Children Of Bodom/Havok/Graveshadow – Ace Of Spades, Sacramento, CA 3/16
By Jeffrey Easton
Children Of Bodom have been a force in the metal world for well over two decades now but with each album and tour they never fail to impress me more. Out in support of I Worship Chaos, one of the best bullets in their chamber of albums so far, Alexi and is sinister crew nailed the support slot for Megadeth’s current tour as well as striking out on his own set of off night sold out shows and the following ensued.
Opening the show was Sacramento’s own Graveshadow, a dark band currently signed to Mausoleum Records and have out a blistering album entitled Nocturnal Resurrection. Once they hit the stage Heather Michelle had the crowd in her grasp as they rolled through Exhumed as well as some other amazing tracks from their debut album. It’s rare that that Sacramento can play host to such a powerful band that rolls under the Symphonic metal banner but they do it well. If you have a chance to check them out live you owe it to yourself and make sure you watch the keyboard heroics of Valerie Hudak, she is amazing on the ivories.
Havok, one of America’s premiere thrash bands, joined up on the Megadeth tour as well as doing the off dates with Bodom and that got Sacramento off to no end. Thrash is that genre that is supposed to be mainstream metal’s forgotten brother but to me it has stayed on the front burner and bands like Havok have kept it there. Still out in support of 2013’s Unnatural Selection, they had a lot to offer Sacramento and they did not let up during their 10 track set. Hitting the stage with the barrage known as Point Of No Return the floor was an instant pit and the barricade jumpers were nonstop. One of the things about thrash back in the day was most of what came out centered around the demise of the earth from human error or the way the world was corrupted through politics and Havok keeps that torch burning brightly as ever through their scathing lyrics that are peppered throughout their albums and that is blatantly known on Point Of No Return. Give Me Liberty.. Or Give Me Death attacks that notion pointedly as well as well as No Amnesty and Scumbag In Disguise. David Sanchez is possibly one of the best thrash frontmen since the likes of Chuck Billy, Dave Mustaine or Mille Petrozza stepped onstage, he is convincing, has the piss and presence to be out there spewing the political shit that he does. The set also contained the bitter tracks Covering Fire, D.O.A, Time Is Up and From The Cradle To The Grave. If you were there for a brutal unsettling set you were not disappointed. Thrash lives and it lives through Havok.
Children Of Bodom finished off the ballistic night in ominous fashion with the enthralling presence of Alexi Laiho leading his sinister Bodom crew. Out in support of their amazing 9th album I Worship Chaos, Alexi had plenty to give to his legion tonight and slay them with his catalog he did. The proceedings opened with the morbidly dark Are You Dead Yet and the shredding was on! Alexi is possibly one of the most competent front men in metal, having the ability to shred and sing at the same time, something very few can even hope to do live. As stated they are out in support of their new album I Worship Chaos and they assaulted the rabid fans with Morrigan, I Hurt as well as I Worship Chaos, the title track of this beast of a record. If you do not own this album, you need to and it’s also available on clear vinyl for people like me who crave records. Possibly the biggest and most well-known album in their catalog is Hate Crew Deathroll and they acknowledge that by playing so many cuts from it, even 13 years later. Repped by Needled 24/7, HCDR, Sixpounder and Angels Don’t Kill, they keep this album burning for those who worship it and so many do. This was the album that turned me onto them and I have yet to let up on their amazing trajectory. The set was rounded off by the juggernauts Blooddrunk, In Your face as well as Downfall and Hate Me! As many times as I have seen Bodom live, nothing can compare to when they have the headliner status to themselves and allowing Alexi to stretch out the talents of the band and the catalog they have to offer. Alexi and COB are a band that begs to be caught live and that is something you must do!
Official Children Of Bodom Site
Official Havok Site
Official Graveshadow Site
By Jeffrey Easton
Children Of Bodom have been a force in the metal world for well over two decades now but with each album and tour they never fail to impress me more. Out in support of I Worship Chaos, one of the best bullets in their chamber of albums so far, Alexi and is sinister crew nailed the support slot for Megadeth’s current tour as well as striking out on his own set of off night sold out shows and the following ensued.
Opening the show was Sacramento’s own Graveshadow, a dark band currently signed to Mausoleum Records and have out a blistering album entitled Nocturnal Resurrection. Once they hit the stage Heather Michelle had the crowd in her grasp as they rolled through Exhumed as well as some other amazing tracks from their debut album. It’s rare that that Sacramento can play host to such a powerful band that rolls under the Symphonic metal banner but they do it well. If you have a chance to check them out live you owe it to yourself and make sure you watch the keyboard heroics of Valerie Hudak, she is amazing on the ivories.
Havok, one of America’s premiere thrash bands, joined up on the Megadeth tour as well as doing the off dates with Bodom and that got Sacramento off to no end. Thrash is that genre that is supposed to be mainstream metal’s forgotten brother but to me it has stayed on the front burner and bands like Havok have kept it there. Still out in support of 2013’s Unnatural Selection, they had a lot to offer Sacramento and they did not let up during their 10 track set. Hitting the stage with the barrage known as Point Of No Return the floor was an instant pit and the barricade jumpers were nonstop. One of the things about thrash back in the day was most of what came out centered around the demise of the earth from human error or the way the world was corrupted through politics and Havok keeps that torch burning brightly as ever through their scathing lyrics that are peppered throughout their albums and that is blatantly known on Point Of No Return. Give Me Liberty.. Or Give Me Death attacks that notion pointedly as well as well as No Amnesty and Scumbag In Disguise. David Sanchez is possibly one of the best thrash frontmen since the likes of Chuck Billy, Dave Mustaine or Mille Petrozza stepped onstage, he is convincing, has the piss and presence to be out there spewing the political shit that he does. The set also contained the bitter tracks Covering Fire, D.O.A, Time Is Up and From The Cradle To The Grave. If you were there for a brutal unsettling set you were not disappointed. Thrash lives and it lives through Havok.
Children Of Bodom finished off the ballistic night in ominous fashion with the enthralling presence of Alexi Laiho leading his sinister Bodom crew. Out in support of their amazing 9th album I Worship Chaos, Alexi had plenty to give to his legion tonight and slay them with his catalog he did. The proceedings opened with the morbidly dark Are You Dead Yet and the shredding was on! Alexi is possibly one of the most competent front men in metal, having the ability to shred and sing at the same time, something very few can even hope to do live. As stated they are out in support of their new album I Worship Chaos and they assaulted the rabid fans with Morrigan, I Hurt as well as I Worship Chaos, the title track of this beast of a record. If you do not own this album, you need to and it’s also available on clear vinyl for people like me who crave records. Possibly the biggest and most well-known album in their catalog is Hate Crew Deathroll and they acknowledge that by playing so many cuts from it, even 13 years later. Repped by Needled 24/7, HCDR, Sixpounder and Angels Don’t Kill, they keep this album burning for those who worship it and so many do. This was the album that turned me onto them and I have yet to let up on their amazing trajectory. The set was rounded off by the juggernauts Blooddrunk, In Your face as well as Downfall and Hate Me! As many times as I have seen Bodom live, nothing can compare to when they have the headliner status to themselves and allowing Alexi to stretch out the talents of the band and the catalog they have to offer. Alexi and COB are a band that begs to be caught live and that is something you must do!
Official Children Of Bodom Site
Official Havok Site
Official Graveshadow Site
