A summer without Godsmack on tour just doesn’t feel right these days. The perennial road artists are back out, and Tampa got one of the last shows with the legendary Atreyu on board.
Opening the show was Flat Black and they will largely join them for the rest of the tour. Despite the thick air and a lack of center monitors, this was a perfect night at the amp!!
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Formed back in 2020 when Jason Hook found himself looking to regain his musical focus, the quartet has been igniting stages since its debut. With Hook on lead guitar, Nick Dilitz on bass, Rob Pierce on drums, and Wes Horton as the frontman, the band made themselves some big shoes to fill from the work go. After some word and music was leaked, the hype was huge, but this tour is proving just how legit they are.
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An energetic and “f*ck” filled six-song set into the day, and Flat Black set one hell of a tone for the show. With a cover of the FFDP hit “Wash It All Away” and their own single “It’s Your Lack Of Respect” capping things off, they paid homage to Hook’s past and treated the fans, as well as whetting their appetite for the rest of the night.
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While not taking away from Atreyu, Horton announced a meet and greet after the set, and the band followed through, spending roughly 45 minutes with fans. Taking pictures and answering questions, this was the happiest Hook has looked in some time. With the band as a whole meshing like this, they’ll likely be headlining a tour in 2024.
Up second was Atreyu. Despite multiple lineups throughout the years, these metalcore artists have remained largely dedicated and on the path for years. Drenched in a largely blacked-out stage, the limited red and blue lights with occasional flashes of white light might have been a rough shoot, but it was interesting to watch from the crowd.
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Vocalist Brandon Saller does an excellent job of taking charge of the stage for their opening riff on “Drowning.” While the notes fettered around the amphitheater, the crowd quickly grew restless and jumped right into creating a small pit and joined the band helping them perform the chorus.
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As “Save Us” began, the audience got roped into a proper sing-along, and they nailed it. Despite a less-than-sold-out crowd, they made the place sound and feel jam-packed.
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Walking through the crowd, Saller got more people up and moving, as Dan Jacobs and Travis Miguel on guitars and Mac McKnight on bass lit them up!! Getting people to stay into it when it’s Florida “didn’t rain today” humid is never a simple task, but they accomplished it over their 11-song setlist.
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While talking about being out on a boat they decided to go with Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance (With Somebody).” While a quick jam, it was pointed out that the biggest and most bearded dudes were rocking out to the idea the most.
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Closing the night was Godsmack. After 25 years of entrances, they had to come up with something new, and the double kabuki curtain was a great way to do that. With a video package via DJ Mix Master Mike on the first curtain, then their curtain behind it, they emerged loud and triumphant before their fans.
Comprised of Tony Rombola on lead guitar, Robbie Merrill on bass, Shannon Larkin on drums, and Sully Erna on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, the band has remained unchanged for 20 years.
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In that time, these four have developed a close personal relationship, and despite reports of this being their last album, they play like they still have 6 more in the tank. Across a 14-song set, the band blazed through hits like “When Legends Rise,” “1000 HP,” and “Cryin’ Like a Bitch!!” in just the first three songs. The headbanging faithful were delighted with this opening trio.
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Getting into “Surrender,” Erna asked the guys to put their muscles to work and to hoist the ladies up. Asking that production effects be turned off, they played as the rest of the audience lit the amp with their cell phones.
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Not to be outdone, the “Batalla de Los Tambores” drum-off between Larkin and Erna has reached a new crescendo. While they still play a lot in sync, the battle has elevated, and it is amazing. It could easily be a set of its own.
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Bringing up little headbanger Audrey along with about 8 other kids, Erna had them introduce themselves, and proclaimed “Ladies and gentlemen this is the future of rock and roll!” Ending after their visit, the encore was something else.
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Opening with the tear-jerking “Under Your Scars,” Erna reminded the fans of how important their nonprofit is, and how many lives they touch. Keeping people safe, and reminding them there is help is crucial, and something they take seriously. To Prevent ending on a somber note, major favorites “Bulletproof” and “I Stand Alone” rounded out the set.
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Continuing through October, this is not a tour you want to miss. Significant in their own way, Flat Black is the biggest shocker of the tour. While anyone who has seen Jason Hook before knows the man can play, it seems like so many were left in the dark about Dilitz, Pierce, and Horton. With their open and easily accessible meet and greets, get a ticket and see this show!!
MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheater was the host to a sold-out show featuring Five Finger Death Punch, Breaking Benjamin, Nothing More and Bad Wolves. The tour is co-sponsored by Live Nation and Frank Productions and due to immense popularity, it has been extended into the fall. As an added bit of kudos to the bands, a portion of all ticket sales was donated to two charity organizations. Five Finger Death Punch is supporting C.O.P.S – Concerns Of Police Survivors, and Breaking Benjamin choosing Prevent Child Abuse America. Both amazing causes helping those in need.
Zoltan Bathory 5FDP (Photo-Jaime Rodriguez)
The rain god[s] would smile down upon Tampa this night, the on and off showers that are common during this time of year were nowhere in sight. Temperatures in the 80s were a welcome relief for the crowd since we’ve had some high 90s and extreme humidity lately. Arriving at the Amphitheater, it was packed to the gills. Even from the outside, you could see that nearly every seat was filled, even the premier and VIP parking was nearly filled to capacity. The faithful metalheads of Tampa turned out for a show of epic proportions, and they would not be disappointed.
Benjamin Burnley Breaking Benjamin (Photo-Jaime Rodriguez)
Kicking off the night was Bad Wolves. After lead singer Tommy Vext filled in for 5FDP’s Ivan Moody’s departure on a previous tour, this band gained a massive following. Making their mainstream debut with a cover the “Zombie” from The Cranberries, their debut album Disobey has found terrific success.
Opening with their politically charged track “Officer Down,” Bad Wolves quickly got the crowd jumping and headbanging along with them. Following up with the concert stadium anthem “Learn to Live,” they really found their stride quickly, and performed like a veteran act instead of a new ‘up and coming’ group. While only playing a seven-song set, they served as a terrific preview of what was left to come.
Jonny Hawkins Nothing More (Photo-Jaime Rodriguez)
Nothing More invaded the stage, and kicked off their set with “Do You Really Want it?” the second single off of their album The Stories We Tell Ourselves. Although originating in 2003, this is only their second label release. Lead singer Jonny Hawkins moved the crowd with his melodic vocals and high energy that set the pace for an entertaining set.
