Megadeth / Japan Tour 2023 / 4CDR/ Shades Budokan, Tokyo, Japan 27th February 2023 & Grand Cube, Osaka, Japan 28th February 2023
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The latest MEGADETH visit to Japan, which also realized the co-starring with Marty Friedman for the first time in 23 years at Nippon Budokan, a long-awaited event. An original recording that allows you to experience the best of the two performances at the scene is now available.
What is imbued in this work is the “February 27, 2023: Nippon Budokan” performance and the next “February 28: Grand Cube Osaka” performance. It is a superb audience recording set that completely recorded both of them. This visit to Japan also serves as the first report of the tour accompanying the new work “THE SICK, THE DYING… AND THE DEAD!” after six years. First, let’s take a look at the activity overview.
● 2022
・ April 9-May 19: North America #1 (26 performances) ← * US TOUR 2022
・ May 28-July 2: Europe #1 (23 performances) ← *HELLFEST 2022 etc.
・ August 19-September 2: North America #2a (10 performances)
《“THE SICK, THE DYING… AND THE DEAD!” will be released on September 2nd》
・September 4-October 15: North America #2b (26 performances)
・December 4: Toluca Performance
● 2023
・February 24-28: Japan (3 performances) ← Coco
・ March 21-26: Australia (5 performances)
・March 31st/July 16th: North America #3 (2 performances)
・ July 23-August 25: Europe # 2 (12 performances)
・ September 1: Alaska performance
This is the 2022/2023 MEGADETH that has been announced so far. It is a new tour from “North America # 2”, but it was settled in the fall of last year. The year 2023 has been re-started from Japan. What is included in this work is the concert corresponding to the 2nd / 3rd performance.
This work, which vacuum-packed such two performances, is a superb audience recording. After all, it was Mr. “West Japan’s Strongest Taper” who worked on both performances. If you have caught your eye in this article, I think that you have touched on the work of Mr. “Strongest” in some title, but this work is the latest bullet. This time Nippon Budokan was also streamed, so I can’t lightly promote it as “just like a sound board!” . Especially Osaka recording (DISC 3-4) is very direct due to the size of the venue. I wouldn’t mistake it for a sound board in terms of tone, but the density and detailed details with no sense of distance when on, and the wonderful separate feeling are so wonderful that I dare to make a mistake.
What is drawn with such a master sound is a memorial two nights including the Nippon Budokan where a miracle occurred. Let’s organize the sets of both performances that had different numbers of songs here.
● Classics (11 songs)
・Last in Peace: Hangar 18 / Tornado Of Souls (★) / Holy Wars… The Punishment Due
・ Countdown to Destruction: Sweating Bullets / Countdown To Extinction (★ *) / Symphony Of Destruction (★)
・ Others: Peace Sells / Angry Again / A Tout Le Monde (*) / Trust / Dread And The Fugitive Mind
●After joining Kiko Loureiro (5 songs)
・Dystopia: The Threat Is Real / Conquer Or Die! / Dystopia
・The Chic, The Dying: Soldier On! (*) / We’ll Be Back
*Note: “*” marks are for Nippon Budokan (DISC 1-2) only. The “★” mark is a song performed with Marty Friedman at Nippon Budokan (DISC 2).
… and it looks like this. Nippon Budokan (DISC 1-2) has 4 more songs, and Marty Friedman also appeared in “Countdown to Extinction”, “Tornado of Souls” and “Symphony of Destruction” (as announced in advance). Marty’s last show was in Seattle on January 14, 2000, so it was the first time in 23 years and 44 days to co-star. As many of you already know, in line with the dramatic intro of “Countdown to Extinction”, Dave Mustaine called out, “Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my dear friend, Marty Friedman!” Speaking of the depth of that biting voice… I was dizzy at the scene and didn’t remember it well, but even if I touch it again in this work, I can’t get goosebumps. In the first place, “Countdown To Extinction” itself would have been selected for Marty. This day was the revival for the first time in 10 years.
The number of songs and co-starring seems to be hidden in the shadow of Nippon Budokan, which is delicious, but in fact, the Osaka performance (DISC 3-4) is better in terms of live albums. The direct feeling of the sound is also higher, but the singing voice of Mustaine is bigger than that. It’s clearly better than Budokan, and it makes a short set. Of course, you can enjoy “Dread And The Fugitive Mind”, which became a hot topic after a long time revival, with the superb sound of the soundboard barefoot.
While announced in 1993, the Nippon Budokan performance became a phantom due to the cancellation of the visit to Japan. Thirty years later, the dream has finally become a reality. And then there was Marty Friedman. Such a memorable Nippon Budokan performance and the Osaka performance, which is said to be the best show due to the strong sound and Mustaine. This work is a super-value set that allows you to experience both of them with master sound. Exactly the most important work of “one in several decades”. Please enjoy it to the fullest.
★ The best audience recording set of “February 27, 2023 Nippon Budokan / February 28 Grand Cube Osaka”. An original recording by “West Japan’s Strongest Taper”, a powerful sound with a rugged and thick core approaching in front of you. Especially Osaka recording (DISC 3-4) is very direct due to the size of the venue. The Budokan performance with Marty Friedman for the first time in 23 years, and the Osaka performance, which is said to be the best show due to the strong performance of Sound and Mustaine. It is a super-value set that allows you to experience the best of both with expert sound.
