Metal Tour of the Year Kicks off with a Bang

( and literal flames)

Review and Photos: Ursula Rogers

Headliners, Lamb of God, and Megadeth brought the heat to an already sweltering Texas summer day. Hatebreed and a band I truly enjoy, Trivium, were the opening acts. It’s been some time since Austinites have seen a Friday night like this. For many music lovers, it’s been over a year since they’ve had the opportunity to witness a live concert. This was a great show to break that unfortunate streak.

This was my first time seeing each band live. I had a slight expectation but was excited. Each band surpassed my atmospheric predictions. Each note was the musical equivalent of taking shots of vodka. This show had some of my favorite aspects of metal and its subgenres: the poetic, the erratic, and the melodic.

Hatebreed

Hatebreed was added to the tour as a replacement for the Swedish heavy metal band, In Flames. They had some issues with obtaining visas and there is a global pandemic. I know the least about Hatebreed, from this line-up. The Connecticut-based band opened with Empty Promises, from their 1997 Satisfaction is the Death of Desire and was an instant smash. Musically, they truly won me over with the syncopated rhythms of their next song, Instinctive( Slaughterlust). It was their first live performance of the song. They clearly loved the crowd and the crowd loved them. The excitement sparked with electricity through the air. I’d be thrilled to see them perform again.

Hatebreed Austin 20,2021 setlist:

1. ‘’Empty Promises’’

2. ‘’Instinctive (Slaughterlust)’’

3. ‘’Perseverance’’

4. ‘’Everyone Bleeds Now’’

5. ‘’In Ashes They Shall Reap’’

6. ‘’Ghost of War (Slayer cover)’’

7. ‘’I Will Be Heard’’

8. ‘’Looking Down The Barrel of Today’’

9. ‘’Destroy Everything’’

Trivium

Though I’m a new fan of the Grammy Award-winning, Florida-based band Trivium. I was thoroughly excited to see the metal band comprised of Matt Heafy( lead vocals and guitar), Corey Beaulieu(guitar), Paolo Gregoletto (bass), and Alex Bent( drums). They delivered. Everyone had total command of the stage. They performed songs from their 2021 yet-to-be-released album, ‘In the Court of the Dragon’, and opened with the song of the same name. Apparently, they had been working on riffs for the song last year. The lyrics continue to have roots in mythology like previous work: 

In the court of the dragon
Death of gods and world
In the court of the dragon
You will know your worth

Trivium August 20, 2021 setlist

1.’’In the Court of the Dragon’’

2.’’Castrophist’’

3.’’IX’’

4.’’What the Dead Men Say’’

5.’’Down From the Sky’’

6.’’The Heart From Your Hate’’

7. ‘’Feast of Fire’’

8. ‘’In Waves’’

Lamb of God

For Lamb of God, it had been more than a year since they last performed and the 15^th anniversary of their album, Sacrament. Their performance began with a gunshot-like bang as the kabuki dropped to reveal the veteran band in their element(truthfully every performer was). The crowd erupted as vocalist Randy Blyth paced across the stage like a wild animal. The combination of showmanship and musical ability left me wanting more. In addition to entertaining vocals, there was pyrotechnics. What is a small-town Texas girl to do but revel in the atmosphere and enjoy the show?

Lamb of God August 20, 2021 Setlist

1.’’Memento Mori’’

2. ‘’Ruin’’

3. ‘’Walk With Me in Hell’’

4.’’Resurrection Man’’

5.’’Now You’ve Got Something to Die For’’

6.’’Contractor’’

7.’’New Colossal Hate’’

8.’’512’’

9.’’Vigil’’

10.’’Laid To Rest’’

11.’’Remorse is For the Dead’’

12. ‘’Redneck’’

Megadeth

Friday night in Austin, Texas marked the first time Megadeth performed with bassist James Lomenzo in years. A sex scandal with former bassist, David Ellefson caused him to be replaced Lomenzo was a previous bass player with Megadeth from 2006-2010. He played on the United Abomination(2007) and endgame (2009) and he didn’t miss a step on stage. It also is the first time lead singer Dave Mustaine has performed since he has gone into remission for throat cancer. Even with these difficulties, Megadeth proved why they have sustained over so many decades. Everything from set design to the way they moved together was amazing.  They were all so mesmerizing. 

If you have the chance to see the Metal Tour of the Year. You’ll regret nothing but forgetting your earplugs.

Megadeth Austin 2021 setlist

1. “Hangar 18”
2. “The Threat Is Real”
3. “Tornado of Souls”
4. “Sweating Bullets”
5. “Trust”
6. “Conquer or Die!”
7. “Dystopia”
8. “Symphony Of Destruction”
9. “Peace Sells”
10. “Mechanix”
11. “Holy Wars… The Punishment Due”