'Clash of the Titans' - Live Undead/Megadeth UK/Arranthrax - Bannermans, Edinburgh Saturday 22nd March 2025

Reviewed by Gregor Adams • 28 March 2025
Being only a very occasional thrash metal fan, Friday’s ‘Clash of the Titans’ was an unfamiliar experience. It was also an unfamiliar experience in the sense that I had never been to Bannerman’s when it was so busy – after getting a good spot near the action, my return trip from buying a pint meant I was set all the way to the back of the room, with little scope of getting back to the front.

Although this meant that my view of what the guitarists were physically playing wasn’t ideal (not helped by how low-down the guitars were being held), I still enjoyed what I heard.

Being a guitarist, my main attraction to the thrash metal is the guitar solos, being an uncompromised spectacle of technique, where often (although not always) there’s a melodic quality. Or, in Kerry King’s case in Slayer, a complete dissonant confusion.

I unfortunately missed ‘Live Undead’, Slayer’s tribute, having shown up too late. I didn’t consider the fact that to squeeze three bands in one night, it may have to start earlier, before my arrival at 7:30. Nevertheless, chatting to a rocker in the crowd, who’s opinion could surely be relied on, judging from all of the badges on his jacket, there was no doubt that ‘Live Undead’ was thoroughly enjoyed, and a great show was put on.

Next were ‘Megadeth UK’. This was the act that I was most anticipating. I’m a massive fan of Kiko Loureiro, Megadeth’s lead guitarist for almost a decade, which lead me to discovering some fantastic songs and guitar solos, particularly ‘Tornado of Souls’ and the band’s finishing song ‘Holy Wars’. All band members were rocking out with Jackson guitars, wired up to Orange amplifiers with classic Soldano heads. Very metal.

I thought that their sound was excellent, and their lead singer had the ability to really get the energy out of a room of fans who, although they were clearly loving the music, seemingly wanted to stay static and listen, as opposed to moshing about. This, along with the voice fitting the genre perfectly really gave the band a great front.

There was a slick turnaround post-show, where the room totally emptied out to the bar. It was only about 20 minutes from the last note of ‘Megadeth UK’ to the first of ‘Arranthrax’, the night’s final band.

The lead singer of ‘Arranthrax’ said that they were going to play some ‘classic thrash’, which was accurate. Anthrax was a band that I hadn’t really encountered before, but I really enjoyed the performance. I thought the energy the lead singer brought to the stage was great, no doubt helped by being the only lead singer I saw that night who wasn’t constrained by a guitar.

I thought the music they played was the most rhythmically interesting that night, with changing tempos and a bit of syncopation, led by a very solid drummer as their backbone. Again, the standard of musicianship was excellent. Complex lines were played on both guitar and bass guitar, with plenty of headbanging riffs.

I think that the ‘Clash of the Titans’ night is great idea and although not being an outward thrash fan, I enjoyed all of it. It was great to see so many people come and support the bands and especially stay for the whole night. The crowd of people watching didn’t taper off at all from start to finish, giving Bannerman’s a really good atmosphere all night.

Now, where’s my headband?