悲願の日本武道館で23年ぶりとなるマーティ・フリードマンとの共演も実現した最新のMEGADETH来日。その現場を２公演丸ごと極上体験できるオリジナル録音が登場です。 そんな本作に吹き込まれているのは「2023年２月27日：日本武道館」公演と翌「２月28日：グランキューブ大阪」公演。その双方を完全収録した極上オーディエンス録音セットです。今回の来日は、６年ぶりの新作『『THE SICK, THE DYING… AND THE DEAD!』に伴うツアーの第一報も兼ねています。まずは、その活動概要も俯瞰しておきましょう。
●2022年 ・４月９日ー５月19日：北米#1（26公演）←※U.S. TOUR 2022 ・５月28日ー７月２日：欧州#1（23公演）←※HELLFEST 2022他 ・８月19日ー９月２日：北米#2a（10公演） 《９月２日『THE SICK, THE DYING… AND THE DEAD!』発売》 ・９月４日ー10月15日：北米#2b（26公演） ・12月４日：トルーカ公演 ●2023年 ・２月24日ー28日：日本（３公演）←★ココ★ ・３月21日ー26日：豪州（５公演） ・３月31日／７月16日：北米#3（２公演） ・７月23日ー８月25日：欧州#2（12公演） ・９月１日：アラスカ公演
●クラシックス（11曲） ・ラスト・イン・ピース：Hangar 18／Tornado Of Souls（★）／Holy Wars… The Punishment Due ・破滅へのカウントダウン：Sweating Bullets／Countdown To Extinction（★＊）／Symphony Of Destruction（★） ・その他：Peace Sells／Angry Again／A Tout Le Monde（＊）／Trust／Dread And The Fugitive Mind ●キコ・ルーレイロ加入後（５曲） ・ディストピア：The Threat Is Real／Conquer Or Die!／Dystopia ・ザ・シック、ザ・ダイイング：Soldier On!（＊）／We’ll Be Back ※注：「＊」印はは日本武道館（DISC 1-2）のみ。「★」印は日本武道館でマーティ・フリードマンと共演した曲（DISC 2）。
……と、このようになっています。日本武道館（DISC 1-2）の方が４曲も多く、「Countdown to Extinction」「Tornado of Souls」「Symphony of Destruction」では（事前告知の通り）マーティ・フリードマンも登場。マーティのラスト・ショウは2000年１月14日シアトル公演でしたので、23年44日ぶりとなる共演が実現したのです。もうご存知の方も多いと思いますが、「Countdown to Extinction」のドラマティックなイントロに合わせ、デイヴ・ムステインがつぶやくように「Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my dear friend, Marty Friedman!」とコールする。その噛みしめるような声の深みと言ったら……。現場では目眩でしてよく覚えていませんでしたが、改めて本作で触れても鳥肌が収まりません。そもそも「Countdown To Extinction」自体がマーティのためにセレクトされたのでしょう。この日が10年ぶりの復活でした。 曲数も共演も美味しい日本武道館の影に隠れそうですが、実はライヴアルバム的には大阪公演（DISC 3-4）の方が優れている。サウンドのダイレクト感も上回っていますが、それ以上に大きいのはムステインの歌声。明らかに武道館よりも調子が良く、短めのセットをビシッと決めてくれる。もちろん、久々の復活で話題になった「Dread And The Fugitive Mind」もサウンドボード裸足の極上サウンドで楽しめます。 1993年に告知されつつ、来日中止で幻となった日本武道館公演。あれから30年、遂に幻が現実のものとなりました。しかも、そこにはマーティ・フリードマンもいた。そんなメモリアルすぎる日本武道館公演と、サウンドとムステインの好調でベストショウとも言われる大阪公演。本作は、その双方を達人サウンドで極上体験できる超・お得セットです。まさに「数十年に１本」の最重要作。どうぞ、存分にお楽しみください。
Disc:1 (46:23) 1. Intro 2. Prince of Darkness 3. Hangar 18 4. Dread and the Fugitive Mind 5. The Threat Is Real 6. Angry Again 7. Soldier On! 8. Sweating Bullets 9. Trust 10. Conquer or Die! 11. Dystopia
Disc:2 (47:42) 1. A tout le monde 2. Countdown to Extinction (with Marty Friedman) 3. Tornado of Souls (with Marty Friedman) 4. Symphony of Destruction (with Marty Friedman) 5. We’ll Be Back 6. Peace Sells 7. Holy Wars… The Punishment Due 8. Outro (Silent Scorn)
Grand Cube, Osaka, Japan 28th February 2023
Disc 3 (50:30) 1. Intro 2. Prince of Darkness 3. Hangar 18 4. Dread and the Fugitive Mind 5. The Threat Is Real 6. Angry Again 7. Sweating Bullets 8. Trust 9. Conquer or Die! 10. Dystopia 11. Tornado of Souls
Disc 4 (31:54) 1. Symphony of Destruction 2. We’ll Be Back 3. Peace Sells 4. Holy Wars… The Punishment Due 5. Outro (Silent Scorn)
Dave Mustaine – Lead Vocals, Guitar Kiko Loureiro – Guitar, Backing Vocals James LoMenzo – Bass, Backing Vocals Dirk Verbeuren – Drums
GiGinJapan Artwork of Japanese CDs (mostly) 
