Gigantour Preview

Gigantour
Congress Theatre, Chicago
Friday, September 22, 2006

Metal fans have already had The Unholy Alliance tour, then Sounds Of The Underground, then Ozzfest, but Megadeth CEO Dave Mustaine hopes they have energy for just one more big show.

This year’s version of Mustaine’s traveling metal fest, Gigantour, is a significantly more attractive overall package than last year’s inaugural trek. Beyond Megadeth (who it seems have lost a little more drawing power with each member Mustaine boots from the band) and Dream Theater, the lineup that included Life Of Agony, Fear Factory, Bobaflex, Symphony X, Drykill Logic, and Nevermore was only mildly interesting and even less relevant.

But it obviously fared well enough to warrant a second go-round, and this time Mustaine swung for the fences. Beyond his own band, the main stage includes Lamb Of God, whose new record, Sacrament (Epic), is their best yet; Swedish avant-metal act Opeth; and Opeth’s fellow Swedes Arch Enemy. Old-school thrashers Overkill headline the second stage (Chicago is one of a minority of stops whose venue won’t allow for two stages) and from there it’s up-and-comers Into Eternity, The SmashUp, and Sanctity.

If you plan on going to Gigantour you might to bail from work a few hours early; doors are at 3 p.m. and show starts at 4.

— Trevor Fisher

Click here to stream Opeth’s “The Grand Conjuration.”

Click here to download Arch Enemy’s “Beast Of Man.”

Click here to download Into Eternity’s “Severe Emotional Distress.”

Category: Stage Buzz, Weekly