Now this was always going to be a difficult one. Sandwiched directly in between popular upcoming British thrash merchants Evile and LA titans Megadeth, there is little doubt that Arizona death metallers Job For A Cowboy have their work cut out for them if they are to win over a potentially hostile crowd tonight. Luckily though, the appearance of their banner on stage does actually manage to raise a healthy enough level of cheers within the overbearing mumble of disinterest, and by the time the young quintet arrive on stage the number of jeers is pleasantly low compared to previous dates on the tour. Kicking off their relatively short set with the brutal ‘Coalescing Prophecy’, JFAC barely let up from thereon in, with only the occasional crowd-bantering bellow from frontman Jonny Davy serving as any kind of break between the immense aural battery of songs that are unleashed on this unsuspecting audience. The lanky singer has some serious stage presence though, and as he spins, headbangs and thrusts his way through the evening, the band as a whole become increasingly confident, with axe duo Bobby Thompson and Ravi Bhadriraju stamping their own authority on the barrage of songs.

    Despite each band member’s impressive performance though, it is the crowd who make this a successful night for the US youngsters. Metal fans can be, at the best of times, stubborn to say the least, and it is extremely heartening to witness the level of patience and in some instances appreciation that Brixton shows Davy and the gang. Job For A Cowboy are, after all, an extremely promising prospect right now, and it has to be said that they deserve serious kudos for agreeing to a support slot that could have potentially seen them buried by bottles. Indeed, they certainly seem to know their place, as they play with a humble level of confidence that will surely, more than any headline show, consolidate them as serious contenders for the death metal crown in 2008. Whilst their disappearance from the stage at the end of their set inevitably brings out the Megadeth chants, there are certainly more than a few fans in the crowd who are cheering their highly enjoyable performance, and it is impossible to imagine that there aren’t some in attendance tonight who will think twice about which t shirt they leave the Academy with. Job done, lads.

 

Reviewed by Merlin Alderslade
 
 
Evile
Evile are one of the new generation of thrash bands that are turning the clock back and bringing about the resurgence of thrash in today’s mainstream. They played to a relatively small crowd at Brixton (thanks to tube delays and closures), but those who were there that night were left in no doubt that they are indeed going places. Their brand of raw dirty thrash with chunky riffs gave them this opening slot on Megadeth’s Gigantour, and with the opening slot on Exodus’s tour in the UK in a couple of months’ time, this young band will be one to watch for in the future.

Setlist
Intro
First Blood
Thrasher
We Who Are About To Die
Bathe in Blood
Enter The Grave

Megadeth
The ‘Death are back, this time on the first ever Gigantour in the UK. They welcome new boy Chris Broderick into the fold after his immediate predecessor Glen Drover left the band to spend more time with his family. Chris has served his time in two amazing US metal bands, Jag Panzer and Nevermore, but understandably the crowd was quite anxious to see how he would fit in into the Megadeth sound.
 
Well, he certainly was not overawed by the occasion. Striding with confidence around the stage with a rock star grin on his face and playing his solos effortlessly and with flair and accuracy, he charmed the crowd, especially his little fan club to the left of stage! If Dave’s not careful, Chris is capable of stealing the limelight from him. But the Dave Mustaine of recent years has been a different Dave from, say, even 10 years ago. He seems calmer, more focussed…mellow even? He still belts out the songs with his trademark sneer, and songs like “Peace Sells” and “Symphony of Destruction” wouldn’t be the same without it. But, and it’s hard to put this in words exactly, the man seems to have grown up. To have the energy, strength, will and discipline to do album after album, tour after tour, after critics wrote him off is a testament to the man. The self-destructive tendencies are gone, in its place is a desire to make some good music and play some good shows. And play he did.
 
The setlist had the usual suspects, with some surprises, especially “Ashes in Your Mouth” and “Burnt Ice”, but the old favourites were all there. The crowd was fantastic, singing along the songs almost word for word. Dave Mustaine and Megadeth never had the reputation for putting on a flabby show – they usually play a tight set and motor through the songs with a rare break. The crowd kept right up, a sold out crowd at the Brixton Academy. Again, a lot of attention (especially the gals – for other reasons!) was directed at Chris Broderick and how he would fit in, but no problems there. James on bass was easily the prime mover, and the most energetic of the three on stage.

It was an amazing show, and the noise levels from the crowd were deafening throughout. This may be one of the best gigs the London crowd might see this year!

Setlist
Sleepwalker
Wake Up Dead
Take No Prisoners
Skin O’ My Teeth
Washington Is Next!
Kick The Chair
In My Darkest Hour
Hangar 18
Gears of War
A Tout le Monde
Tornado of Souls
Ashes In Your Mouth
Burnt Ice
Symphony of Destruction
Trust
Peace Sells
Never Walk Alone
Holy Wars
 
Reviewed by Juan Hann Ng
Photography by Juan Hann Ng