Mark Vollelunga Nothing More (Photo-Jaime Rodriguez)
Guitarist Mark Vollunga and bassist Daniel Oliver provided intense and melodic harmonies, while drummer Ben Anderson set the foundation for their powerful and undeniably honest songs about the issues that plague our times. With songs like “Let ‘em Burn,” “Don’t Stop,” and the Grammy-nominated “Go to War.”
Jonny Hawkins Nothing More (Photo-Jaime Rodriguez)
Nothing More played with passion and honesty rarely seen in music today. The crowd really seemed to connect with the band when they played their 2014 hit “Jenny,” a song about the battle with addiction that deeply affected Jonny’s sister, and consequently the whole family. At the end of the night, they really set the stage on fire with their cover of Skrillex’s “First of the Year (Equinox).”
Daniel Oliver Nothing More (Photo-Jaime Rodriguez)
One of the best sights of the night came when Jonny mounted the most entertaining, high rising, attention-grabbing, hydraulic driven contraption the stage has probably ever seen. The “Scorpion Tail” as it’s called has levers flying everywhere; buttons, gears, and drums, it moved more like a mechanical bull. I was honestly scared for him a few times, as I thought for sure he was going to fall off. Yet Hawkins handled this beast like a champ.
Jonny Hawkins Nothing More (Photo-Jaime Rodriguez)
Nothing More concluded their set with “Salem” with the crowd joining in by screaming “Burn The Witch” in unison with the band. Nothing More is hands down one of the most original bands to come out in the rock world in a long time. I can say without question that I really enjoyed seeing their show, and would make the effort to see them again.
Mark Vollelunga Nothing More (Photo-Jaime Rodriguez)
Up next to the stage came the multi-platinum recording artists Breaking Benjamin who are out supporting their newest release Ember. They started their set with “Red Cold River” a song that peaked at #2 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Songs chart. Singer Benjamin Burnley brings to the stage an angst and grind that only comes from years as a musician, and it seemed that the crowd related to him from song one.
Aaron Bruch Breaking Benjamin (Photo-Jaime Rodriguez)
Bassist Aaron Bruch took over the mic and sang “Believe,” which was nothing less than mind blowing. One thing to note about Breaking Benjamin is that the current lineup is completely stacked with amazing singers. Guitarist Keith Wallen and Bruch were hand-picked for their vocal ability and they were producing amazing harmonies throughout their set. The crowd sang at the top of their lungs along with Burnley as they played their hits “I Will Not Bow” & “Never Again.”
Benjamin Burnley Breaking Benjamin (Photo-Jaime Rodriguez)
Keith Wallen Breaking Benjamin (Photo-Jaime Rodriguez)
Probably one of the coolest parts of their performance was when they played the “Imperial March” from Star Wars, with every Star Wars fan in the crowd going nuts! This was just a lead into a medley of a few select covers which the crowd ate up. Tool’s “Schism,” Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” Pantera’s “Walk” (which sent the crowd into a frenzy), and ending with Metallica’s “Sad But True.”
Benjamin Burnley & Aaron Bruch Breaking Benjamin ( Photo Travis Failey )
You couldn’t have asked for a better set-list. All your favorites, both new and old, with a few covers to boot. Breaking Benjamin kept improving throughout the night as the minutes and their set seemed to fly by. With all their energy and talent you just didn’t want them to leave the stage.
Shaun Foist Breaking Benjamin (Photo-Jaime Rodriguez)
Finally, the time had come for the band that Tampa’s Heavy Metal crowd came to see. FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH!!!! There aren’t words to describe the feeling in the amphitheater as everyone, and I mean everyone was waiting for them to take the stage!!! You could feel the electricity in the air; coursing through your veins as the anticipation built. Then the curtain dropped….
Ivan Moody 5FDP (Photo-Jaime Rodriguez)
Right out the gate, 5FDP lead off with a brutal throat punch that was “Lift Me Up.” Every head was banging; fists in the air, aggression at full tilt! Made you want to hit the gym and bench press 500lbs and scream at the top of your lungs! Ivan Moody gripped the crowd with such intensity and you could see it from his head to his toes, a true showman. When they played “Wash it All Away,” there wasn’t a person left in their seat. It became a heavy metal MOB!
Jason Hook 5FDP (Photo-Travis Failey
I don’t know if MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheater has seen such power, and this was a true sight to behold. The pyro, the flames, the sheer raw power of this band could not be contained, and neither could Zoltan Bathory’s energetic licks. Chris Kael’s bass and Jeremy Spencer’s drums drove the music into the heart of everyone in attendance. Huge supporters of the Military, 5FDP played their rendition of “Bad Company” dedicating it to those who served. Tears could be seen streaming down the face of a member of the crowd as they sang along.
Zoltan Bathory 5FDP(Photo-Jaime Rodriguez)
While hard to follow such a powerful rendition, 5FDP slowed it down a bit. With a small acoustic set, featuring only Ivan and Jason Hook on acoustic guitar. Even the slower acoustic versions of “Wrong Side of Heaven” and “Remember Everything” had every bit of fortitude as the electric performances. As they played on through the evening, they arrived at their version of the Offspring’s “Gone Away.”
Ivan Moody 5FDP ( Photo Jaime Rodriguez )
If you think 5FDP’s studio recording is good, the live performance is a metric ton better. Winding down the night with their final song “The Bleeding,” all bets were off as they left nothing on the stage. As big and bad as this band is, they care; they care about their fans. Throughout the night they interacted with their fans and really showed their appreciation for their support. Pretty refreshing to see a group that has made it this big and genuinely connects with their supporters. Passing out tons of guitar picks, singling out two truly metal kids who caught Ivan’s eye to receive special gifts, and taking time to make contact past the first few rows of the pit, it was one of the best endings of any metal show for the fans.
Chris Kael 5FDP (Photo-Jaime Rodriguez)
This was a great night for Tampa; to see four talented, world-renowned, and hard rocking acts in one venue. All in all, it was a perfect night for such a show. The weather cooperated, the temperature was terrific and the music was amazing. If you haven’t made it out to catch this tour so far, there is a second leg that will be kicking off at the end of September! You won’t be disappointed.
