Wednesday night I went over to House of Blues for a night of metal. It was a beautiful day outside and it was an early show so I skated over to the club from the train station instead of taking the bus. After having to check my skateboard at the hotel next door, I went into the club, got my passes and made my way to the front to set up my gear.
Toxic Holocaust
Toxic Holocaust
Toxic Holocaust
The place was pretty empty when I got there which was to be expected as it was only 5:30pm. After about a half hour wait, Toxic Holocaust took the stage and the small amount of people crowded up front were really excited to see them. With the reception they got you’d have thought that as many people came out to see them as any of the other bands. They played about a half hour’s worth of metalcore that was fast and furious and pretty damn enjoyable. The crowd was way into it too.
Skeletonwitch
Skeletonwitch
Skeletonwitch
Skeletonwitch
Skeletonwitch
After what seemed like only a few minutes, Skeletonwitch got up on the stage and the crowd had increased in size and enthusiasm. I am pretty sure there was a good portion of the audience who came just to see them. They played a really intense black/thrash metal and the singer seldom stood still for more than a half second. There was hair flying all over the stage, mostly by him flailing about. They played super tight and I think they stole the show, they were amazing. I wanted to buy their LP as they had the vinyl but by the time I went to get one on my way out after the show they were sold out of them 🙁
Soilent Green
Soilent Green
Soilent Green
Soilent Green
Soilent Green
After some equipment changing, Soilent Green were next and they were the band I was most excited about seeing. Their delivery of their sludgey thrash was better than I hoped it would be. They played a bunch of new songs, a few from Sewn Mouth Secrets and one from Pussysoul. The crowd were pretty psyched and I swear the entire crowd’s heads were banging in unison, or at least the heads of those who weren’t in the mosh pit. They played a lengthy and satisfying set.
Hate Eternal
Hate Eternal
Hate Eternal
Hate Eternal
Hate Eternal
This just left Hate Eternal and it didn’t take long for them to get set up. I just saw them play a couple months ago and was impressed and the past couple months of shows has only made them tighter and even more aggressive. They blasted out song after song (many new ones mixed with some older ones) and barely stopped in between except to occasionally say what they were going to assault the crowd with next. The kids in the crowd ate it up like candy and heads were banging and a mosh pit was going during each song. The band never let up, they were a finely tuned instrument of brutality and were a very satisfying finish to a night full of excellent bands.
Some additional shots and larger versions of these can be found later tonight on MXV’s Flickr Stream.
toxic holocaust is definately not metalcore.