link to Randy West here, folks) -– and if he keeps the McDonald’s burgers off the catering carts, many of these bands still have a lot to give.

Mustaine’s recipe is to present bands that deserve more attention, along with a few already successful ones –- perhaps not his sole intention, though. The first Gigantour, which took place in 2005, saw, for instance, the likes of Symphony X and the incredible Nevermore share the stage with Dream Theater and Anthrax’s classic line-up, just to mention two underrated bands next to two “gigants” in more or less the same genre besides bands like Fear Factory and Life Of Agony (and more), all topped by Megadeth themselves. (This year, Gigantour 2006 just finished up, where Megadeth brought out their old Thrash Metal comrades in Overkill, as well as Opeth, Lamb Of God, Arch Enemy, Into Eternity, and more, but that story will most likely be told next year).

What is being presented to the Metal community, apart from the tour itself, is this double live-CD (as well as a DVD, hopefully more on that later), recorded at different locations while eating those McDonald’s burgers across the USA and Canada. Dream Theater opens the first CD, and like you have come to expect from these New York Prog nerds, they have rather unexpectedly chosen a new song, “Panic Attack” off of Octavarium, not really among their strongest moments, then launch into “The Glass Prison” off Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence, a track that clocks in at 13 minutes. Not the most commercial way to open a compilation CD, but like indicated above, Dave leaves the important selling out factor for Sharon. As usual, with most Dream Theater live recordings, the band sounds awesome, and the sound is genuine and live. Life Of Agony, Bobaflex, and Dry Kill Logic are also presented …the first an obvious choice in this setting, the latter two somewhat (and perhaps more) to reach a wider audience in the MTV-controlled USA -– if not, there would be too many “one dollar deals” at that place to eat. The first disc’s biggest selling point is indeed the two Anthrax classics, “I Am The Law” and “Caught In A Mosh” -– these are hit songs, if any, and when sung by Joey Belladonna, they sound right (John Bush as a singer in general wipes the floor with Belladonna any day though …).

Megadeth’s part dominates and opens disc two, and three songs are included. Thanks to the almighty creator of all living things -– whoever he is -– these are not the usual “Peace Sells,” “Symphony Of Destruction,” and “Anarchy In The UK.” Instead, Dave once again chooses the less commercial way out, with “A Tout Le Monde” (ok, big hit, but at least not overexposed live like the three mentioned above), “She-Wolf,” and “Kick The Chair.” When you hear the crowd sing “A Tout Le Monde,” you hear the winner and obvious headliner, and also easy to note is the indisputable fact that Megadeth now have a line-up on par with the Friedman/Menza days, thanks to the Drover brothers.

The second Gigantour CD takes a turn with two numbers by Fear Factory: “Archetype” and “Transgression,” one of the more aggressive bands on the bill. However, Fear Factory always managed to incorporate a few catchy hooks and riffs into their music, and comes across successfully. You may note that Mega-Dave once did an album with Fear Factory’s singer as well, so he sure takes care of his old friends –- proved by the fact that the angry redhead also chose to include one of the best bands out there today: Nevermore. As known by the aging Metal crowd, Nevermore started out as Sanctuary back in the day, and their first album was produced by none other than Dave Mustaine. Nevermore includes a guy that gives Dream Theater’s Petrucci, Symphony X’s Mike Romeo, and Megadeth’s Glenn Drover a good run for the money … the most complete and creative guitar player in today’s Metal scene: Jeff Loomis, who, in fact, auditioned for Megadeth back in his spot-nosed teens. This seven-stringed monster and his band unleash “Born” (the most memorable chorus from 2005) and “Enemies Of Reality” on a Montreal crowd, and judging from the extraordinary singer-supreme Warrel Dane’s reactions, the crowd goes apeshit.

Symphony X always delivers a strong show, with key players Russ Allen on vocals and Mike Romeo in the center of attention, here ending a CD that starts progressively with Dream Theater, then ends progressively as well. Romeo’s guitar sounds killer, and these are good choices to present: “Inferno (Unleash The Fire)” and “Of Sins And Shadows,” but after Nevermore’s intensity … nothing really matters.

That’s Gigantour 2005 live for you. May this be more about the music and less about greed –- Dave, please don’t let your wife take over the show and throw rotten eggs at your bands –- and here’s to hoping fans have a souvenir like this every year.