Slipknot, Marilyn Manson and Of Mice and Men at the MFCUA
It’s been one year since the epic Summer’s Last Stand Tour came to Tampa. The bill was headlined by Slipknot, with support from a recently released and recharged Randy Blythe & Lamb of God, and two of the hotter bands on the scene, Bullet For My Valentine and Motionless in White. If you are a fan of hard rock, you can’t find a lineup that provides more bang for your buck. And I can tell you first hand: this was an amazing show, with top notch performances by all the artists.
Jim Root ( Photo – Travis Failey )
If you were at last year’s Slipknot show, you know that this year’s Slipknot tour had large shoes to fill. Apparently Slipknot knew that, because this year they brought an old reliable crowd favorite, Marilyn Manson, and California’s Of Mice and Men.
Marilyn Manson ( Photo – Travis Failey )
Once again, Florida’s summer heat would be a factor at the Mid Florida Credit Union, as the “feels like” temperature was 105 degrees. MFCUA is an outdoor amphitheatre with a reserved covered seated section, and an uncovered lawn area with max capacity reaching 26,000.
Shawn & Mick ( Photo – Travis Failey )
( Photo – Travis Failey )
When Of Mice & Men took the stage at 6:30, there were plenty of empty seats as a slight rain fell. But the heat and the rain didn’t deter the massive partying that was going on in the parking lot. Handles of booze lined tailgates and clouds of smoke filled the air without any resistance from Tampa’s finest.
Austin Carlisle ( Photo – Travis Failey )
Of Mice and Men opened up with “Public Service Announcement,” which set the tone for their 8 song set. Vocalist Austin Carlisle mixed guttural screams with clean vocals, and engaged with fans at the rail throughout the set. The metalcore quintet did their best to prep the crowd for the evening’s festivities, but other than the people who were familiar with their material, the majority of attendants seemed uninterested.
Alan Ashby ( Photo – Travis Failey )
Phil Manansala ( Photo – Travis Failey )
Of Mice and Men is made up of two quality guitar players, Alan Ashby and Phil Manansala, and colorful drummer, Valentino Arteaga. But, Of Mice and Men is in a tough spot: opening for two established, but equally different bands. This also was the case when Of Mice and Men opened up for Linkin Park and Rise Against a few years back. I get that they are trying to expand their audience base, but I’m not sure that this tour will accomplish that.
Valentino Arteaga ( Photo – Travis Failey )
( Photo – Travis Failey )
After a quick stage changeover, Marilyn Manson strolled out onto the stage, grabbed his shotgun microphone, and commenced their ten song set with “Angel With Scabbed Wings.” Manson then transitioned from the shotgun microphone, to a brass knuckle type knife microphone. Manson used this microphone to open a bag of red dust that he dumped on the photographers at the end of the band’s first song.
Marilyn Manson ( Photo – Travis Failey )
Marilyn Manson ( Photo – Travis Failey )
The red dust found Manson’s intended mark, as it covered several photographers and their gear in the photo pit, as well as some fans in the front row. While the fans didn’t seem to mind, the photographers were pissed. Manson added insult to injury when he made comments directed at the “pro photographers racing out, trying to protect and clean” their equipment.
Marilyn Manson ( Photo – Travis Failey )
After the dust settled, the rest of Marilyn Manson’s set was a collection of his greatest hits, combined with the predictable stage theatrics that Manson has used over the years.
Manson ( Photo- Noel Rodriguez )
Manson got a huge reaction from the fans during their cover of the Eurythmic’s “Sweet Dreams,” not only due to the popularity of the song, but also because he performed the song while standing on huge metal stilts. After “Sweet Dreams,” Manson selected the Westboro Baptist Church’s favorite song of his, “AntiChrist Superstar.” He stood upon his papal-like podium and allegedly burned Bibles as they performed.
Marilyn Manson ( Photo – Travis Failey )
( Photo – Travis Failey )
Many who haven’t seen Manson perform before were definitely entertained, but throughout his set, it was obvious to many that Manson’s vocals were subpar and he often looked like he was just going through the motions. Marilyn Manson finished the set with their biggest hit, “The Beautiful People.” Not long after, the chants for Slipknot began.
Corey Taylor ( Photo – Travis Failey )
After Corey Taylor’s recent neck surgery and subsequent fall at the end of the show two nights prior in Atlanta, I wondered how these events would effect his performance. But as The Great Freddie Mercury once said, “The Show Must Go On” and Taylor joined his fellow musicians on stage sporting a black neck brace as the red curtain dropped from the ceiling.
Corey Taylor ( Photo – Travis Failey )
Slipknot started their set with their biggest hit from the 2015 release .5: The Gray Chapter with “The Negative One” which got huge spins thanks to Sirius/XM’s Octane. The next two songs would take the Slipknot fans back to their early days with “Disasterpiece” from 2001, and the song that put them on the map in 1999, “Eyeless.”
Jay Weinberg ( Photo – Travis Failey )
Taylor’s voice was top notch as usual as was the band with their tri-percussion attack led by drummer Jay Weinberg. Shawn Crahan and Chris Fehn manned their own drums attached to the sizzorjack lifts as the three of them are the backbone of Slipknot’s bombastic sound.
Chris Fehn ( Photo – Travis Failey )
Shawn Crahan ( Photo – Travis Failey )
As Slipknot performed their 17 song set, there were a few things that stood out. One was the lack of pyrotechnics which Slipknot has used in spades on previous tours. In lieu of pyrotechnics, Slipknot utilized enormous video screens that showed hypnotic and somewhat disturbing images but those are par for the course at their shows.
( Photo – Travis Failey )
( Photo – Travis Failey )
The other was Corey Taylor’s performance. Corey is an amazing frontman in any capacity, but he was limited in his movements due to the neck surgery and his recent fall.
Corey Taylor ( Photo – Travis Failey )
The fans didn’t seem to care and the mosh pits were frequent and at times violent especially during their hits the “The Devil and I” and “Wait and Bleed.” There were also multiple pits that formed into one enormous pit in the reserved seating area while other pits appeared in the lawn area, which is rare at the amphitheater.
Alessandro Venturella ( Photo – Travis Failey )
As the set progressed, the members of Slipknot came to the front of the stage, including Alessandro Venturella, who played his bass that had illuminated frets. This is the second time that I’ve seen guitarists use this technology. Jason Hook also started using illuminated frets while playing with Five Finger Death Punch.
