MEGADETH „That One Night: Live in Buenos Aires”

Music: Heavy Metal
Website: http://www.megadeth.com
Country: U.S.A.

That One Night live album is a companion to the gold-certified DVD of the same name that was released earlier, i.e. on March the sixth of 2007. The show was recorded live at Obras Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina on October 9, 2005, before a rabid audience of over 25000 fans.

Judging MEGADETH is very difficult, especially doing such with live performances. It is so, because a huge burden lays upon their backs, as for the legend of heavy metal. Moreover, live shows – being the essence of each band , who choose their best material to satisfy the thirsty fans – are governed by other features than studio recordings. Concentrating on the set list for this concert, it has to be said, that it is quite cool: the CDs feature songs encompassing MEGADETHs career, ranging from their 1986 Peace Sells But Whos Buying through 2004s System Has Failed. What is more, the CD release contains three more tracks: Skin O My Teeth, Die Dead Enough and Angry Again, not included on the DVD. I will not say, that it is bad nor superb, or could have been better – it is a job for all those naysayers, who always complain. Dave knows what he is doing and actually, it is his job. I do not remember fans, not having fun during MEGADETH gigs. Or maybe they are just cynical – firstly they say, that the set list sucks, but then they have a great time during the show. I say, the problem is not with the choice, but with them. I want to sensitize everybody to such hypocrisy. The material is chosen carefully and will satisfy all MEGADETH fans. It is as rich as on the previous live album, Rude Awakening, but at the same time more powerful and sublime. On the Rude Awakening DVD/CD the material was very good, but everything sounded identically. On That One Night this problem has been mended and from this point goes a huge bow towards the sound-crew. Dave and his new-chosen squad also give a fantastic craft-workshop and a spellbinding performance. It is a great feast of sounds, digestible for everyone. Pay more attention to the rare performance of I'll Be There and you will see what I mean.

The show goes quickly and smoothly, Dave does not talk at all, Shawns drums smite everybody within the area of 10 miles and Glenn Drover proves, that he is the best man to replace Al Pitrelli. Not to mention new on bass (actually only then) James MacDonough. The reason of dissolving the band by Dave was pretty odd, thus MEGADETH is now a one-piece band with a front man changing the line up like socks, but it is his choice after all. The point is, that David Ellefson, the only (apart from Mustaine) musician from the original 1983 squad was not included in the rebirth process. A pity, as MacDonough, though being a fantastic bassist, is only a shadow of David.

All in all, the 2 CD set is a real pearl, to satisfy all MEGADETH fans, showing, that they (or to be more precise – Dave) are still in great shape. A fantastic show, a phantasmal crowd, an oneiric atmosphere everything is just gorgeous. More such spellbinding performances. Who said that metal has died? This gig shows and proves, that as long as we have people like Dave, though pretty unpredictable, heavy metal will remain forever.

note: 9/10

Tracklist

Disc 1

1. Jet Intro
2. Blackmail the Universe
3. Set the World Afire
4. Skin O My Teeth
5. Wake Up Dead
6. In My Darkest Hour
7. Die Dead Enough
8. She Wolf
9. Reckoning Day
10. A Toute Le Monde
11. Angry Again

Disc 2

1. Hangar 18
2. Return to Hangar
3. I'll Be There
4. Tornado of Souls
5. Trust
6. Something That I'm Not
7. Kick The Chair
8. Coming Home to Argentina
9. Symphony of Destruction
10. Peace Sells
11. Holy Wars

Total playing time 01:43:04

Line-up

Dave Mustaine – guitars, vocals
Glen Drover – guitars
James MacDonough – bass
Shawn Drover – drums