Volbeat, All That Remains and Eye Empire 5/1/2013
More Show Photos:
Eye Empire: HERE
All That Remains: HERE
Volbeat: HERE
Venue: House Of Blues Boston
Photographer: Ilya Mirman
Review By: Ilya Mirman
Boston celebrated May Day 2013 in a thunderous way – with a metal triple bill at the House of Blues: Eye Empire, All That Remains, and Volbeat. The bands put on a spectacular show – and the crowd roared with delight. Though each brought a distinctive style and sound, there was a common thread that made it easy for a hard rock fan to enjoy the spectacle as one superb play in three acts.
Eye Empire
Eye Empire, a rock supergroup of sorts (bringing together past members of Dark New Day, Submersed, and Texas Hippie Coalition), first took the floor for a short set – playing their hits including Ignite and More Than Fate, and wrapping up with I Pray. Though a relatively new band on the scene, it was clear that many fans came to see them, and were excited to catch them at a relatively intimate venue like the House of Blues.
Fronted by Donald “DC” Carpenter, the band put on a powerful, energetic performance. It was clear – in fact, strikingly so – that DC and the rest of the band were grateful – both for the opportunity to play, and the love they were seeing in return. Eye Empire fed off the energy of the crowd, and vice versa. For a taste of the treat we got, check out Eye Empire’s video for I Pray:
Set List:
Ignite
Idiot
Great Deceiver
Weakness
More Than Fate
One Day
I Pray
All That Remains
Next up was All That Remains – local heroes of the metalcore scene, hailing from Springfield, Massachusetts. In their 15th year, with six studio albums and nearly a million records sold, ATR were hailed by the hometown crowd. The 10-song set was mostly culled from their 2012 album A War You Cannot Win (a heavy album produced by Killswitch Engage guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz).
Phil Labonte delivered the vocals – the growls, the high notes, and everything in between – with what seemed like boundless passion and commitment. The band was clearly elated and gratified at the hometown welcome they received, and the smiles (both onstage and in the crowd) never stopped.
For a sample of ATR’s work, check out the video for Stand Up:
Set List:
Stand Up
Six
The Last Time
Forever In Your Hands
Some Of The People, All Of The Time
Down Through The Ages
Asking Too Much
Hold On
This Calling
Two Weeks
Volbeat
By the time the Danish rockers took the stage, the crowd was revved up to 11, and it didn’t take long for the show to explode in a celebration of rock, metal, punk and country. Band leader Michael Poulsen was masterful in channeling Johnny Cash and Elvis (and Slayer!). And – as a special treat for many of us – joining as a permanent member of the band was lead guitarist Rob Caggiano, formerly of Anthrax.
Playing a set that balanced fan favorites (Sad Man’s Tongue, Heaven Nor Hell, A Warrior’s Call) with tracks from their latest CD “Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies” (Pearl Hart, Lola Montez, Doc Holliday), Volbeat did not disappoint. (In fact, as a special treat for Boston, this was the first time new tracks Pearl Hart and Doc Holliday were played live.)
For good reason, the new album is getting a warm reception among old fans, and bringing Volbeat new ones. Debuting in the top 10 of the Billboard 200, it reliably delivers Volbeat’s unique blend of metal, rockabilly, punk. But it does more than that, expanding the range, depth and complexity of the music. There’s acoustics, western motifs, but also the thunderous pounding fans have come to expect. And Caggiano’s fingerprints are clearly all over the album – both in the solos, and behind the mixing console. The efforts are clearly paying off – both on the album, and on stage. This was my third Volbeat show, and though I’ve enjoyed them all, this one felt like a high water mark in terms of energy, band chemistry, stage presence and reception by the audience.
If you haven’t checked out the band recently, give the new album a listen – and catch a show!
Set List:
Hallelujah Goat
A New Day
Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood
Pearl Hart
Heaven Nor Hell
Sad Man’s Tongue
Lola Montez
The Human Instrument
16 Dollars
A Warrior’s Call
Mary Ann’s Place
Dead But Rising
The Hangman’s Body Count
Still Counting
Doc Holliday
Fallen
The Mirror and The Ripper
Pool of Booze, Booze, Booza