Craig Jones ( Photo – Travis Failey )
This year’s Slipknot tour was a bit more reserved than last year for obvious reasons, but as the tour rolls on and Taylor recovers, you can expect everything that you are accustomed to from a Slipknot performance. If you’re going to see Slipknot for the first time, you’ll still be treated to an amazing performance by a band that didn’t create the genre, but expanded it to a much greater level.
ZOLTAN BATHORY – FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)
The biggest four band rock and metal tour of the year came to the CFE Arena in the Orlando area on Tuesday night. When this tour was first announced in May, you couldn’t help but be excited if you are a fan of hard rock. Not only was one of the biggest rock bands headlining in Five Finger Death Punch, but the newest big hitter and unbelievably popular Volbeat would be on the bill. It’s been an amazing run that the Copenhagen foursome have been on. The crowds have been growing with every performance to the point where the fans are coming to large festivals just to see them play and they have been the overwhelming favorite when talking to the fans at these events. Just having these two bands on this bill would be enough to get the fans to the arena, but the promoters decided to give the attendees more bang for their buck by adding a supergroup in HellYeah and a shooting star and my favorite new band that resides in the San Antonio area, Nothing More.
Knowing that this show was being held at the CFE Arena on the University of Central Florida campus and having never attended a show at this venue, I knew that getting there early should be a priority.
NOTHING MORE (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)
With Nothing More taking the stage at 6 pm, we arrived around 5 pm at the arena. There were a couple different parking areas at the venue but both of them were a bit of distance away and traffic just getting to the lots, was a nightmare. I’m not sure how experienced this facility is in handling crowds of thousands of people, but throughout the night we noticed some things that could be very problematic and I’ll get to that later.
We were psyched to see Nothing More again. Having been introduced to them when they opened for Adrenaline Mob about two years ago, Nothing More has been a meteoric rise. They have been gaining fans through constant touring and playing the small stages at festivals like Monster Energy’s Welcome to Rockville the past two years. (Our coverage of those shows resides here)
After playing the huge Aftershock festival in San Francisco in 2013, Nothing More had multiple labels looking to sign them and the band decided to go with Eleven Seven Music. This was huge step as they were and still are the epitome of a “do it yourself” band by promoting and creating their own videos and building their bio-diesel touring truck. With backing now by a major label, they are now able to focus on the music and let the pros handle the logistics.
JOHNNY HAWKINS – NOTHING MORE (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)
Nothing More is fronted by Jonny Hawkins, (who also performs as a second drummer with the band) is definitely not your status quo, run of the mill vocalist. He performs with intensity and a commitment to their music like you seldom see. Their stage performance incorporates a swinging base mechanism called the “Bassinator “ that is played not only by Hawkins, but at the same time by bandmates, Mark Vollelunga (Guitars), Daniel Oliver (Bass) and Paul O’Brien (Drums). Unfortunately for us and a lot others in the media, we missed Nothing More’s set due to a credential situation at the box office. This happens sometimes in the music industry but tonight’s issue was extremely frustrating because it was resolved only in time to hear Hawkins say “goodnight and thanks” as he walked off the stage.
Nothing More’s setlist included “Christ Copyright”, their most recent single being played on Sirius XM’s Octane in “Mr. MTV”, their breakout hit in “This Is The Time (Ballast)” and they closed their set out with “Salem. ” “Salem” is a song that has to been seen live as it includes a multiple percussion performance by all the guys in the band. To say it is awesome would be an understatement. If you get a chance to see these guys on this tour or preferably at a club, don’t hesitate. You will become an instant fan. For more information on Nothing More: www.nothingmore.net
CHAD GREY – HELLYEAH (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)
HellYeah was the next band to hit the stage and they did not disappoint. Vinnie Paul was the first to arrive and stood up behind the drum kit and the fans went crazy. Everyone loves Vinnie from his Pantera days plus Vinnie is one of the nicest guys in the business. Vocalist Chad Grey along with Tom Maxwell (guitarist), and Kyle Sanders (bassist), stormed the stage and ripped into “Hell Yeah” and then the title track and first single from their latest release in “Sangre Por Sangre” or “Blood For Blood.” What a way to start the set! Grey busted out the megaphone and the first multiple mosh pits of their set were born. HellYeah pounded through seven songs, which included “Demons in the Dirt,” “War in Me” and their most recent single in “Moth.” They closed out their set with “You Wouldn’t Know” in which Grey had the crowd singing the chorus in delight. After seeing HellYeah live for a second time and listening to their recent super heavy release, Hellyeah now seems like a cohesive unit where previously they seemed like a supergroup full of individual parts. For more on HellYeah check out their site at http://www.hellyeahband.com/
KYLE SANDERS – HELLYEAH
Between sets we headed out to say hi to the guys in Nothing More and the CFE Arena provided us with some issues. If you asked any of the workers a question, they sort of tilted their head like my dog when he is perplexed by something. The bigger situation was that the huge merchandise table was placed in front of the main entrance to the seating areas and also in front of the concessions and the rest rooms. This made movement through the halls very difficult and potentially hazardous to those in attendance. If there was any kind of emergency where people had to get out in a hurry, there could be some trampling going on. Thankfully this didn’t occur and we made it back to our seats as Volbeat was hitting the stage.
ANDRES KJOLHOLM – VOLBEAT (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)
Volbeat has come onto the music scene like gang-busters over the two years. The Danish rock band that fuses a combination of rock and roll, heavy metal, and rockabilly, has been all over terrestrial and satellite radio with their hit singles “Lola Montez” and “The Hangman’s Body Count.” There has been more buzz in the industry for this group than I have seen in many years and Volbeat did not disappoint. Rob Caggiano has had a huge effect on Volbeat since he left Anthrax, not only as Volbeat’s producer but also as lead guitarist. This is shown in the chemistry that he demonstrates on stage with Michael Poulsen (vocalist/guitarist), Jon Larsen (drummer), and Anders Kjolholm (bassist). Caggiano also provides a metal flair in his playing of guitar solos and engages with the crowd with his guitar.
