Live at Spark Arena
7 November 2026
Live Review by Music Journalist: Paul Marshall
Thrash metal royalty, a frontman who refuses to quit, and 13,000 people ready to worship at the altar of Megadeth.
Arriving at Spark Arena, we were greeted by a sea of black-clad metal minions stretching in every direction. The turnout was so enormous that organisers had even established an additional merchandise tent at the opposite end of the venue from the usual merch caravan. Clearly, this wasn't going to be an ordinary Saturday night.
But enough about the gathering of the tribes. We're here for the music.
Tonight's billing was almost a double-header, with Iron Maiden headlining the evening as part of their 50th anniversary Run For Your Lives world tour. However, for plenty in attendance, including my mate Tim from England, the real attraction was the mighty Megadeth.
As the lights dimmed, Spark Arena erupted. Megadeth hit the stage with the sort of aggression and precision that has made them one of the defining forces in heavy metal for more than four decades.
Frontman Dave Mustaine was absolutely on fire. Considering the man has battled cancer and continues to deal with ongoing hand problems in the form of Viking hand, his performance was nothing short of remarkable. He's a battler, a warrior with unfinished business, and tonight his mission was simple: deliver the goods to a sold-out audience of 13,000.
There was something particularly interesting about Mustaine's stage setup. Rather than sticking to one microphone, he regularly switched between different microphones positioned around the stage, depending on the song. It's unusual for a vocalist, many of whom prefer the familiarity and consistency of a particular microphone and sound. Whether this was a tonal preference or simply part of the stage production, it certainly didn't compromise his delivery. His voice remained powerful, unmistakably recognisable and commanding throughout.
Meanwhile, behind the kit, drummer Dirk Verbeuren was operating with headphones rather than conventional stage monitors. These provide his click track while also offering some protection from the considerable volume of his drum kit, particularly the cymbals sitting just inches from his face. It's a practical solution for a drummer operating at this level of intensity, where timing and precision are everything.
The real crowd participation arrived during 'Sweating Bullets', when the audience responded with the sort of enthusiasm usually reserved for overzealous biblical servants at their Sunday service in the Church of Satan. It was gloriously unhinged, exactly how a Megadeth audience should behave.
Mustaine clearly appreciated the atmosphere, at one point addressing the crowd with: “Good to see some happy faces in this fucked up world”. He was absolutely bang on the money. There were plenty of happy faces, and a whole lot of head banging.
The setlist was a carefully selected assault on the senses, with classics including 'Hangar 18', 'Tornado of Souls', 'Sweating Bullets', 'Symphony of Destruction' and 'Peace Sells', before closing with the mighty 'Holy Wars... The Punishment Due'. Ten songs, virtually no breathing space and plenty of opportunities for the audience to demonstrate just how deeply these tracks are embedded in metal history.
For anyone unfamiliar with the history, Megadeth was formed in 1983 by Mustaine following his departure from Metallica. Alongside Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax, they became one of thrash metal's legendary Big Four. Albums such as Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?, Rust in Peace and Countdown to Extinction helped establish their place in the metal hall of fame. With more than 50 million records sold worldwide, a Grammy Award and five decades of influence, their legacy is hardly up for debate.
New Zealand audiences have also had their fair share of Megadeth history, with previous Auckland appearances including the 2009 show alongside Slayer at Logan Campbell Centre, the 2010 No Sleep Til festival and Westfest in 2014. Their return in 2017 brought another memorable performance, including the first New Zealand outing of 'A Tout Le Monde'.
Tonight was another reminder that Dave Mustaine and Megadeth are far more than a nostalgia act. There's still fire in the belly, aggression in the riffs and an unmistakable chemistry that few bands can replicate.
As the final notes of 'Holy Wars' rang out, Megadeth had done exactly what they came to do: deliver a seriously impressive performance and leave 13,000 people wanting more.
Iron Maiden may have been the headline act, but for many, Megadeth had already made the evening.
Megadeth – Setlist
- Tipping Point
- Hangar 18
- Dread and the Fugitive Mind
- Tornado of Souls
- I Don't Care
- Sweating Bullets
- Take No Prisoners
- Symphony of Destruction
- Peace Sells
- Holy Wars... The Punishment Due
Reviewer: Paul Marshall
Photography by Paul Marshall
WATCH THE LIVE VIDEO at Paul Was There -