Some concert bills are good on paper. Others are legendary before the first note is even played.
Iron Maiden, Megadeth and Anthrax at Montreal’s Parc Jean-Drapeau was very much the latter.
With roughly 36,000 metalheads packed into the outside venue, Montreal was treated to an absolutely massive night of heavy metal royalty. Three bands that helped define the genre took the stage, and all three delivered in their own way. From Anthrax’s opening assault to Megadeth’s razor-sharp set and Iron Maiden’s full-blown spectacle, this was the kind of show that reminds you why live metal is still so damn special.
Anthrax came out swinging.
From the very first note, the band was in fifth gear and never let up. Their 12-song set was a relentless barrage of riffs, pounding drums and pure energy, with barely a moment to catch your breath.
The band also gave Montreal the live debut of “The Edge of Perfection” and “Everybody’s Got a Plan,” from their new album Cursum Perficio. Both songs fit comfortably into the set and showed that Anthrax isn’t simply living off its past — there’s still plenty of gas left in the tank.
And then there’s Frank Bello.
The man is a human energy drink.
Bello was everywhere, and his enthusiasm was impossible not to catch. The crowd fed off him, and before long, thousands of people were completely locked into the Anthrax experience.
The band saved two of its biggest punches for the end, closing with “Antisocial” followed by “Indians.” By the time they walked offstage, the crowd was already fully warmed up.
At this point, calling the band Megadeth almost feels like a technicality. With Dave Mustaine now the only remaining original member, the running joke is that we should just call them MegaDave.
Jokes aside, this version of Megadeth absolutely delivers.
Their nine-song set was tight, aggressive and exactly what you’d expect from one of metal’s most influential bands. Yes, Mustaine remains the face and voice of Megadeth, but this lineup isn’t simply there to support him. Every member brings something to the table, and together they proved that Megadeth still hits like a sledgehammer.
“A Tout le Monde” was a personal highlight, while “Symphony of Destruction” predictably turned the crowd into one giant chorus.
It was a great set — maybe too short, but that’s the downside of having three heavyweights sharing one bill.
Then the lights went down.
Iron Maiden doesn’t simply play a concert. They put on a production.
The band delivered a massive 17-song set that was everything fans have come to expect from Maiden — professional, polished, theatrical and completely over the top in the best possible way.
Bruce Dickinson remains an incredible frontman, and watching him move around the stage while changing outfits throughout the show was a reminder that the man has no intention of slowing down. And naturally, no Maiden show would be complete without Eddie, whose appearances throughout the night added another dose of spectacle.
But strip away the costumes, production and theatrics, and you’re still left with the most important part: the songs.
And holy hell, did they sound good.
The music was heavy, epic and absolutely massive against the backdrop of 36,000 fans. When “The Number of the Beast” and “Run to the Hills” kicked in, the place erupted. Those were personal highlights in a set filled with them.
This is what Iron Maiden does better than almost anyone: they make a massive outdoor concert feel like an event.
It’s easy to talk about bands like Iron Maiden, Megadeth and Anthrax in terms of legacy. All three have been around long enough to be considered institutions of heavy music.
But that’s not what stood out most about this show.
They weren’t simply three legendary bands coming out to play the hits.
They rocked.
Hard.
Anthrax attacked the stage with infectious energy. Megadeth showed that the machine still works, even in the MegaDave era. And Iron Maiden reminded everyone why they’ve been one of metal’s premier live acts for generations.
We absolutely loved this show.
The only real blemish was crowd management at Parc Jean-Drapeau left plenty to be desired. With the venue so packed, trying to leave early was extremely difficult, and getting out of the site became a frustrating experience. Better crowd flow and exit management would have gone a long way.
But once you’re back home, that’s not what sticks with you.
What sticks is the sound of 36,000 people screaming along to songs that have defined heavy metal for decades.
Iron Maiden. Megadeth. Anthrax.
Three legends. One monster of a bill.
Heavy metal royalty came to Montreal — and they reminded us that the crown is still firmly in place.
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