Concert Review: Metal Allegiance 10th Anniversary Show at Starland Ballroom (Sayreville, NJ)

Metal Allegiance celebrated its tenth anniversary as a band on Saturday night in New Jersey with an all-star lineup of metal musicians playing originals and covers to an enthusiastic and adoring crowd at Starland Ballroom.  The band, originally formed by Mark Menghi (bass) in 2014, features Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater) on drums, Alex Skolnick (Testament) on guitar, and Dave Ellefson (ex-Megadeth) as it’s “Core Four” performers, with a rotating collection of vocalists and guest musicians for albums and shows. To date, Metal Allegiance has released two full-length albums and an EP of covers, which feature over two dozen guest performers from the rock and metal world.

On this evening, the primary vocalists for the band were Troy Sanders (Mastodon) and John Bush (Anthrax, Armored Saint), while local legend Doc Coyle (Bad Wolves, God Forbid) and Dave Davidson (Revocation) joined on guitar.  Each new song brought a new combination of this heavy metal all-star team to the forefront of the stage to play the next number, much to the delight of the Starland crowd.

Bush started on vocals as the group opened with two originals, 'The Accuser' and 'Bound by Silence,' both from 2018’s Power Drunk Majesty, before starting the first of many tributes for the evening.   The vocalist introduced the next song by calling Dio’s memory to mind, name dropping his solo material and time in Black Sabbath, but stating that his personal favorite was his work in Rainbow, before the band kicked into the classic 'Kill the King' from Long Live Rock ‘n Roll.

After covering Anthrax’s 'Room for One More,' Bush departed the stage and gave way to Mastodon bassist and vocalist Troy Sanders.  Metal Allegiance played the two original numbers featuring Sanders on lead vocals, 'Liars & Thieves' and 'Let Darkness Fall.' Doc Coyle joined the band on stage between the songs, and Troy acknowledged the local influence of God Forbid while also complimenting them on helping Mastodon in their early days when they were coming up.  Before introducing the next song, the frontman quipped that “this is the only song this band let’s me play bass for,” before launching into his own band’s iconic opening track from Leviathan, 'Blood and Thunder.'

A cover of KISS’ 'Parasite' came next, as the band’s members noted the common influence the band had on all of them growing up.  The high note of the evening, however, might have been the group’s cover of 'Wake Up Dead,' the Ellefson-led track from Megadeth’s 1986 Peace Sells…But Who’s Buying? Featuring Sanders on lead vocals and frenzied soloing from Skolnick and the guest guitarists, the song truly showcased all band members and their unfathomable skill.  It also caused a female patron behind me to comment that it was nice to hear the song performed with someone who can actually sing.  Her words, not mine.

Bush returned to the stage alongside Sanders to perform 'Dying Song,' an original from the band’s debut album originally featuring Phil Anselmo of Pantera on lead vocals.  UFO’s 'Lights Out' came next, with a healthy shoutout to lead vocalist Phil Mogg and lead guitarist Michael Schenker, before another Bush-era Anthrax cover of 'Only.' After discussing the merits of Paul DiAnno's work in Iron Maiden, Metal Allegiance covered 'Prowler' from the first Maiden record, before Sanders returned to the stage to close the set with a rendition of 'Metal Militia,' the closing track from their legendary Bay Area thrash debut Kill Em All.

Skolnick introduced the first song of the band's encore by explaining how they played their first show together on the Motorboat in 2014, a cruise put together by Lemmy Kilmister and Motorhead.  He acknowledged the role he had in getting this band together and the group paid tribute to the fallen legend by performing a cover of 'Iron Fist,' with Sanders on lead vocals.  Bush and Sanders then combined to carry the last song of the evening, an original called 'Pledge of Allegiance' off of their debut record, joined by every performer from the event on stage together jamming one last time.

Metal Allegiance’s performance at Starland Ballroom was nothing short of a unique and wonderful experience for any metal fan.  To witness some of the strongest players in metal history performing on one stage together in a supergroup fashion was truly something to behold.  I rarely mentioned Mike Portnoy in this review, but his playing was so effortless and excellent that it makes you shake your head at how great of a drummer he is.  Sanders and Bush carried the originals and covers with their tremendous vocals, while Skolnick’s masterful soloing complimented the playing of Coyle and Robertson all evening. Menghi and Ellefson’s bass completed a thumping, energetic rhythm section.

Above all, you could see the joy on each performers face that exclaimed the pure euphoria they were experiencing at what was at the end of the day one of the most fun shows I’ve ever attended.  Hearing an all-star lineup of metal musicians, some more seasoned than others, play a collection of originals and classic covers in an intimate setting was an incredible experience.  Here’s to another ten years of Metal Allegiance!

To learn more about how Metal Allegiance came to be (and more), check out my interview with guitar legend Alex Skolnick HERE: