Kings of Thrash at Crafthouse in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on October 19, 2025.
Photos and Review by The Pit Magazine Contributor David Desin Photography
Walking into the Crafthouse Stage & Grill (a cozy venue by any standard) for Kings of Thrash, you would never have guessed that the night ahead would produce a sound so big it could fill a stadium. From the moment the four-piece took the stage — bassist David Ellefson and guitarist Jeff Young (both of whose names hail from the early days of Megadeth), alongside guitarist/vocalist Chaz Leon and drummer Fred Aching — the energy was immediate and unrelenting.
Set & Sound
The Kings of Thrash set leaned heavily into the early Megadeth catalogue, which makes perfect sense given the pedigree of the band. What was impressive, though, was how fresh and alive those songs felt in this setting. The guitar riffs cut hard and clean, the bass thudded purposefully, and the drums were tight and explosive. For a smaller club setting, the sound was massive — the band struck that sweet spot of loud, clear, and visceral without veering into muddiness.
Chaz Leon handled vocals with an admirable mix of fidelity to the original textures and a bit of his own grit. You could hear the respect for the source material, but also the fire of someone who believes in the music, not just mimicking it. Jeff Young’s leads drew hearty responses: each solo seemed to land with a bite, and Ellefson’s bass presence anchored the bottom end in a way that kept the mix from lapsing into chaos.
Venue Vibes
Crafthouse is the kind of place that invites you in, but by the end of the night you forget you’re in a “small club” — you’re fully immersed in a full-on thrash assault. The crowd was close to the stage, and the intimacy allowed for moments where the band and fans locked eyes during pivotal riffs — a rare “you and me” connection in a metal show these days. The lighting was moody but functional, and the PA held up well (no ear-splitting shriek, just full-bodied metal).
Highlights
• A thunderous drum-bass combo during a mid-set rhythm break: Aching and Ellefson locked in and built a groove that felt heavier than many arena bands manage.
• The moment when Young hit one of the classic Megadeth leads and the crowd responded with a cheer — you could feel the collected release of nostalgia + adrenaline.
• Leon’s vocal delivery on one of the deeper cuts — he didn’t merely belt; he inhabited it. That carried weight.
Overall Impression
Kings of Thrash proved that great musicianship and high intent can make even a small venue feel monumental. They came in with old-school thrash roots, but delivered with a modern vigor that kept the evening from feeling purely retro. For Pittsburgh on October 19th, they didn’t just perform — they owned that room.
If you were there, you left with your ears ringing and your head nodding. If you missed it — this band shows that size doesn’t always equal impact: less can absolutely be more, especially when the talent and fire are stacked the way they were last night.
Side Notes
The Kings of Thrash had the off luck of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, that on there way to the venue ending up with a flat tire. That did not put any delay to the show. I had the opportunity to meet with the band before the show for a few minutes. These guys are as normal as anyone else but with the Thrash Metal minds. Check them out and catch a date on their tour. Hope there is a return in 2026 because I will definitely be there.
Photos by The Pit Magazine photographer David Desin Photography, in Eerie, Pennsylvania. ©2025.
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