Pure Molten Metal

Well, here we are, about to jump into another summer season of hopefully great tours. This is the time for bands to really shine, to prove that everyone should be out there and buying their albums. Putting on great performances leads to more album sales, more merch sales, bigger tours and more chances to play in front of adoring crowds. I recently went to see Dying Fetus, Arsis, Misery Index, Annotations of an Autopsy, Conducting From the Grave, and No Living Witness and it was incredible. Opening up the night was local band No Living Witness who had great stage presence and a very good sound, just unfortunate that there was barely a crowd to witness otherwise they would have gotten a bigger response. The next 2 bands, AOAA and CFTG, were not my style preferring to play the much maligned deathcore brand. While having a lot of energy, I just could not get too into them. Up next was the incredible Misery Index, a band birthed from former members of Dying Fetus, and they completely slayed the crowd. Following them were the powerful Arsis playing their brand of thrashy melo-death that melted the collective crowds' faces. And finaly Dying Fetus came to the stage playing such classics as Pissing in the Mainstream and Skull Fucked. The pit was churning, the crowd was loud, the band was intense, and the overall show was amazing. They continue to be one of my favorite bands.

What I am getting at with this short concert review is that to get the true metal experience one must see the spectacle of the live perfromance. You get to witness the power of the vocals, the thunderous beat of the drums, and the wizardry of the guitars and bass that make up your favorite albums. In addition to this, you get to discover new bands. There have been several shows where one of the opening bands completely steal the show from the headliner and I walk away with their shirt on my back. It allows local bands to perform along with the bands that they look up to and allow them a chance to be discovered as well. There is the camaraderie between you and your friends that all go to the show, between the countless people that you can meet at the show, and even the bands themselves because many of them spend time at the merch booth and even at the bar just hanging out. Going to shows is integral for every metalhead and the summer-time is a perfect chance for everyone to go to shows. This summer bands such as Saint Vitus, Soilwork, Death Angel, Orphaned Land, Immloation, Nile, and countless others are making the rounds and I will be at as many shows as I possibly can.

See you in the pit!!!