Megadeth is to headline Rock ‘n India, India’s biggest ever rock show, a day-long festival with nine bands on the bill.

The other American metal band on the bill, Machine Head, is considered by some to be the finest live band in the world. Opening for Megadeth and Heaven and Hell last year, their scorching 30-minute show was riveting. The thought of them performing a longer set here in Bangalore is mouth-watering. Their recent album, The Blackening (2007) has been lauded as one of the finest pieces of metal in recent memory, combining technical guitaring, blistering guitar solos and trade-offs and pure head banging bliss. Their tribute to Pantera’s legendary Dimebag Darrell, the Grammy-nominated Aesthetics of Hate should be one of many memorable moments on Friday.

The seven other bands on the bill include some of India’s best known and most celebrated rock bands.

Pentagram, Junkyard Groove, Mother Jane, Thermal and A Quarter, Prestorika, Casino Blues and Millennium complete the line up. From Pentagram’s trademark electronic-infused sound to Thermal and A Quarter’s classic hard rock, the organisers have selected an eclectic mix of opening bands.

Bangalore has witnessed some historic rock shows over the years, and the Rock ‘n India Festival has set its sights on topping them all. The show starts at 2:00 pm, but one needs to get in much earlier to get a decent vantage point. If the crowds at the two recent Iron Maiden concerts in India are anything to go by, Friday’s concert should see its fair share of bruised ribs and broken bones. But that comes with the territory.