I don’t get to Reno nearly often enough for shows, being that I am based in the Bay Area. But whenever I do, I have a great time. So maybe I should do more of this. And after having seen Ghost kick off their Impera tour in 2022, took me another year and a half to get back here. Shout out to the Grand Sierra Resort, which took excellent care of me, including their hotel manager who struck up a conversation that will stay with me for a long time. He reminded me of DeNiro in the movie Casino, very classy and old-school. I’ve been to this venue a few times to see concerts and the sound is pretty good, and even though the casino crowd is not always a metal crowd, tonight they were.

I was super stoked when Megadeth announced the “Crush The World” tour dates with Biohazard. It wasn’t going to be a long run of dates but seeing these two bands together that shaped a lot of my formative years in music I was going to be a great time.

After Biohazard announced their classic era reunion tour (new music to follow) there was no way I was going to miss seeing a show. No. Way. So trooping eight hours to go to Reno for Biohazard alone was always on the table, let alone Megadeth too. Of the two handfuls of shows that happened on this tour I needed to make one of them so this was the one. Since I traveled all day checked into my room and jetted to the venue I just made it in as Biohazard hit the stage playing “Urban Discipline.” It was like no time had past, having seen the band last with Evan, what, fifteen years ago? Yeah, a long time. They were absolutely electric, on fire, and locked in musically with each other. Evan leading the charge, looking great. Billy running all over the place, jumping into the crowd! Bobby spinning and shredding. Danny, holding it down on the drums. They had mad heads in the house who were there only to see them, having chatted with a few of them. And you really got a sense that this was in some cases, a first show ever for people seeing the band. You love to see it. It is really great having them cut across generations of Hardcore and Metal fans. Considering they were opening for Megadeth and the long break between tours the setlist was perfect! We got to hear all the bangers: “Shades of Gray,” “Down for Life,” Tales From The Hardside,” “Punishment,” and “Hold My Own.” I always appreciated them for covering Bad Religion’s “We’re Only Going To Die!” Coincidentally, I got to heard this song later that weekend again, performed by Bad Religion in the flesh! Thanks for coming back, Biohazard! We’re looking forward to the next one!

INTERVIEW: Billy Graziadei of Biohazard Talks Reunion, New Music from BillyBio, and Powerflo

Biohazard setlist:
Urban Discipline
Shades of Grey
Down for Life
Tales From the Hard Side
Wrong Side of the Tracks
Love Denied
Retribution
We’re Only Gonna Die (Bad Religion cover)
Punishment
Hold My Own

Still to come was Megadeth and I was really excited since it was going to be the first time to see the band play with brand new lead guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari. I had followed the Finnish guitarist from his work in Wintersun and I knew he was up to the task. With a similar setup on stage with tall video screens and the epic drum riser that the band has been utilizing on tour for a few years, the lights went down and the crowd went off!

One thing you have to give credit to time and time again, no matter who is in the lineup fo Megadeth, they are always stellar live, absolutely professional, and murderous on these classic songs. Opening with “Hanger 18” and “Mechanix,” it’s a very fast-paced one-two punch of thrash. Dave Mustaine sounded pretty great vocally and the band seemed locked in with Teemu. Naturally, Dirk Verbeuren was slaying is live, as he is one of the best drummers in the world. The band constructed a really great setlist for this tour, pulling out some classics some rarely heard classics, and some deep cuts that I really appreciated as a long-time fan. I liked hearing “Dread And The Fugitive Mind” also “Hook In Mouth.” “Dawn Patrol” and “Angry Again,” one of my personal favorites ever. James Lomenzo has really settled in on bass in his second stint with the band and he provides great stage presence, and backing vocals too.

INTERVIEW: Dirk Verbeuren of Megadeth – “The Sick, the Dying… and the Dead” Album Breakdown

Teemu and Dave traded solos and absolutely killed it on stuff like “Trust” and “She Wolf.” The band ended very strongly with “Symphony of Destruction,” “Peace Sells,” and “Holy Wars… The Punishment Due” – along with the extended outro with the introductions of the band.

Megadeth setlist (via setlist fm)
Hangar 18
Mechanix
Dread and the Fugitive Mind
Hook in Mouth
Dawn Patrol
Poison Was the Cure
Sweating Bullets
Dystopia
Angry Again
Trust
She-Wolf
We’ll Be Back
Symphony of Destruction
Peace Sells
Holy Wars… The Punishment Due

WORDS BY KEEFY