MEGADETH / ANTHRAX / EXODUS (Live)

at Rogers Place, Edmonton, AB, Canada, February 21, 2026

February 26, 2026 Mike Scott Live Reviews, Reviews Leave a comment
Close-up of Dave Mustaine singing with intensity into a microphone, his signature red hair catching the stage lights while he plays a silver-accented guitar.
Photo: Mike Scott

When half of the “Big Four” thrash bands come to town, you stop what you are doing and head to the arena. Such was the case for Edmontonians who packed Rogers Place for Megadeth, Anthrax, and Exodus. In support of their latest and final album, Megadeth is headlining shows reaching cities that don’t normally get large concerts, such as Halifax, Victoria, Moncton, and Saskatoon. While the band is currently on the road, Dave Mustaine stated that their final tour is set to run for “three to five” years, making this a significant moment for fans to see the thrash masters after 17 albums.

Exodus

Exodus remains a force after nearly 50 years and many incarnations. This version sees Rob Dukes on the mic after a decade away, Gary Holt on guitar (the only member to play on every Exodus album), Lee Altus also on guitar, Tom Hunting on drums, and Jack Gibson on bass. Even with only a 30-minute opening set, Exodus did their job to whip the crowd into a frenzy. Near the end of the set, Dukes waved his arms like Moses parting the Red Sea; with that gesture, every metalhead knows what’s next. The resulting “Wall of Death” was one of the better ones seen in quite some time.

Although the latest album, Goliath, has yet to be released, the audience was given a taste with the opening number “3111,” and it slays. The band also took the crowd back in the time machine to their debut album with the title track “Bonded By Blood”.

The “punters” went wild for the classic material. There was a desire to be close for the mayhem that is expected with “The Toxic Waltz”, though the initial mosh pit appeared somewhat weak. Even Dukes noticed it, commenting to the crowd, “This pit is weak as fuck. We were in Calgary last night and they were crazier than you guys.” Given the rivalry between Edmonton and Calgary, the crowd responded immediately when the band whipped into “Strike of the Beast.” It became a mosh like the good old days.

Anthrax

Anthrax is the favorite of many “Big Four” fans, and they certainly rocked. Standing in front of Scott Ian, it is clear why he is considered one of the coolest figures in metal. Joey Belladonna, turning 65 this year, possessed a voice that many thrashers half his age would love to have, sounding as fresh as he did in his early years. The sound for their set was notably loud and clear. The energy from the entire stage was unexpected from a group in their early 60s, including bass player Frank Bello, who was riffing and running around like he was in his 40s. The powerhouse behind the kit, Charlie Benante, also played like he was half his age. The band even joked about their “youngest” member, Jonothan Donais (46), being “just 19 in Anthrax years”. Belladonna was highly interactive, running across the stage, high-fiving fans, and grabbing phones to take selfies.

Despite not having new material since 2016’s For All Kings, the fans didn’t mind. The set consisted mostly of songs from their first two albums, which sounded as fresh as they did 40 years ago. The setlist opened with “A.I.R.” and was a “greatest hits” package including “Among the Living” and the closer “Indians”. They did tease a 30-second snippet of a new song, which made the Rogers Place crowd explode.

The crowd response to Scott Ian’s presence was insane. From the first riffs to the closer, the mosh pit was wild, and Anthrax saw more crowd surfers than any other band. A sincere moment occurred when Scott Ian noted the “breath of fresh air” it was to be in the country, and Belladonna jokingly asked if the crowd would take them in if they moved there. The set even ended with a rendition of “O Canada”.

Megadeth

While Dave Mustaine appeared somewhat subdued, perhaps concerned about crew and equipment issues, the rest of the band killed it on stage. James LoMenzo was a beast on bass, featuring some of the best hair flips seen in a while. Dirk Verbeuren proved to be highly expressive, making some of the funniest animated drummer faces one can make behind the kit. The newest member, Teemu Mantysaari, proved his shredding capabilities, which were highlighted on the track “Let There Be Shred”, and it was easy to see why he was chosen to replace Kiko Loureiro.

This show almost didn’t happen after a production truck rolled over following their Calgary gig, damaging important light rigging. Despite the damage, Mustaine insisted “the show must go on”. Consequently, Megadeth performed with a stripped-down, basic light show. This actually allowed for a unique focus on the band and the music itself.

