Arranthrax/Brian Maiden/Megadeth UK - Ivory Blacks, Glasgow, 18th April 2026

I have my own personal opinion on the matter, but that's for another time and place.

The three bands are Arranthrax, Scotlands only Anthrax tribute, Brian Maiden, yip you did read that correctly, and Megadeth UK, no surprises who they are.

One of my first reviews for Rockfiend featured two of tonights bands, Arranthrax and Megadeth UK, so fingers crossed that I have progressed a little bit since then.

It was a typical Glasgow gig crowd, doors opened bang on seven o'clock, which is rare, there is usually a delay of some sort, there were a few bodies at opening, for the next fifteen minutes a few more joined, then just as Arranthrax hit the stage, BANG! We have a crowd! 

Arranthrax perform ten big hitting Anthrax tracks, Arranthrax, just like Anthrax, they have a time limit, so not everyone's favourites made it to the set, personally a little disappointed that "Only" and "In my world" never made it. However, other favourites of mine did. "Caught in a mosh" "Got the time" "Madhouse" "Indians" and "Antisocial" all made the list.

There was one song, N.F.L (Efilnikufesin) they announced this was the first time they played the song in Glasgow, the song is a cautionary tale about drug abuse, written about the untimely death of American comedy legend John Belushi, if you don't know, read Efilnikufesin backwards, N.F.L Nice Fukin Life. Heavy Metal isn't all about throwing up "The Horns" and headbanging!

One of the sad things about gig goers is the fact that not everyone turns up for the opening act, I just cannot understand that, people miss out on some incredible performances.

Personally, I always try my best to be at the front of the queue for the doors opening. There have been more than a few times where I've seen the "support" band being just as good, or even better than the headline, I digress, lets get back to the show.

Next up, I will admit, I was rather apprehensive about seeing Brian Maiden, when it comes to Metal, Iron Maiden are my No.1 band, by proverbial miles. even the name made me cringe. I really was not looking forward to this. Here at Rockfiend we always try to be positive about the bands we review.

This was going to be difficult, was it? Well surprisingly, in one word, NO! 

Four lads come on stage, tune up a bit, then the Winston Churchill speech begins, they then burst into "Aces High", but something doesn't look right, there is a mic stand centre stage, but without a mic, it looks as if the guitarist is about to start singing, but how can he, there is no mic, trying to attract his attention to tell him someone forgot to put the mic onto the stand, seconds later "Bruce" or is it Brian? bounces in from stage left, wearing very similar attire, including an old fliers headgear, that Bruce Dickinson wears when performing said song.

First song into a set of ten, I was pleasantly surprised, second song was a Paul D'Ianno classic "Wrathchild" This guy is pretty good at D'Ianno too!

The singer, sorry, I never caught his name, yeah I know, Google, but I didn't, he loosely quoted the "Brian" part of the amazing Monty Python movie "The Life Of Brian" that they were not the Messiah, but they were naughty boys. Tres Drole!

Next follows a list of classic Maiden favourites "The evil that men do" "Number of the beast" "Run to the hills" "Fear of the dark" "2 minutes to midnight".

Next they played my favourite Iron Maiden song, "The Trooper" the singer left the stage after "2 minutes" and came back on with another wardrobe change, again coming back dressed in a red tunic, however, this is where I did cringe a bit, but I can understand why it was done, in Glasgow, in front of a Scottish crowd, keep the natives happy, he was waving a Saltire! 

Being a bit of a history buff, Scotland, as a nation, didn't fight at the Crimean War, maybe there were some who took part as part of the British Army, so it should have been the Union Flag, just like Bruce does when performing the song. Am I being too picky? probably! 

Another costume change for "Powerslave" this time donning a feathered mask, again similar to Bruce again. 

They rounded off their set with another Maiden live favourite "Hallowed be thy name" and yes, he held the notes almost as long as Bruce does.

To say I was surprised with Brian Maiden is an understatement, I know they are NOT Iron Maiden, but it was very easy to get caught up with their performance, and with the crowd reaction throughout their set, it did feel like a Maiden gig!  

Highly recommended, and I would actually pay to see them again, and I really can't believe that.

Next up are tonight's headliners Megadeth Uk. I have to admit in advance, that I have never been a fan of Megadave or his music, I'll be honest, there is only one Megadeth song I like, I'll come to that later, because there is a little bit of arithmetic to be done, education at a concert, who would have thought!

Three fifths of Brian Maiden make up three quarters of Megadeth UK. As you will see from the photos the bassist, drummer and guitarist from Brian Maiden are the three quarters of Megadeth UK, the guitarist is also the singer, yeah I know, clear as mud!

The crowd has even grown more! 

Megadeth UK open their eleven song set with the only song I like "Hangar 18", the crowd go ballistic! so most of this crowd are here for a night of Megadeth. Having been a Rock/Metal DJ for decades I do know ninety nine percent of the songs played "Wake up dead" "In my darkest hour" "Skin of my teeth" "Sweating bullets" the setlist shows that "Tornado of souls" it next, however, time is getting on and there is a karaoke night on after the gig, so they jump into "Symphony of destruction" "Peace sells...…" is the penultimate song, the singer apologises for cutting the set short and announce their last track, even although the gig should have ended ten minutes ago. They finish with "Holy Wars...". The crowd go nuts! 

I was talking with a young woman at the break between Maiden and Megadeth, she asked who I was there to see and if I liked Megadeth, I was truthful and told her I wasn't a fan, she then told me how Megadeth helped her through a tough part of her growing up, that was fantastic to hear, because I know some bands helped me through some tough times, again Heavy Metal is a lot more than "horns" devil worshiping and human sacrifices! Did I say that out loud? oh well the secret is out lol

The crowd had a fantastic night of Heavy Metal from three bands that put everything into their performance.

There is one thing about tonight that gets me rather angry, it's not the tribute/covers band debate, it's not the behaviour of the crowd, because they were perfect. It's the fact that they will quite happily pay twenty pounds for three tribute/covers bands, but won't spend twelve pounds to come and see local unsigned bands, playing their own songs. There is plenty space and time to accommodate local original bands, the huge name bands and the tribute/covers bands.

If you don't support the small local bands today, there will be no huge bands tomorrow which means there will only be tribute/covers bands playing old songs either, which will be pretty sad, because there will be no new bands helping future kids to get through difficult times. Pick a random gig and go and support, even if it is one gig, it helps the bands, venues and the next generation.