ROB CAGGIANO – VOLBEAT (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)
Speaking of Poulsen, he pulled off an unbelievable crowd surfing moment as he traveled from the stage over to the left side of the crowd to provide a young fan with a shirt. Pretty awesome move that is rarely seen these days. He has also incorporated his idols in Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash and tonight the boys played a little bit of the Cash classic in “Ring Of Fire.” They also brought Jon Schaeffer from Iced Earth fame, onstage for “Pool Of Booze.”
MICHAEL POULSEN – VOLBEAT (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)
MICHAEL POLSEN – VOLBEAT (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)
Volbeat played a co-headliners set that included “Doc Holliday,” “Fallen,” and finished their 14 song set with “Still Counting.” Volbeat showed once again that they are here to stay and a force to be reckoned with going forward.
To close out the great night of rock, Five Finger Death Punch was next and their drummer Jeremy Spencer jumped behind his drum kit dressed for the upcoming Halloween holiday.
JEREMY SPENCER – 5FDP (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)
Then his bandmates, Ivan Moody (vocalist), Zoltan Bathory (guitarist), Jason Hook (lead guitarist) and Chris Kael (bassist ) joined him as they opened with their hit in “Under and Over It.”
This was the start of their 14 song set which consisted of many recognizable songs. This band is a bunch of hard rockers and hit makers. They also know how to incorporate a cover or two and tonight they did this with the classic Bad Company song “Bad Company.”
Ivan Moody is not only a solid hard rock singer but he knows how to engage the crowd and he did this all night long. He likes to honor the U.S. Military at shows and he does this when he introduces “Bad Company” to the crowd. At previously shows he has brought on members of the Wounded Warriors program and Moody is also part of the Make A Wish Foundation. Tonight he brought Keaton, a 17 year old with Cystic Fibrosis, onstage to hang out while they played. A pretty special moment, not only for Keaton, but for all in attendance. (Youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-6rdFGcQX4 )
IVAN MOODY – 5FDP (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)
Five Finger Death Punch continued through their set with “Lift Me Up” which won Revolver Magazine’s 2014 Golden Gods Award for Best Song of the Year which is great live, except Rob Halford wasn’t in attendance. (Halford shared vocal duties on this song with Moody.) Another highlight from their set was the mellower “Remember Everything. ” You could hardly hear the vocals as the crowd was drowning out Moody by singing every lyric. Closing out the night with “Far From Home” and “The Bleeding,” Five Finger Death Punch is a band that needs to be seen live in order to truly appreciate them. All the members of the band are animated and appreciate the crowd that they are playing in front of and play with a reckless abandon. They are also some of the nicest people that I’ve ever met in this industry. For more info on FFDP: http://www.fivefingerdeathpunch.com/
CHRIS KAEL – 5FDP (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)
If you are a fan of hard rock and heavy metal, this is a tour that you should not miss. It has everything that you want out of a show including 4 bands at different stages of their careers. The new kids on the scene in Nothing More, the veterans of previous bands now merged into a cohesive unit in HellYeah, a new fan favorite from overseas in Volbeat, and lastly a multi-year, muti-hit monster in Five Finger Death Punch. It’s not often you get to see a tour like this, especially for an affordable ticket that’s well worth the price of admission.
Rockville 2014 was off the stage! Heidi Shepherd, Butcher Babies (photo by Chris Zambello Rockshot Live)
Jacksonville, Fla. — After a great day of music on Saturday, there wasn’t any time for recovery as Monster Energy’s Fourth Annual Rockville Music Festival kicked off at noon on Sunday. The weather was a 10: warm, partly cloudy, with a light breeze from the St. John’s River and upon walking up to the stadium, I heard some music coming from someone’s car that caught my ear. Only, it wasn’t from a car. It was from Metropolitan Park and from a band called Ghost of War. I had never heard of this band before. They play old school metal the way it’s meant to be played.
As we raced into the park we noticed that Metropolitan Park was packed! Sunday’s morning crowd was much bigger than Saturday’s. You would of expected the park to be a mess after 20,000 fans invaded it the day before, but, thankfully, Metropolitan Park was clean, the vendors were stocked and the event staff even had smiles on their tired faces. Speaking of the event staff, everyone did a great job all weekend long: from the promoters to the police and EMTs who administered first aid to the crowd surfers, thank you for your service, the event couldn’t have been a success without you.
Taylor Momsen, The Pretty Reckless (photo by Travis Failey / RSEN)
After we caught the last couple songs of Ghost of War, Smoke Show Sunday began. The Pretty Reckless, featuring Taylor Momsen (vocals, rhythm guitar), Ben Phillips (lead guitar, backing vocals), Mark Damon (bass) and Jamie Perkins (drums), opened the Monster Energy Stage East on Sunday afternoon. Twenty-one year old Taylor Momsen is an American actress, musician, and model, who portrayed the character of Jenny Humphrey on the television series Gossip Girl and Cindy Lou Who in Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The Pretty Reckless played their hit songs “Make Me Wanna Die,” “Heaven Knows,” “Going To Hell,” and “Hit Me Like a Man.”
Shim Moore, Sick Puppies (photo by Travis Failey / RSEN)
Sick Puppies rocked the Monster Energy Stage West at 1:15 p.m. Sick Puppies is an Australian rock band formed in 1997. The band consists of trio Shim Moore (vocalist and guitarist), Emma Anzai (bassist), and Mark Goodwin (drummer). Sick Puppies’ seven-song setlist included, “Die to Save You,” “Gunfight,” “You’re Going Down,” and “There’s No Going Back.”
Emma Anzai, Sick Puppies (photo by Travis Failey / RSEN)
The Pretty Reckless’ Taylor Momsen and Sick Puppies’ Emma Anzai were featured in Revolver Magazine’s “Hottest Chicks In Hard Rock” and with three more coming up with Butcher Babies’ Heidi Shepherd and Carla Harvey and Lacuna Coil’s Chistina Scabbia on today’s lineup. Hence, the reference, “Smoke Show Sunday.”
But up next was my favorite new band, Nothing More. I first caught these guys opening for Adrenaline Mob and then at Rockville last year. Nothing More is definitely an up and coming band. Nothing More’s “This is the Time” is being promoted on SiriusXM’s Octane Accelerator and the band is gaining popularity quickly. It was recently announced that Nothing More will be touring with rockers Five Finger Death Punch, HELLYEAH and Volbeat this fall.
