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Tonight it’s tight quarters inside The Rock. A packed house, an intimate blackened venue, chain link fencing, beer and big bands are all the right ingredients for a killer show. With no barricade or photo pit, a guaranteed mosh and an aggressive audience Gigwise is in for a photojournalistic challenge. Will we get the 
shots and live? Maybe…
The night’s rumbling thunder starts with the melodic death metal of Devine Heresy. Bassist Joe Payne’s dirty harsh vocals bring on the gathering storm of ‘Bleed The Fifth.’ Where is lead vocalist Tommy Vext? He’s not to be seen. It doesn’t matter because Joe takes over and fills the bill, thrilling us with his brutally rich vox. He’s like a big red ant biting at our ears drums as ‘Impossible Is Nothing’ heats up the mosh. Joe is a triple threat, an outstanding bassist and guitarist he now proves his vocal talent. They finish with the rough and rowdy ‘Save Yourself’ whilst guitarist Dino Cazares fingers blur and appreciative horde roars.
TERROR is now on the loose. Hardcore and pure they give the mosh the gift thrash with ‘Lowest Of The Low.’ Agitated and gritty vocalist Scott Vogel is a live wire with high voltage who lays sparks across the stage. The mosh is demented, people climb over each other and up on stage, some even stop to sing with Scott then dive on top of the raised beating hands of the 
horde. The band fires off one short song after another and with each piece the mood escalates till The Rock becomes a scary mob scene. Their lyrical strength shines through during the grating ‘Strike You Down.’ The crowd screams back the words to ‘Keep Your Mouth Shut’ and Gigwise joins them in the pleasure.
The ground opens up and KATAKLYSM reigns over the venue. Lead vocalist Maurizio Iacone is big, burly and intense with a wide vocal range that’s absolutely exquisite. It’s death metal delicious as the lads line up and headbang whilst their hair whirls in circles. Stephane Barbe’s relentless bass fans the flames of ‘Serenity In Fire’ giving us no peace at all. The threatened darkness of ‘1999:6661:2000’ grabs hold as Max Duhamel’s drums take us into hyperdrive, into space and annihilates the crowd. Maurizio is not only an amazing vocalist he can spit a three way stream of water. Now that’s talent. KATAKLYSM is headed for a big European tour starting in February with stops in Germany, Spain, France and the UK then finishing up in Australia.
Smoke fills the venue, darkness falls and Chimaira arrives. The murderous rage of ‘The Flame’ careens out of control as The Rock is bathed in smoke, flashing colored lights and confusion. Bassist James LaMarca owns this astonishing piece whilst vocalist Mark Hunter brings forth the monster of incestuous callousness and lays it bare. Chimaira seems to be able to tap into the blackest of souls then deliver it to us on a silver platter of sound.
The mob crushes, the mosh pit tightens and our attention is locked on the stage then ‘Needle’ begins to growl. Hands franticly beat the air and bodies clash as Andy Herrik’s drums drill into our skulls. Chimaira is so guitar rich with layered multidimensional depth that we strain to catch all the subtleties and changes whilst relishing each one. The slow enticing intro of ‘No Reason To Live’ sucks us in then shreds our senses with wicked riffs and exotic licks. It’s a well constructed work of auditory insanity. Mark shouts “This song is about negative times and how to overcome them” then the title song of their newest album ‘Resurrection’ rises. Chimaira finishes the night off with ‘Pure Hatred’ as we all scream back at the band “I hate everyone!” Why does that feel so good? I don’t know but check out this song and try it.
CLICK HERE to see a full gallery of the gig
