Playing to a drunken, half-naked crowd of over 17,000, some of the heaviest bands around converged at Ankeny Airfield for Mancow’s Lazer Luau II, a concert that was by far Iowa’s best outdoor festival this summer.

Hosting the show was the supreme leader of morning radio shows Mancow Muller and his Madhouse consisting of Freak, Turd and Al Roker. Clad in a bright silver suit, the “host with the most” welcomed his legions of followers and invited them to “get drunk and get laid.”

Following the bad news that Videodrome would not be opening the show because the lead singer lost his voice, the second stage got most of the early afternoon attention with bands like Dope and Heroic Dose playing their hearts out.

The pro-wrestling demonstration was also a popular hangout, not only because some SlipKnoT look-a-likes got rolled around for awhile, but also because young, breasty girls were eager to show their “goods” in the ring as well.

Chicago band Loudmouth opened the day on the main stage. The band’s style is reminiscent of early 70s classic rock, but the guys give it a modern edge with some raging guitar solos and the heavy drumming of John Sullivan. The band showed off their perfection with songs like “Fly” and “Rats In A Maze.”

Next came national metal acts Machine Head and Fear Factory. These hardcore thrash bands reeled the throng of fans into frenzied mosh pits, especially when Machine Head played the heavy “From This Day,” But Fear Factory calmed things down with the final song of their set, a cover of Gary Numan’s ’80s new wave hit “Cars.”

Meanwhile, on the second stage God Kill God proved to be a better band than their followers Deadfront, but things really picked up when Ames favorites 35″ Mudder pounded onto stage.

The back and forth vocal mix of Dusty Fuerbach and C-Bone burst forth with sweaty, hip-hop energy backed by the rest of the band’s solid performance. Mudder stirred up the dust with the always popular “21 Years Of Pain” and the caustic “Full Scale War.”

When Des Moines’ own SlipKnoT took over duty on the main stage, the intensity hung thick in the air as Iowa welcomed back its favorite band fresh off of Ozzfest ’99.

Decked out in new dark forest green jumpsuits, but the same old scary masks, the band proved they still had all the vigor that got them signed to Roadrunner Records.

SlipKnoT’s set was spectacular. Lead singer, Corey, held everyone at bay with his piercing singing, while two of the three drum sets bounced around on hydraulic lifts.

Heavy hitters Static X headlined on the second stage, holding their own with more high energy loud music.

Glam rockers Orgy commandeered the main stage with fuzzy guitars and pretty makeup. Lead singer Jay Gordon whipped his microphone with violent thrashes as he heaved words out of his lungs, and grinded his body around in Marilyn Manson fashion.

Guitarist Amir Derakh was amazing to watch, jockeying his body in rhythmic, robotic motions while he played oddly-fashioned guitars.

Finally, it was time for the long-awaited arrival of headlining act Megadeth. The band cranked out songs like clockwork, reaching far back in the Megadeth catalogue which has grown immensely over the years.

Guitarist Marty Friedman proved that he is one of the greatest guitarists alive with his red-hot solos that had him practically making love to his guitar.

Lead singer Dave Mustaine held strict composure at the mic as he sang songs from the band’s latest album “Cryptic Writings,” including “Secret Place,” “Trust” and “Use The Man.”

Mustaine pleaded with his fans to help sing the band’s current hit “Crush ‘Em,” a definite arena rock anthem, and commended them for a job well done.

Megadeth concluded the Lazer Luau under a starry sky with a cover of “The Anarchy Song.” The smell of blood, sweat, beer and urine hung in the air, but a cool breeze washed it away leaving only a sense of spent energy and tired bodies reveling in the aftermath of what was the greatest concert of the summer.