Jonny Hawkins, Nothing More (photo by Travis Failey / RSEN)
Nothing More features Jonny Hawkins (vocalist), Daniel Oliver (bass), Mark Vollelunga (guitar), and Paul OBrien (drums), and they took the Ernie Ball stage at 1:55 p.m. One of the first things that you will notice about this band is that everyone in Nothing More plays the drums. In fact, Jonny was the drummer for Nothing More prior to taking over the vocals. The second thing that you will notice about this band is their use of the one-of-a-kind Bassinator.
The Bassinator, which was created by Daniel Oliver, is a creation of pipes and scrap metal turned into a 5-foot-tall bass. The bass is attached above the metal-reinforced, motorcycle chain-adorned drum kit. Jonny then stands on his snare, which allows the Bassinator to be played by Jonny, Daniel and Mark at the same time! As a Nothing More veteran, I knew what was coming when they pulled out the Bassinator, but you should have seen the smiles on the unsuspecting crowd who had never witnessed a live show by Nothing More. Priceless! Highlights of Nothing More’s set included “Christ Copyright,” their recent single “This is the Time,” and the multi percussion finale in “Salem.” I’ve said it once and I’ll continue to say it, Go See This Band.
NOTHING MORE: Jonny Hawkins with Daniel and Mark with the Bassinator (photo by Travis Failey / RSEN)
The Men in Black were up next for us as Zack Wylde and Black Label Society shredded their fans from the first song with their recent single “My Dying Time.” Black Label Society continued cranking out non-stop metal with tracks like “My Dying Time,” “Heart of Darkness,” “Concrete Jungle,” and “Suicide Messiah.” It’s been a wild ride for Zack and his fans. From Zack’s early years with Ozzy, to today with Black Label Society, his passion for music and the maturity in his playing and songwriting continues to grow all the while staying true to his fan base. Black Label Society closed out their set with “StillBorn,” and it was time for another jaunt across Metropolitan Park.
Christina Scabbia, Lacuna Coil (photo by Chris Zambello/ Rockshot Live)
2:30 brought us a performance by the veteran Italian Gothic metal band, Lacuna Coil, which is fronted by dual vocalists Cristina Scabbia and Andrea Ferro. Lacuna Coil has been a story of persistence as they formed in Milan in1994 and have gone through various lineup changes, two name changes, and all the while selling over two million records as of 2012. The two constants in the band have been vocalists Chistina Scabbia and Andrea Ferro. Lacuna Coil’s setlist included “Trip the Darkness,” “Die & Rise,” and “Our Truth.”
With Lacuna Coil now playing and the Butcher Babies coming up, Smoke Show Sunday was coming to a close. But the good news was that Trivium and the three-headed Monster were coming up.
Paolo Francesco Gregoletto, Trivium (photo by Travis Failey / RSEN)
Trivium assaulted the Ernie Ball stage at 5:15 p.m. This was my first time seeing this heavy metal band from Orlando despite the fact that they’ve been around since 2000. Trivium features Matt Heafy (lead vocalist and rhythm guitar), Corey Beaulieu (guitarist), Paolo Gregoletto (bass), and Nick Augusto (drums). Trivium’s setlist included “Brave This Storm,” “Down From The Sky,” “Strife,” and “In Waves.”
Ivan Moody, FFDP (photo by Travis Failey / RSEN)
Five Finger Death Punch invaded the Monster Energy Stage West stage at 6:25 p.m. Five Finger Death Punch is made up of rockers Ivan Moody (vocalist), Zoltan Bathory (guitarist), Jeremy Spencer (drummer), Jason Hook (lead guitarist) and Chris Kael (bassist). Five Finger Death Punch won Revolver Magazine’s 2014 Golden Gods Award for Best Song of the Year for “Lift Me Up.” I was fortunate enough to meet Ivan Moody by 33Star’s Artists Lounge, and I have to say, he is as down to earth and friendly as he is metal.
Chris Kael, FFDP (photo by Travis Failey / RSEN)
Five Finger Death Punch’s non-stop hit twelve-song setlist included “Under And Over It,” “Burn it Down,” “Lift Me Up,” “Remember Everything,” “Coming Down,” “Never Enough,” and concluded with an in-your-face performance of “The Bleeding.” Five Finger Death Punch’s show got everyone pumped up for the next performance across the park, Rob Zombie.
ROB ZOMBIE (photo by Travis Failey / RSEN)
Rob Zombie rocked the Monster Energy Stage East stage at 7:35 p.m. Rob Zombie fronts the self-titled band, and stars John 5 (guitar), Piggy D (bass), and Ginger Fish (drums). Rob Zombie won Revolver Magazine’s 2014 Golden Gods Award for Best Live Band. Rob Zombie’s eleven-song setlist included hits “We’re An American Band,” which got a huge reaction from the crowd, “Living Dead Girl,” “Dead City Radio,” “More Human Than Human,” “Thunder Kiss ‘65” and “Dragula.” I have seen Zombie many times over the years and he gives it his all. Night in and night out and he always brings his stage toys on the road.
Piggy D, Rob Zombie (photo by Travis Failey / RSEN)
Jonathan Davis, KORN (photo by Travis Failey / RSEN)
Korn closed out the “Welcome to Rockville Festival” and showed why they were the headliner. They went on at 8:50 p.m., and took the crowd through a twenty-year musical journey with their thirteen-song setlist. Korn opened the show with “Falling Away From Me,” and kept the momentum going with “Twist,” “Got The Life,” “Spike In My Veins,” “Coming Undone,” “Never Never,” “Freak On A Leash,” and closed out the with their bagpipes and “Blind.”
Reginald Fieldy Arvizu, KORN (photo by Travis Failey / RSEN)
The first time I saw Korn was at a show in Tampa in 1995. I remember thinking to myself that there was no way that Jonathan Davis would be able to maintain his voice long-term due to his particular vocal style. Man, was I wrong. If I closed my eyes, I swear Korn sounded exactly as they did almost twenty years ago. Jonathan Davis’ vocals are spot-on and as strong as they ever have been.
Sunday’s show also included performances by Within Reason, Twelve Foot Ninja, and Emmure. Twelve Foot Ninja took home the 2014 Revolver Magazine’s 2014 Golden Gods Award for Best New Talent.
Even though my skin was red, my feet had blisters, and my back was killing me, I was still sad to call it a weekend. This year’s Monster Energy Rockville Festival produced some great musical performances, classic personal memories, good food and cold drinks, an interesting day of people watching, and first rate accommodations/facilities.
