November 5 2013 Fillmore Auditorium Denver Colorado!
California bands Testament and Huntress also provided great shows. Stating its first show in Columbus was in 1987, vocalist of Testament Chuck Billy said he has respect for the city and its many returning fans. Testament had a unique stage set with demon-like gargoyle statues that blew air at the fans at points. Huntress singer Jill Janus later provided a unique female take on the metal world, with shrill lyrics and personality.
Next up was, Killswitch Engage, back with their original singer Jesse Leach. Their combination of power chords and harmonies, killer drum patterns with vocal melodies followed by guttural screams keeps the band on top of their metal game.
The Headliner, Lamb of God, never disappoints. Their show had the entire place electrified for an entire hour and a half. Guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler had their own solo cameras set up by their hands, and often times during a solo, the screens would flip to their point of view, focusing on their flailing fingers and instrumental skill. John Campbell rocked with his beard on bass, and drummer Chris Adler, Willie Adler’s older brother, played so hard he broke a snare drum halfway through the set.
Blythe picked the crowd for jokes as they waited to a comical “technical difficulties” screen, laughing at the crowd’s reactions. If you were remotely close to the band while they were playing, you were most likely fending for your life as I was. From the first note played, the audience exploded. People wind-milled their long hair, head banged maniacally, launched themselves on top of their neighbor to crowd surf closer and threw full cups of beer across the stage. It was a kind of a chaos only Lamb of God could spring about, and Blythe and company smiled as their fans went nuts.!
My throat is sore from yelling, my limbs are sore from fending off crazed lunatics in mosh pits, my feet are sore from jumping up and down, my ears are ringing from the blaring speakers, my head throbs from the countless crowd surfers that landed on it and my neck, oh, my poor neck, is so sore from head banging.
But do I regret it? Not one bit.
-David Burke