Megadeth live at Ruoff Music Center 9/20/2024
Review and Photos by John Geiger
On September 20, 2024, thrash metal legends Megadeth made a powerful return to Ruoff
Music Center as part of their "Destroy All Enemies" U.S. tour. Joining them on this journey
were fellow metal bands All That Remains and Mudvayne, setting the stage for a night of
hard-hitting performances.
At the helm of Megadeth, as always, was founder and lead guitarist Dave Mustaine, who
remains the band’s driving force. While Megadeth’s lineup has evolved over the years,
Mustaine consistently brings in highly skilled musicians to maintain the band’s signature
sound. For this tour, the band’s roster featured seasoned bassist James LoMenzo,
drummer Dirk Verbeuren, and rising star Teemu Mantysaari on lead guitar. LoMenzo, who
had been part of Megadeth from 2006 to 2010, rejoined in 2021, while Mantysaari, the
newest addition, delivered a standout performance throughout the night.
Megadeth’s setlist drew from across their extensive discography, blending newer material
with long-standing fan favorites. The show kicked off with "The Sick, The Dying... and the
Dead!" — the title track of their 2022 album — immediately setting an intense tone, after which the band wasted no time diving into their early 2000s catalog, crushing songs from “Dread and the Fugitive Mind” to “The Sick, the Dying… and the Dead!” As the set continued, fans were treated to powerful renditions of "Angry Again," "Skin o' My Teeth," and the classic "Hangar 18."
The performance highlighted Megadeth’s legacy while making room for some surprises.
One of the night’s more unexpected moments came when the band dusted off
“Washington Is Next!” from their 2007 album “United Abominations,” marking its first live
performance since 2009. Meanwhile, tracks from the album “Countdown to Extinction” — such as "Sweating Bullets" and the album’s title track — fueled the crowd’s energy, leading to some of the loudest cheers of the evening.
The show’s pacing was expertly crafted, with Mustaine’s vocal delivery on point and
Mantysaari’s guitar playing proving to be a highlight. Mantysaari, who stepped into the role
of lead guitarist with aplomb, handled the demanding solos with ease, drawing
comparisons to former guitarist Marty Friedman’s iconic contributions to the band. The
rhythm section, anchored by LoMenzo and Verbeuren, was rock-solid, keeping the
momentum steady throughout the set.
As the night progressed, the crowd of 15,000 metalheads remained unfazed by the rain,
which fell steadily during the performance. Undeterred by the weather, Megadeth tore
through hits like “Symphony of Destruction” and a blazing take on “Mechanix” from their
debut album “Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!” The main set concluded with
“Peace Sells,” accompanied by the appearance of Megadeth’s mascot, Vic Rattlehead.
For the encore, Megadeth delivered a punishing rendition of the thrash metal classic "Holy
Wars... The Punishment Due," sending the crowd into a frenzy and closing the show on a
high note.
Megadeth Setlist at Ruoff Music Center 09-20-2024
The Sick, the Dying… and the Dead!
Dread and the Fugitive Mind
Angry Again
Hangar 18
Washington Is Next!
Sweating Bullets
Countdown to Extinction
Skin o' My Teeth
Trust
Tornado of Souls
Symphony of Destruction
Peace Sells
Encore:
Holy Wars... The Punishment Due
You can purchase music by Megadeth from Indy CD & Vinyl HERE.
Megadeth's Powerful Return To Indiana: photo gallery of Megadeth by John Geiger.
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