Live Reviews

Ville Valo’s return to Los Angeles after nearly six years was highly anticipated by the dedicated HIM fans who filled two consecutive nights of shows. Performing under the moniker VV, the Finnish goth rock frontman has returned to the forefront with brand new album Neon Noir.

After being postponed three times, Ministry was finally able to bring The Industrial Strength Tour to the House of Blues in Anaheim, and it was well worth the wait.

When Oldham, Kentucky’s (it’s on the merch) Knocked Loose took the stage, it was mayhem. Their blistering sound bounced between hardcore and metalcore. While Drain’s show was almost equally physical, Knocked Loose pummels with its music.

“Enter the Necrophaze, there’s no mercy for you!” That quote perfectly sums up a Wednesday 13 show—no mercy. Outburn was front and center for the kick off of the tour. Because this show is the opening night of the band’s month long run with Nuclear Blast label mates The 69 Eyes, no one knows exactly what to expect and the fan's level of excitement is immeasurable.

The Devil’s Dozen was a livestream offering to fans sitting in conjunction with a similarly named, excellent, and thorough newly released documentary about the band, their forthcoming fifth album and second for Napalm, Ecdysis, and the fact they’ve spent the majority of the last two years off the road.

Tool began with “Fear Inoculum,” a standard opener for them, but nonetheless a perfect song to start the night. They played hours of fan favorites such as “Opiate,” “The Pot,” “Pushit,” “Pneuma,” and “Hooker with a Penis.” After a 12 minute intermission, Danny Carrey took the stage alone to play his unforgettable solo, “Chocolate Chip Trip.”

Saturday’s stream focused on two more of Avatar’s lengthy catalog of albums, this time around being a set that moved fluidly back and forth between Black Waltz and Hail the Apocalypse. Both records explored everything from groove metal to death metal.

In Absentia Dei was performed at a church in Poland, the same church where Behemoth filmed the music video for “Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel.” This entire set was filmed in 4K and was absolutely beautiful. The concert also included an hour-long pre-show that featured a set from avant-garde metal band Imperial Triumphant performing at The Slipper Room Cabaret in New York City.

The night was incredible for fans of metal and especially for Black Metal and Mayhem historians who got an incredible visual and musical history of the band as they celebrated their 40th anniversary of being a band.

Having released their ninth studio album, Nowhere Generation, Chicago’s Rise Against has been out on the road over the summer supporting it, bringing along punk rock icons Descendents, as well as The Menzingers.