The Metal Crushes All Tour Pummels The Honda Center On 5/24

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All Photos By Thomas Delgado/@forthehordeprod

When I write up my reviews, I try my best to give you, the reader, a sense of being there, to live vicariously (so goes the saying) through my experiences and words. Now I've said often in my reviews and in person that I like catching shows outside of Los Angeles. It's one of my favorite things to do because I plan a whole day on it, seeing where a good place to pre-game is. Adding to this good time was that I was accompanied by my closest people, Omar and Veronica who bleed Metal just like me. As we rolled into Anaheim with time to spare we landed at Unsung Brewery to wet our palette and get our buzz on. A chill spot that wasn't crowded. After a couple of tasty brews, it was time to hit the Honda Center, home of the Anaheim Ducks where we hit round 2 of our pre-game before heading into the METAL CRUSHES ALL Tour for Swedish Viking Metal Warriors AMON AMARTH, Old School Florida Death Metal Legends CANNIBAL CORPSE and OBITUARY and the new bloods of Modern Death Metal FROZEN SOUL from Texas.

I really can't recall a time when I've seen a Death Metal show in such a large capacity like the Honda Center, so this was certainly a treat. Large stadium shows aren't for everyone and I understand that. Even for me, I rarely hit these types of shows but when CANNIBAL comes around, I catch them nearly every time. I enjoy supporting up-and-comers too in that of FROZEN SOUL who I previously caught on another great package with THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER just a year ago. I've said before that they give off a BOLT THROWER vibe which is certainly a compliment. They did a great job in gaining the crowd's respect while earning a new and larger fan-base. There was already a large crowd for this opener who crushed with their sledgehammer groove in their 25 minute set playing cuts from both their albums and the title track from their original demo from 2019. They were totally engaged with the crowd so much so that at one point singer Chad Green (who I caught a picture with as he was wandering around the concourse after their set) gave our Magic playing cards and had them play in the middle of the crowd while people ran a circle pit around them. A truly hilarious moment.

Also about a year ago, I caught OBITUARY, another one of my favorite bands that I hadn't seen in a while. I still haven't gotten my eyeglasses replaced since then when I stood right by the pit with my friend and new concert buddy. Thanks, Karen (haha). Great to see these guys on a large stage, tearing through their set that consisted of only material from their latest album The Dying Of Everything and 2 off Frozen In Time. "Redneck Stomp", which has become their staple opener, and "Slow Death" featuring John Tardy on backup percussion. An extremely short half-hour set and not only that, this set consisted of songs that didn't have John Tardy singing much. It just so happens that their last album was exactly that. Although a really good album with hook after hook, Tardy's vocal presence was lacking, as it was this night unfortunately. Tardy's vocals are one of a kind and my favorite aspect of the band, so it definitely left the whole crowd wanting more, especially since we didn't get to hear their other set staple, "Slowly We Rot" to close their set.

Clearly this tour was all about the headliner but for I know I speak for many that we were largely there to see CANNIBAL CORPSE on a large stage. Several factors have made CC a household name and a band's band. You know what you're getting when you hear and see them. In a set that consisted of tracks from Tomb of The Mutilated, Evisceration Plague, Kill, The Bleeding, Torture, Violence Unimagined and of course their latest from last year, Chaos Horrific. Buzzsaw windmilling by the headbanging champ of the universe, Corpsegrinder. The added vigor of longtime producer Erik Rutan now on guitar, Paul Mazurkewiscz playing to a click. All these things have made CANNIBAL CORPSE age into the finest of wines. With little-to-no banter between songs, aside from George's taunting of the crowd to a headbang challenge before "I Cum Blood", they absolutely killed in this brief 45 minute set.

It's an experience to see AMON AMARTH in concert. They put on an amazing live show with props, pyro and stage setup that gives IRON MAIDEN a run for their money (or run to the hills, pun intended). With songs about war and celebrations, actors battling on stage, crowd interaction, a giant sea beast threatening to destroy the stage, Norse Mythology through the music and lyrical content - you become so immersed in everything going on that you feel like you're on an actual ship. For 90 minutes, the Viking lore and Lord Of The Rings-influenced group sang several tales with songs from Deceiver of The Gods, Twilight of The Thunder God, Berserker, Jomsviking, The Great Heathen Army, Fate of Norns and Surtur Rising. With drummer Jocke Wallgren perched up high on a horned helmet surrounded by stairs where Johan and the rest of the band would be running around without missing a beat, a pair of Vikings fighting it out and then there's the song "Put Your Back Into The Oar" where the crowd really gets into it, sits down together and actually mimicks rowing in unison while Johan shouts "ROW!... ROW!". It's an amazing moment and demonstrates what not only AMON AMARTH shows are about but Metal shows in general. Sharing the evening with friends, so many I ran into that night, even one of my drum students too - all made this a memorable event.

The lineup demonstrates the evolution of Death Metal at the moment. You have a new American band making its mark, 2 legends who are the cornerstone and forefathers in their genre who are still pulverizing with no end in sight, and finally the Swedish representation that has made it to the mainstream and able to play large arenas. Great tour package, albeit short sets by the openers, nonetheless it was a fun show.

Check out some more photos from the show!
All Photos By Thomas Delgado/@forthehordeprod