The band opened with “Tipping Point,” the lead track from their 17th studio album. Other solid bangers included the aforementioned “Let There Be Shred” and “I Don’t Care”. While they dropped a couple of songs due to the equipment issues, the set remained strong with staples like “Hangar 18”, “Symphony of Destruction”, “Peace Sells”, “Dystopia”, and the wild closer “Holy Wars… The Punishment Due”.

The demographic was varied but included many veteran fans. Crowd surfing was less intense than at past Megadeth shows, and the mosh pits were perhaps less intense given the older crowd in attendance. However, the 11,000 fans present didn’t care about the lack of production and were simply happy the band made the right decision to play Edmonton.

This was an epic show from all three bands that will go down as an “I’m glad I was there” moment for the 11,000 punters. The fact that Anthrax and Exodus also headed north to Fort McMurray shows the vast reach of this tour. Driving across the second largest country in the world during winter is a daunting challenge, making the bands’ commitment to reaching these areas all the more appreciated.

  • Dave Mustaine of Megadeth performing at center stage. He is playing a metallic gold V-shaped guitar and singing into a microphone. A giant gold "MEGADETH" logo hangs above him, centered between massive walls of Marshall amplifier stacks.
  • Guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari and bassist James LoMenzo of Megadeth performing together. Teemu plays a black Explorer-style guitar while James points toward the crowd while playing his sunburst bass. A large red "MEGADETH" logo glows in the background.
  • Bassist James LoMenzo playing a red and orange sunburst bass guitar. He has long blonde hair and is wearing a black Motörhead t-shirt, standing in front of illuminated Marshall stacks.
  • James LoMenzo of Megadeth plays a sunburst-finish bass guitar with intensity, standing in front of red Marshall cabinets.
  • A close-up action shot of Dirk Verbeuren drumming for Megadeth. His hair is flying mid-motion from headbanging as he plays behind a complex chrome drum rack under intense red stage lighting.
  • A side profile of Dave Mustaine playing his signature V-shaped guitar in front of a massive, floor-to-ceiling wall of Marshall cabinets. His iconic long hair is draped over his face as he focuses on the fretboard.
  • Drummer Dirk Verbeuren behind his TAMA drum kit, raising a drumstick high in a gloved hand. The two front kick drums feature the "MEGA" and "DETH" logos in large silver lettering.
  • A close-up action shot of Dirk Verbeuren drumming for Megadeth. His hair is flying mid-motion from headbanging as he plays behind a complex chrome drum rack under intense red stage lighting.
  • Drummer Dirk Verbeuren behind his TAMA drum kit, raising a drumstick high in a gloved hand. The two front kick drums feature the "MEGA" and "DETH" logos in large silver lettering.
  • A high-energy shot of guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari bent over in a deep headbang, his long hair completely masking his face as he plays a black electric guitar. The front row of the audience and a security rail are visible in the foreground.
  • Close-up of Dave Mustaine singing with intensity into a microphone, his signature red hair catching the stage lights while he plays a silver-accented guitar.
  • Teemu Mäntysaari performs a solo in front of a red-lit Megadeth logo and stacks of Marshall amplifiers at Rogers Place.
  • Wide shot of the Megadeth stage setup featuring Dave Mustaine in a white shirt playing lead guitar, with the drummer visible in the background beneath a large red Megadeth logo.
  • A dynamic low-angle shot of Teemu Mäntysaari on stage, looking upward while shredding on a black Flying V-style guitar under purple stage lights.
  • Teemu Mäntysaari leans into a guitar solo, his long hair falling forward as he plays a dark, textured Explorer-style guitar against a backdrop of the front-row crowd.
  • A high-energy shot of Megadeth bassist James LoMenzo on stage, wearing a Motörhead t-shirt and headbanging while playing a red and orange sunburst bass guitar. A wall of Marshall stacks is visible in the background.
  • Dave Mustaine of Megadeth performs on stage at Rogers Place, playing a signature Gibson Flying V guitar in front of a massive wall of Marshall stacks and a glowing blue Megadeth logo.
  • Joey Belladonna stands at the front of the stage singing into the mic, framed by bright blue spotlights. The drum kit and a large Anthrax backdrop are visible behind him.
  • Dynamic shot of Jon Donais headbanging, his hair caught in motion mid-air as he plays guitar. The stage is flooded with intense red light.
  • Jon Donais performs on stage with a large silver Anthrax logo in the background. The scene is illuminated by dramatic red and white spotlights.
  • Close-up of guitarist Jon Donais playing a dark, figured-maple top guitar. He has long hair and is wearing a black button-down shirt, illuminated by warm orange stage lights.
  • Low-angle shot of Joey Belladonna singing with passion, eyes closed. Scott Ian is partially visible in the background, smiling while playing his guitar.
  • Side profile of vocalist Joey Belladonna singing into a microphone. He is wearing a black Anthrax t-shirt, bathed in deep purple stage lighting.
  • Scott Ian stands center stage with his arms outstretched in a "rock on" gesture, shouting to the crowd. He is wearing a black t-shirt and shorts, with a neon green Jackson King V guitar strapped across him.
  • Wide action shot of the band. Frank Bello stands center with his fist raised high, holding his purple bass. Joey Belladonna is singing to the left, and Scott Ian is playing guitar to the right.
  • Close-up of bassist Frank Bello mid-performance, shouting with intensity while playing a bright purple Spector bass. Guitarist Scott Ian is visible in the background under bright stage lights.
  • Frank Bello in a low crouch on stage, holding a purple bass guitar and raising a hand in a "rock on" gesture. The scene is bathed in deep blue stage lighting, with Scott Ian visible in the background.
  • Bassist Frank Bello of Anthrax headbanging while playing a vibrant purple Spector bass guitar. He is wearing a black sleeveless shirt with a "Bello" patch, leaning back with his eyes closed in a moment of high energy.
  • Vocalist Joey Belladonna of Anthrax singing into a microphone on a dimly lit stage. He is pointing upward with one hand, illuminated by bright yellow spotlights from above, with the band's drum kit visible in the background.
  • Guitarist Scott Ian of Anthrax performing live, intensely shredding on a neon yellow and green Jackson V-style guitar. He is wearing a black t-shirt and cargo shorts, standing in front of camouflage-patterned amplifier stacks with the Anthrax logo visible in the background.
  • Full stage view of Anthrax performing. Joey Belladonna sings center stage while Jon Donais headbangs while playing guitar on the left. A large silver "ANTHRAX" logo hangs behind the drum kit.
  • Scott Ian of Anthrax performing live. He is playing a bright neon yellow-green Jackson Flying V guitar, wearing a black t-shirt and grey shorts, standing in front of a wall of camouflage-patterned EVH amplifier stacks.
  • Gary Holt stands triumphantly on stage under bright yellow spotlights, smiling while holding his guitar in front of a colorful Exodus backdrop.
  • A high-energy shot of the front-row crowd at the Edmonton show, featuring fans headbanging and wearing "battle vests" adorned with thrash metal patches against the rail.
  • Gary Holt of Exodus plays a custom-etched guitar while another band member leans in beside him during an energetic moment of their set at Rogers Place.
  • A close-up profile shot of Exodus bassist Jack Gibson singing backing vocals into a microphone. His long hair and focused expression are captured under soft stage lighting.
  • Exodus drummer Tom Hunting standing behind his kit, lifting his shirt to show his torso while holding drumsticks in his mouth. The shot emphasizes the physical toll and grit of the performance.
  • A candid shot of the crowd at Rogers Place. Fans are seen in silhouette and partial light, some with their hands raised in the "horns" gesture, showing the scale of the audience.
  • A side-by-side shot of Gary Holt playing guitar and Rob Dukes singing. The lighting is a mix of deep red and black, highlighting the sheer intensity of the band's new chapter.
  • Guitarist Gary Holt and vocalist Rob Dukes of Exodus performing together at the front of the stage. Holt is playing his white guitar while Dukes stands beside him, silhouetted against bright overhead stage lights.
  • Exodus bassist Jack Gibson seen from a low angle, leaning forward and headbanging so his long hair completely covers his face. He is playing a white Yamaha bass guitar under deep purple light.
  • A dynamic shot of Gary Holt from Exodus mid-headbang, his long hair standing straight up in the air. He is playing a white electric guitar under dramatic red stage lighting.
  • Exodus guitarist Gary Holt performing on stage with a white ESP Explorer-style guitar. He has long hair and is wearing black wristbands, captured against a vibrant backdrop featuring city graphics.
  • Exodus frontman Rob Dukes singing intensely into a microphone under a bright blue spotlight. He is wearing a black "Black Flys" t-shirt, his signature beard and aggressive stage presence illuminated by the lights.

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