The sold-out venue was packed by the time opening band Summoning the Lich took the stage. They are a four-piece death metal band out of St. Louis where it seems death metal reigns supreme and the realm of fantasy is thoroughly embraced. They had the crowd going wild with their opening song “My Horrors Unending”. The death metal vocals of David Bruno had the fans screaming with him. What a way to start the night. Their set was 30 minutes.
Summoning the Lich are:
David Bruno (vocals)
Ryan Felps (guitars)
Muck (guitar)
TJ Chilton (drums)
Setlist:
- My Horrors Unending
- Descend
- Demon of the Snow
- The Nightmare Begins
- Return to the Soil
- Reviled Crystal Wielders
- The Forest Feast
Next up were Skeletal Remains a death/thrash band from California. Their vocalist/guitarist Chris Monroy couldn’t make the show so the band soldiered on a 3 piece with them playing with two guitars and the drums. The drummer was a big guy that played the drums with power. They did awesome for them just being 3 of them doing it all instrumental. The fans loved them. They played a 30-minute set.
Skeletal Remains are:
Chris Monroy (guitars/vocals) couldn’t make the show
Mike De La O (guitars)
Brian Rush (bass)
Pierce Williams (drums)
Up next are Allegaeon, a technical melodic death metal band out of Fort Collins, Colorado. I know they have a bit of Canadian in their band now with Greg marrying a Canadian girl and spending time living in Ottawa. Their sound is death metal with lots of prog elements. You can hear the influences of 70’s/80’s prog bands like Rush and Yes which they have recorded covers of their songs in the past. They have a new album dropping this Friday April 4th called The Ossuary Lens. Make sure everyone, to buy, download or just stream this when it comes out this week. Their first single "Driftwood" is out now and it rocks! This album features the return of Ezra Haynes back on vocals. Their set did not disappoint. With the duel 8 string guitars of Greg and Michael, shows just how much talent that this band has. This is a band you must see live and go see them on this tour. The next time they tour they for sure will be playing a way larger venue. You can hear "Driftwood" on SiriusXM Liquid Metal’s Devil’s Dozen countdown.
Allegaeon are:
Greg Burgess (Lead Guitar)
Michael Stancel (Rhythm Guitar)
Ezra Haynes (Lead Vocals)
Brandon Michael (Bass)
Jeff Saltzman (Drums)
Setlist:
- All Hail Science
- The God Particle
- To Carry My Grief Through Torpor and Silence
- The Swarm
- Terrathaw and the Quake
- Driftwood
- Dyson Sphere
- Of Beasts and Worms
- Proponent fro Sentience III - Extermination
- Parthenogenesis
- 1.618
- Behold (God I Am)
California thrashers Warbringer were the highlight of the night. The fans were screaming their name before they even came on stage. These guys totally bring thrash metal to new heights and show that they are a force to me reckoned with. You know the night is going to be good when the singer stage dive in the crowd after their first song, and in the process knocked my hat off my head. I wasn’t ready for it. They had crowd surfing going on and a crazy mosh pit. Fans were jumping on the stage with the band, headbanging, singing into the microphone, then jumping back into the crowd. From the blistering first song to the end, this was a full out thrash metal assault. These guys put on one hell of a show and if you haven’t seen them live you’re missing out. I highly recommend you go out and see their show. Warbringer’s seventh studio album, Wrath and Ruin dropped March 14th. Make sure you get it!
Warbringer are:
John Kevill (Lead Vocals)
Adam Carroll (Rhythm Guitar)
Chase Becker (Lead Guitar)
Chase Bryant (Bass)
Blake Anderson (Drums)
Setlist:
- Severed Reality
- A Better World
- The Black Hand Reaches Out
- Woe to the Vanquished
- Crushed Beneath the Tracks
- Firepower Kills
- The Sword and the Cross
- Through a Glass, Darkly
- Hunter-Seeker
- Remain Violent
- Total War (Encore)
All in all, it was a night with four amazing bands! Get out there metalheads and see some live music. Buy some merch and download their music, support the bands. And always Listen to Metal!!!! I was able to bring out the Senior Editor for This Day in Metal, Metalhead Marv. Glad to see him come out to the show and to hang out with him.
