Metal veterans Anthrax and Black Label Society have been crushing skulls this summer as the two bands continue on their co-headline tour of North America. If that wasn’t enough, joining the festivities are hardcore metallers Hatebreed. The tour kicked off July 26th in Phoenix and wrap-ups at the end of August with a show in Philly.
The crowd shuffled in early for the evening’s first act, seasoned metal headliners in their own right, Hatebreed. The CT rockers are led by frontman Jamey Jasta who took command of the crowd and quickly set the tone for the remainder of the evening. Kicking off the 14-song set with “Proven” into a fan favorite “Destroy Everything” as fans sang along and matched the band’s intensity as bodies thrashed against each other throughout the pit. T-shirts are worn as a badge of pride stating to the novice that “I Survived a Hatebreed Mosh Pit“. It was evident that the guys love being on that stage entertaining as it was all smiles from start to finish.
If you need more Hatebreed in your life, the band recently announced their Fall 2022 US headlining tour to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their album Perseverance. Gatecreeper and Bleeding Through will support select dates, with Bodysnatcher and Dying Wish along for the full run.
The white BLS curtain dropped from the rafters as the CO2 jets ignite as the co-headliner Black Label Society rips into “Funeral Bell” much to the delight of fans. Front and center appeared the slimmed-down, legendary guitarist Zakk Wylde donned in his typical gear of a vest and kilt. Completing the look throughout the set would be an assortment of axes that yielded sweet sounds that were nothing short of electrifying during the 12-song set. Wylde would briefly step away from his guitars to pay homage to Vinne and Dimebag during “In This River” as their images would appear on the screen as Wylde played the piano. The band performed songs from their catalog and fan favorites from their latest album, Doom Crew Inc.
After Hatebreed and Black Label Society finished their sets and a 35-minute stage change occurred, Anthrax hit the stage at the House of Blues to a sold-out and completely packed shoulder-to-shoulder venue. Just prior to the band taking the stage, a video montage of musicians, friends, movie stars, and others gave props and congrats to the band for their longevity and the effect they have had on them, the music industry, and of course heavy metal.
Anthrax hit the stage and opened up with the title track of their most successful and well-known album Among The Living released in 1987. A mosh pit opened up from the start but then exploded in size when the band cranked into “Caught in a Mosh” also from Among the Living. The album was a focal point of the set with four of the 12-song set coming from it.
Anthrax then took the fans for a ride in the way back machine as they played “Metal Thrashing Mad” from their debut album, A Fistful Of Metal, and then played a song that hasn’t been a staple in their set since the early ’90s in “Keep It In The Family.”
Speaking of family, as I was on the perimeter of the mosh pit, I was worried about a woman of smaller stature and I told her to block herself with her elbows so she didn’t get crushed or fall. She said she didn’t care about herself but just about her 13-year-old who was battling in the mosh pit. What was interesting though is that every time he tried to catch his breath and take a break, she pushed him right back in with guys 2 to 3 times his size if not more. Does she get the “Mother of the Year” award? I guess it all depends on your perspective.
After “Anti-Social” and “I Am The Law,” Anthrax dedicated “In The End” to all the musicians who have passed recently including the Abbott brothers, Dio, and Eddie Van Halen.
Up next was the moment many were anticipating, wanting to see and hear as vocalist extraordinaire Joey Belladonna sang “Only” from the Sound of White Noise album which was originally done with the band by John Bush. Early in the tour, Joey struggled a bit with “Only” but on Friday night, he absolutely killed it and made it his own.
After “Got the Time,” the Joe Jackson cover, Anthrax played the first verse and chorus from “Bring the Noise” which was their collaboration with Public Enemy. This joining of the two groups was arguably the first time the two genres recorded and released such a track and opened the doors down the line for bands like Linkin Park and Crazy Town to have success.
Right before Anthrax concluded with “Indians,” a fan in the VIP second level had an Indian headdress on and got Joey Belladonna’s attention and tossed the headdress down to him. Joey of course put it on, and guitarist Scott Ian implored the crowd to join in the War Dance, and that they did as the mosh pit was the largest it had been throughout the night.
The band then took a bow and looked exhausted as they all left it all on the stage once again as they have their whole careers.
Remaining Shows
08/15 – Cincinnati, OH @ The Andrew J Brady Music Center
08/16 – Nashville, @ TN Ryman Auditorium
08/18 – Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore
08/19 – Rochester, NY @ Main Street Armory
08/20 – Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore *
08/22 – Pittsburgh, PA @ StageAE Outside
08/23 – Toronto, ON @ History
08/24 – Trois Riviere, QC @ Amphitheatre Cogeco
08/26 – Brooklyn, NY @ Coney Island Amphitheater
08/28 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore