There aren't a lot of bands that I'll drive 4 hours to see. Part of that has to do with the strong metal scene in Cincinnati; I can see killer bands every weekend without driving far. Part of that also has to do with the proximity of so many cities in the region that aren't saddled with the bogus "C Market" designation that Cincinnati is cursed with. That being said, when the best damn metal band on the planet is playing in Cleveland on a Saturday night, I'm there without question.
Saturday night's show started off strong with New York black metallers Black Anvil thrashing through a powerful 30+ minute set. I was unfamiliar with Black Anvil prior to the show, but I was impressed with their musicality and the creepy ambience they created with their guitar harmonies and copious fog. Somehow I missed the boat on their May release Hail Death, but I plan to rectify that as soon as I get some time.
Oakland's Ghoul was up next with their weirdo brand of Gwar-lite stage antics and thrash/punk. The members, who officially hail from "Creepsylvania", all donned burlap sacks over their heads. I'm sure those smell pleasant at the end of the tour. Giants, chainsaw-wielding robots, some hairy beast thing and a corrupt futuristic cop took turns on stage, harassing the band and spewing blood and other fluids into the crowd. I'm not a big fan of gimmicks, but it was certainly entertaining and the music was actually quite good.
This night belonged to Skeletonwitch, though. A homecoming show of sorts for the Ohio-based thrashers, Saturday's headlining show also provided an opportunity for the 'Witch to burn through material from every album in the catalog, with heavy emphasis on Beyond the Permafrost and Serpents Unleashed. That's pretty awesome, because those are their two best albums, in my opinion. When all of your songs are in the 3 minute range, you can certainly bust out a ton of material in a headlining slot. Singer Chance Garnette absolutely owned the stage with his classic metal poses and killer pipes. The minimal banter between songs wasn't forced or corny, which is always a plus. Nate Garnette and Scott Hedrick melted faces all night long with their shredding and soloing and bassist Evan Linger added the necessary punch with his bottom end solos. "Crushed Beyond Dust" and "Burned From Bone" were particularly pleasing to this blogger, but when you have an impressive catalog like Skeletonwitch, you basically can't fuck up your setlist.
I don't think it's hyperbole to suggest that Skeletonwitch is indeed the best damn metal band on the planet. They've already proven that with 4 top-notch releases and I was stoked to find that their live performance is every bit as awe-inspiring as the records. Some bands can't do their albums justice onstage, but these hardened road warriors absolutely nail it. They're all rock stars in every sense of the word and I'm already looking forward to seeing them again next month with Amon Amarth, albeit as an opener. All hail the 'Witch!
Saturday night's show started off strong with New York black metallers Black Anvil thrashing through a powerful 30+ minute set. I was unfamiliar with Black Anvil prior to the show, but I was impressed with their musicality and the creepy ambience they created with their guitar harmonies and copious fog. Somehow I missed the boat on their May release Hail Death, but I plan to rectify that as soon as I get some time.
Oakland's Ghoul was up next with their weirdo brand of Gwar-lite stage antics and thrash/punk. The members, who officially hail from "Creepsylvania", all donned burlap sacks over their heads. I'm sure those smell pleasant at the end of the tour. Giants, chainsaw-wielding robots, some hairy beast thing and a corrupt futuristic cop took turns on stage, harassing the band and spewing blood and other fluids into the crowd. I'm not a big fan of gimmicks, but it was certainly entertaining and the music was actually quite good.
This night belonged to Skeletonwitch, though. A homecoming show of sorts for the Ohio-based thrashers, Saturday's headlining show also provided an opportunity for the 'Witch to burn through material from every album in the catalog, with heavy emphasis on Beyond the Permafrost and Serpents Unleashed. That's pretty awesome, because those are their two best albums, in my opinion. When all of your songs are in the 3 minute range, you can certainly bust out a ton of material in a headlining slot. Singer Chance Garnette absolutely owned the stage with his classic metal poses and killer pipes. The minimal banter between songs wasn't forced or corny, which is always a plus. Nate Garnette and Scott Hedrick melted faces all night long with their shredding and soloing and bassist Evan Linger added the necessary punch with his bottom end solos. "Crushed Beyond Dust" and "Burned From Bone" were particularly pleasing to this blogger, but when you have an impressive catalog like Skeletonwitch, you basically can't fuck up your setlist.
I don't think it's hyperbole to suggest that Skeletonwitch is indeed the best damn metal band on the planet. They've already proven that with 4 top-notch releases and I was stoked to find that their live performance is every bit as awe-inspiring as the records. Some bands can't do their albums justice onstage, but these hardened road warriors absolutely nail it. They're all rock stars in every sense of the word and I'm already looking forward to seeing them again next month with Amon Amarth, albeit as an opener. All hail the 'Witch!
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