Lamb of God, Chimaira, Atreyu and 18 Visions
Rating: 4 Skulls
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Lamb of God, Chimaira, Atreyu and 18 Visions
Rating: 4 Skulls |
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Reviewed by Chainheart (5/2/03, El Rey Theater, Hollywood, CA):
This bill featured some of the best metal and hardcore bands around today making this show a must see. The lines between metal and hardcore are somewhat blurred these days, more so than it was ten years ago. Now supposed hardcore bands such as Darkest Hour have more thrash and melodic riffs than actual Swedish metal bands. While Lamb of God and Chimaira proudly call themselves metal the opening bands Atreyu and 18 Visions are not that far behind, no matter what they or their fans try to say. Although, it is very cool to see that hardcore kids are openly embracing Lamb of God and considering this is their first big headlining U.S. tour the Virginia quintet are doing very well for themselves. All of these bands already have their own built-in fanbase and it was exciting to see just how each crowd would react to this very diverse lineup.It was a rainy night in Los Angeles and after dealing with an insane amount of traffic I finally made it down to the venue and could already hear 18 Visions onstage. I ran in and managed to get a great spot in the front right next to the pit where kids were surprisingly just standing there watching instead of killing each other. The Orange County quartet displayed their keen sense of fashion with all matching outfits, but if you look past the surface this group knows how to put on an amazing live performance. I came in while they were playing "Vanity" from their most recent album of the same name and this group was extremely energetic and exciting to watch. James Hart (vocals) is a strong contender for "frontman of the year" and his presence onstage is phenomenal. This guy would constantly jump off the stage into the crowd and was determined to make sure everyone was getting what they paid for. The track "I Don't Mind" is a hard hitting melodic assault with a breakdown that will make you want to kill the person closest to you and this one definitely got this uptight LA crowd moving. Regardless of whether you like 18 Vision's music you can't deny that they are dynamic and exciting to watch. Their Trustkill Records debut is a must have and this is one group that you could easily tell appeals to both hardcore and metal fans alike. It was going to be a hard act to follow.
Up next was Atreyu, another Orange County CA. band, and the last time I saw this band they blew me away because I was not expecting much. This time I high hopes and ended up being totally disappointed. From the time they took the stage they were having trouble, the most obvious problem being the fill in guitar player. The female guitar player they had as a fill in just did not know the parts and was having technical problems through the entire first four songs. Her guitar kept cutting out and it also cut all of the excitement out of the set. I do give the band credit for continuing to carry on as if there was not a problem and they crowd seemed to be having a great time anyway. Their stage show was boring and you could tell that this was not their night. Considering they were following up 18 Visions they looked even worse. This is one band I would rather listen to on disc; hopefully they will have their original guitar back soon because without him they are helpless.
Now that the hardcore bands were finished it was time for the metal part of the show. Up next was the band that I call the "surprise act of the year" because their new record is a hundred times better than their Roadrunner debut. This is Chimaira and it is insane to see how much this band progressed in the last two years. The last time I saw this group live was when they opened for Slayer and I could not even make it though their entire set it was so horrible. This time I had more of an interest and they came out on fire. The minute they took the stage people started going nuts and it was great to see that the crowd was excited for them. They opened up with "Cleansation" from their new album The Impossibility of Reason and it was just a full on metal assault. From shredding guitar harmonies to pulverizing drumming insanity, it looks as if Chimaira have finally made an extreme record.
They had a strong stage presence and you could tell that they were determined to get every person in that crowd to bang their head before their set was over. All of the new songs that they played sounded amazing and were relentless, but the main problem they have is that everything is so processed. They need to get rid of the guy mixing and sampling, while also eliminating the amount of triggers they use on the drums because it is way too much for the listener to handle. The drummer can definitely play well and it would be easier to hear what he is doing without the triggers taking away from his sound. This is a group that are suddenly going to appeal to more metal fans and you could tell from this crowd's reaction that a majority of the hardcore kids were not enjoying this set. Nonetheless, they have found their own unique sound and I expect to see a lot more of these guys in the next year.
Up next was the mighty Lamb of God and there is not another metal band around today with more of a buzz surrounding them. It is quickly garnering them some positive national exposure and this is a direct result of their relentless touring over the past two years. Their new album, As The Palaces Burn, is a groundbreaking metal record that is already a strong contender for one of this year's top ten releases. This band could be this decade's answer to Pantera, and Randy Blythe (vocals) is a gritty and belligerent frontman that will stop at nothing to get the crowd involved and excited. The minute they walked onstage the frenzy began and you could feel the venue about to collapse. Lamb of God always puts forth lots of energy onstage and this night was no exception, as they started out with four tracks from their previous release. It was not until they played "Ruin", the first track off their new album, that the crowd really started going insane. Their new material is miles beyond that of their previous release and it shows in the live performance as well. They had Devin Townsend (Strapping Young Lad) produce their new record, which added some depth to their sound, but this band definitely comes across the most powerful in a live setting.
Unfortunately, this was not the most powerful I have seen them, but it was still amazing to watch. The stellar precision and intensity of the rhythm section provide enough room for both guitarists to unleash a flurry of razor sharp riffs that quickly hook you in. This band excels in many categories with the most prominent being their songwriting skills. They know what will pummel the crowd, as well as what will get the circle pit moving. As The Palaces Burn is a huge step in right direction for Lamb of God and they soon will be mentioned alongside great such as Slayer within the next few years. Their ability to also appeal to the hardcore kids, as well as the metal crowd is incredible and if you do not own the new LOG record then you are truly missing out. After an hour this crowd had nothing left, but they demanded the band to come back to play more and this is just one band you can't get tired of watching.
Once the show was over I definitely felt like I got what I expected and I would have to give this show a four out of five. The only reason why it did not get a five is because I have seen the other bands perform better before. This is definitely a solid lineup and I think these types of pairings should be put together more often. It was crazy to see how divided both crowds were and the merch tables were even completely divided. They had Lamb of God and Chimaira on one side of the venue while Atreyu and 18 Visons were on the complete opposite side. These types of shows I think definitely expose more narrow minded kids to something new that they might not have actually sought out before and it works both ways. You can expect to see all of these bands touring extensively for the next few months and if Lamb of God is coming within a reasonable drive of you do what it takes to get there. You will be thankful that you made the effort and catch them now before they are playing stadiums in a few years.
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