We also can’t say enough about the promoters and the bands in regard to keeping ticket prices down and bringing this event to Florida, specifically Metropolitan Park. Metropolitan Park is both beautiful and functional and a perfect venue for this annual festival. Jacksonville’s Mayor Alvin Brown agrees and stated that he will continue to help promote music in the Jacksonville community.
I’m already looking forward to the announcement of next year’s lineup and I can’t wait to see what Monster Energy’s Fifth Annual Rockville Music Festival in 2015 has in store for us!
Until then, enjoy the photo collection by Rocket Sports & Entertainment’s Travis Failey below.
Carla Harvey, Butcher Babies (photo by Chris Zambello Rockshot Live)
David Silveria, KORN (photo by Travis Failey / RSEN)
Lacuna Coil (photo by Travis Failey / RSEN)
Zack Wylde, Black Label Society (photo by Travis Failey / RSEN)
Emma Anzai, Sick Puppies (photo by Travis Failey / RSEN)
Trivium front-man Matt Heafy (photo by Travis Failey / RSEN)
“I slam in the back of my Dragula!” ROB ZOMIE (photo by Travis Failey / RSEN)
John 5, Rob Zombie (photo by Travis Failey / RSEN)
Taylor Momsen (left) and Ben Phillips, PRETTY RECKLESS (photo by Travis Failey / RSEN)
Jason Hook, FFDP (photo by Travis Failey / RSEN)
Christina Scabbia, Lacuna Coil (photo by Chris Zambello Rockshot Live)
Zack Wylde, Black Label Society (photo by Travis Failey / RSEN)
RSEN loves the BUTCHER BABIES (photo by Chris Zambello Rockshot Live)
James Munkey Shaffer, KORN (photo by Travis Failey / RSEN)
ZOLTAN BATHORY – FFDP (photo by Travis Failey / RSEN)
Drummer Paul O’Brien and bassist Daniel Oliver – NOTHING MORE (photo by Travis Failey / RSEN)
Taylor Momsen, of The Pretty Reckless lets her hair up (photo by Travis Failey / RSEN)
Corey Jean Beauieu, Trivium (photo by Travis Failey / RSEN)
ROB ZOMBIE (photo by Travis Failey / RSEN)
Jonny Hawkins, NOTHING MORE (photo by Travis Failey / RSEN)
David Silveria, KORN (photo by Travis Failey / RSEN)
Chris “Motionless” Cerulli pays a tribute to Tampa Bay Lightning icon Vinny Lecavalier (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)
The 6th annual Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival arrived in Tampa to 100 degree temperatures, but that didn’t stop the rabid metal community from showing up.
Headlining this year’s event was Rob Zombie, with supporting acts Five Finger Death Punch, Mastodon, and Swedish Death Band, Amon Amarth on the main stage.
Rob Zombie and his bandmates, which includes Piggy D on bass, Ginger Fish on drums and world-renowned John 5 on guitar, brought out all the balls, bubbles and everything else you can imagine.
Rob Zombie (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)
Props included a full-sized robot that showed up on stage during “More Human Than Human,” the largest boom box you’ll ever see during “Dead City Radio,” and a huge mechanical tank-like road grater during “Meet the Creeper.” Other stage props included 15 plus huge video screens and the extreme use of pyrotechnics that Rob Zombie is known for during his shows.
More Human than Human (Misc fan photo)
Today’s show was a special one, as it was John 5’s birthday, with the crew putting up a huge birthday cake on the screen and then busting into “Living Dead Girl.” John 5 played the “National Anthem” with his teeth and the band followed with Grand Funk Railroad’s 1973 hit, “We’re an American Band.” Rob broke out a red, white and blue “Uncle Sam” meets the “Walking Dead” zombie outfit. They finished off their set and the Mayhem Festival with their biggest hits in “Thunderkiss 65” and an encore of “Dragula” with a guitar solo by John 5 in between the two songs.
John 5, Rob Zombie (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)
The performance by Rob and the guys was a sight and sound overload and you couldn’t take your eyes off the stage. Prior to their set, I told myself that I was only going to stay for a few songs, as I have seen Rob and White Zombie many times throughout the years, and the elements and the duration of the day were taking its toll. I soon realized that you couldn’t leave this show as Rob Zombie’s performance and stage show was one of the best that I have ever seen.
Ginger Fish, Rob Zombie. His father was known for touring with Frank Sinatra (misc fan photo)
If you haven’t seen this band before or at least this version of Rob’s band and they come to your town, get there by any means that you can, because you will not forget it.
Piggy D – Rob Zombie (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)
Before Zombie took the stage, Five Finger Death Punch proved once again that they can be considered to be one of the top acts in the metal community. Five Finger Death Punch has been rising to the top of their game in the HR/HM community and this was shown by the anticipation of their set by the fans.
Zoltan Bathory, Five Finger Death Punch (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)
I approached people in the crowd throughout the day to get a read on who wanted to see who, and it was about a 65/35 split of Five Finger Death Punch to Rob Zombie. This result really took me by surprise but once they hit the stage, they crushed the crowd with a set full of non-stop radio hits and the fans didn’t disappoint as it seemed they knew all the lyrics.
The temperatures were hot but it did not bother the fans because the rock was hotter (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)
They opened with “Under and Over It,” and continued with their hits “Burn It Down,” “Hard to See,” and the fan favorite cover of Bad Company’s hit “Bad Company.”
During Five Finger Death Punch’s set they had members of their crew go and search out the young fans in the crowd and bring them on stage for their track “White Knuckles.” About 12 kids under the age of 14 were on stage rocking out with their hands held high with the “horns” raised or with their fists pumping and heads banging. Yes, the metal community and family are still growing and refuse to give in. Parents that grew up with this kind of music are passing it on to their kids, and you know what they say, “The family that rocks together stays together.”
Ivan L. Moody, Five Finger Death Punch set their stage (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)
Canadian rocker, Jason Hook, Five Finger Death Punch (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)
Once again with this live show and recent studio release The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell, Volume 1, Five Finger Death Punch has solidified its place with a few other bands on top of the new wave of HR/HM and I do not see them relinquishing that position any time soon.
