L.A.-born thrash-metal band Megadeth returns home Feb. 28 on its 2016 North American tour, promoting its new album Dystopia with a song being seen by some as Muslim-bashing.
The Messiah part mass murderer.”
“Given [leader singer Dave] Mustaine’s widely publicized beliefs, that comes across as politically questionable at best and Islamophobic at worst (“The Threat Is Real” in particular, starts with Middle Eastern-style singing, which is just…why?),” says one reviewer.
Axl Rosenberg, another critic, wrote: “Releasing a song called ‘The Threat is Real,’ which begins with Middle Eastern-style singing just a couple of weeks after the attacks in Paris, is kinda gauche, though; the lyrics are fairly vague with regards to who, exactly, is making the threat, but it’s not hard to imagine a bunch of jingoistic asswipes interpreting the track as an anti-Muslim anthem.”
Megadeth launched the North American leg of its Dystopia World Tour in Dallas on Feb. 20. The local stop is at the Hollywood Palladium.
The four-member band will visit 12 states and Canada. Tickets go on sale to the public Dec. 11 at megadeth.com/dystopiatour. Presale of Megadeth Cyber Army Tickets / VIP Packages begins at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8, at cyberarmy.megadeth.com.
The schedule for North America, which includes Suicidal Tendencies, Havok and Children of Bodom:
- Feb. 20 – Dallas, TX – South Side Ballroom
- Feb. 21 – Houston, TX – Bayou Music Center
- Feb. 23 – Denver, CO – The Fillmore Auditorium
- Feb. 24 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex
- Feb. 26 – Las Vegas, NV – The Pearl
- Feb. 27 – Phoenix, AZ – Comerica Theatre
- Feb. 28 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium
- Feb. 29 – San Francisco, CA – The Warfield
- March 2 – Honolulu, HI – The Republik (MEGADETH only)
- March 3 – Honolulu, HI – The Republik (MEGADETH only)
- March 5 – Penticton, BC – South Okanagan Events Centre
- March 6 – Calgary, AB – Grey Eagle Resort
- March 8 – Dawson Creek, BC – Encana Events Centre
- March 9 – Edmonton, AB – Rexall Place
- March 10 – Moose Jaw, SK – Mosaic Place
- March 13 – Chicago, IL – Aragon Ballroom
- March 15 – Niagara Falls, NY – The Rapids Theatre
- March 16 – New York, NY – Terminal 5
- March 17 – New York, NY – Terminal 5
- March 19 – Bethlehem, PA – Sands Bethlehem Event Center
- March 20 – Philadelphia, PA – Electric Factory
- March 21 – Boston, MA – House Of Blues
- March 23 – Bangor, ME – Cross Insurance Center
- March 24 – Quebec, QC – Centre Videotron
- March 26 – Sioux Falls, SD – Badlands Pawn