 "Photo: Lindsey Martin/Staff Photographer")
This isn't pop music. This is metal.
To untrained ears metal may sound like a car crashing, drum busting, death screaming explosion. But to metal connoisseurs, its mathematical precision is as clear as a modernized version of classical music. Scratch the orchestra and bring in long hair, head banging and guitar slinging with dark lyrical undertones, and voila, you have metal.
An ensemble of tattooed, black T-shirted fans flooded into Cox Arena for the fourth annual Gigantour headed by the pioneers of thrash metal, Megadeth. Other bands such as Children of Bodom, In Flames, Job For a Cowboy and High on Fire were also the nucleus of the stadium.
Lights, camera, action - the DVD filming was a placebo for energy as ecstatic fans threw up hand horns while the camera probed the audience and a vivacious anthill of swarming, sweaty bodies in the mosh pit. Some complained of Cox Arena's lack of "social lubricant," aka alcohol, while others disappointedly saw their $50 Ticketmaster tickets were being sold for $10 a pop at the door.
But the high intensity raged regardless, picking up after High on Fire and Job for a Cowboy, as fans rushed in for the experimental heavy metal band from Finland, Children of Bodom.
The solo work and innovated song structure highlighted the band's phenomenal talent. Fans hypnotized by Janne Warman's insane keyboard antics stood out like a deer caught in headlights.
But more head bashing awaited.
"Scream for me San Diego," hair-dreded growling vocalist of In Flames, Anders Fridén said.
This melodic, Swedish death metal band's high energy matched its heavy shredding, wanking and riffing as it crashed through intros, solos and breakdowns. The hyper-power ballads were cocked and loaded. When getting past the doomsday aspects, mythology and underlying thread of evil, there thrives an intense complexity. "In Flames' heavy riffs and complex song structure may challenge beginning metal listeners," career musician and metal lover Matt Youell said.
And then came Dave Mustaine. The lead guitarist, singer and songwriter of Megadeth from La Mesa lived up to his dark God-like reputation. As founder of Gigantour, former Metallica lead guitarist and one of the most influential people in heavy metal history, Mustaine's tenor range vocals and trade-off guitar solos provided rapture to headbangers.
The goal, Mustaine said, is "to play as many songs as fast as we can."
Drummer Shawn Drover rocked on a three-tiered stage, offering fast double-bassed percussion. Chris Broderick and James Lomenzo's layered shredding and intricate musical passages left fans in awe.
Covering various albums such as "Killing is My Business...And Business is Good!," "Peace Sells...But Who's Buying?" and "Countdown to Extinction," all offered critiques of society.
By the end of the night, politics, war and addiction to life, death and religion had all been covered. The hoards of fans trickled past the Hot Topic signs, funnel cakes, hot dogs and nacho stands, many to retrieve their belts that security didn't allow in.
The DVD was filmed during the tour, and while it might reveal more than words, for fans, a satisfied haze may linger like early morning dew for months or at least until next year's metal mania Gigantour returns.
Lights fade, cut, that's a wrap. "Thank you, San Diego."
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