Jimmy Spencer, Five Finger Death Punch (misc fan photo)
The other two bands headlining the main stage at this year’s Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival were Mastodon, and Amon Amarth. Amon Amarth was the first to hit the main stage and brought their version of death metal to the swarm of awaiting fans. Some would say that because of the lyrical content that they play Viking Metal, but they prefer to be labeled a death metal band. It is difficult for a first time observer to believe this because of the huge Norse imagery on stage and in the lyrics. Tonight’s props included a huge Viking ship and each of the members of the band took turns at the helm. Lead vocalist, Johan Hegg, was in complete control of the stage and crowd. Guttural vocals combined with buzz saw riffs and rhythms were heard throughout their set. Songs in their set included, “Destroyer of the Universe,” “Pursuit of the Viking,” and “Twilight of the Thunder God.” Even though I am not a huge fan of this style of metal, I can appreciate it when it is done well, and Amon Amarth succeeded at doing this tonight.
Five Finger Death Punch Chris Kael (foreground) and Zoltan Bathory (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)
After Amon Amarth, Mastodon took the stage at this years’ Mayhem Festival, with their brand of no-frills, no gimmicks, straight forward heavy metal. Based out of Atlanta, this veteran group consists of bassist Troy Sanders, guitarists Brent Hinds & Rick Kelliher, and on the skins, Brann Dailor. Mastodon has gained many accolades for their stellar conceptual releases, which include Album of the Year in 2004 by Revolver and Kerrang for their release, Leviathan, anda Grammy for “Colony of the Birchman” and “Curl of the Burl” in 2012.
The show goes International with Swedish viking metal rockers Amon Amarth. Johan Hegg, Amon Amarth (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)
Mastodon opened their set with “Black Tongue,” followed by crowd favorite, “Crystal Skull,” off their 2006 concept album Blood Mountain.
I wasn’t familiar with a lot of Mastodon’s music prior to hearing them, but after they finished their 10 song set with “Bedazzeled Fingernails” and “The Sparrow,” I immediately placed them on the “music to purchase” list.
Bill Kelliher, Mastodon (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)
On the side stages, four bands stole the show. Battlecross, Motionless in White, Attika 7, and the dual female fronted Butcher Babies.
Battlecross is the reason why you get to Mayhem early. They have been ripping apart Sirius/Xm’s Liquid Metal for over a year now and I couldn’t wait to check them out. Formed in Detroit, Battlecross is a full blown heavy metal assault that will keep your head banging for hours even after their set concludes.
Tony Alsa, Battlecross (Travis Failey / RSEN)
Releasing their debut album Pursuit of Honor in 2011 and sophomore release War of Will just last month, Battlecross is exactly what the metal world needs.
Hitting the Jagermeister stage around 1:30 pm, Battlecross unleashed thirty minutes of brutality. They played seven songs from both of these albums including “Man of Stone,” “Force Fed Lies,” ” Flesh and Bone,” and” Push Pull Destro.” It will be interesting to see how this band progresses and the reception this band receives in the coming years.
Kyle Gumby Gunther, Battlecross (photo Frank Colucci / RSEN)
One of the bands on the “Musicians Institute” stage was Motionless in White. They were formed in Scranton, Pennsylvania in 2005. If you are looking for a label to mark this group with, you would say metalcore meets heavy metal with a gothic-horror look and sound. They are lead by lead singer Chris “Motionless” Cerulli, who on this day donned a Vinny Lecavalier jersey for the home-town Tampa fans while the rest of the band wore their horror/zombie garb and killed it today. Their short but stellar set featured recent singles “Devils Night” and their current anthem on Sirius/XM’s Octane, and crowd favorite, “America.” This track is an example of what Motionless in White believes is wrong with American society and their fans came out in droves to support them today.
Chris “Motionless” Cerulli (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)
I saw this band last year on the Vans Warped Tour and through non-stop touring and the release of their second full length album, “Infamous,” Motionless in White is at the cusp of moving to the next level of success. How that is accepted by their hardcore fans is yet to be seen. Check them out at MotionLessInWhite.net
Joshua Balz, Motionless in White (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)
Also on the Musicians Institute Stage was Attika 7. If you haven’t heard of Attica 7 by now, you will probably recognize some of the names in this supergroup.
Members of Attica 7 include lead vocalist Evan Seinfeld, from Biohazard, Zack Broderick of Nonpoint, Ira Black, from Metal Church, Tony Halt, of Upo, and actor Rusty Coones from FX’s Sons of Anarchy. Guitarist Rusty Coones developed most of Attica 7’s music on their new release, “Blood Of Our Enemies,” while fighting a double life sentence in prison.
Evan Seinfeld, Attika 7 or Jaz Hoyt as he portrayed in the HBO hits series OZ (photo Frank Colucci / RSEN)
A new player in the heavy metal game took the Jagermeister side stage at Mayhem.
Butcher Babies is an LA-based band fronted by dual-lead female vocalists Carla Harvey and Heidi Sheperd. These two women are as brutal as they are beautiful, as they attack the crowd with crushing metal harmonies. Butcher Babies assaulted the crowd with a combination of metal, punk, & thrash guitar riffs and drum beats. Butcher Babies started their set with their most recent Sirius/XM Liquid Metal single, “I Smell a Massacre.” Other highlights from the Butcher Babies’ set included the track that spawned their first video that was released, “Mr. Slowdeath,” and the title track of their July 2013 release, “Goliath.” Butcher Babies concluded their set with “Axe Wound”, leaving the crowd satisfied but wanting more. Butcher Babies is a band that received most of their initial attention because of their stage show and the attractiveness of their vocalists, but are getting more notoriety solely based on their music. I interviewed Carla and drummer, Chris Warner, backstage and the audio and pictures can be found here………………
Chris Warner on the drums, Butcher Babies (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)
This year’s Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival provided the metal community, something for everyone. It also provided new acts and old, an avenue to attract new fans to their music. We witnessed the resurgence of a seasoned veteran (Evan Seinfeld) who has been out of the spotlight for a while with his new band Attika 7 and newcomers Battlecross and the Butcher Babies starting to gain momentum.
It is refreshing to see a festival that is run with precision and without issues. The bands and equipment were moved on and off the stage seamlessly and in a timely fashion and on schedule.
It is also a pleasure to be a part of a community of individuals who attend these shows and know that it is not only about the music but the bond that the Mayhem Festival provides to all that experience it.
