The High Elevation Rock Festival in Denver, CO kicked off a high-octane two-day two-stage rock festival at the Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre on September 22nd and 23rd. The Monster Energy sponsored festival returned for its second year and added a second day of metal mayhem to the delight of thousands that weathered the cold, rainy conditions.
Day one of the festival was headlined by Five Finger Death Punch and All That Remains as well as a solid supporting cast that included; A Day to Remember, Halestorm, I Prevail, Beartooth, Starset, and Tattooed Strings.
Lizzy Hale of Halestorm was her vintage self during the bands nine song set highlighted by riveting rendition of “Freak Like Me” that had the crowd singing right along with her. Beartooth pleased the crowd by playing fan favorites from the ‘Aggressive’ and ‘Disgusting’ albums. I Prevail continues to win over fans every time they take the stage with their “in your face” attitude and energy that brought a roar from the crowd at the festivals B Stage. A Day to Remember started their 13 song set with “All I Want” and wrapped up with “The Downfall of Us All and All Signs Point to Lauderdale.”
All That Remains and Five Finger Death Punch brought that raw energy they are known for as frontmen Phil Labonte (ATR) and Ivan Moody (5FDP) lead the charge. Labonte, who had filled in for Moody last year, rejoined 5FDP on stage to perform “Wash It All Away”. Moody seemed to be in good spirits as he joked with the crowd about his “vacation away from the band” as he apologized to the fans and his bandmates.
Day two of the festival brought a heavy hitting lineup of head banging and moshing madness that seemed to overshadow the less than stellar weather conditions. Korn and Stone Sour headlined Saturday’s lineup; however, the electrifying sound of metal resonated throughout the Amphitheatre from the onset with bands such as; In This Moment, POD, Steel Panther, Avatar, Zakk Sabbath, Mastodon, Falling in Reverse, Red Sun Rising, Tonight We Rise, Them Evils, DED, Radkey, and The Birthday Massacre.
San Diego based band P.O.D. pulled into the venue only 30 minutes before their set due to travel delays; however, lead singer Sonny Sandoval was more than ready to entertain the crowd with hits like “Boom”, “Youth of a Nation” and “Alive”. Metal goddess Maria Brink and In This Moment took the stage decked out in religious robes and attire as the band launched into hit song “Blood.” Steel Panther took the stage, resembling an 80’s hair band, as they entertained and humored the crowd with witty sexual innuendos.
As the temperature dipped into the low 40’s and the rain continued to steadily fall, the main stage filled with fans eagerly awaiting the festivals last two acts, Stone Sour and Korn. First, Stone Sour and frontman Corey Taylor unleashed that raw energy that we have come to know and expect from him over an eleven song set that included “Song #3”, “through Glass” and “Fabuless”.
Korn brought the festival to a close with a fourteen song set that included “Coming Undone” with a snippet of Queen’s “We Will Rock You” and a three song encore “4 U”, “Blind” and “Freak on a Leash”.
Thank you Denver and see you in 2018.
