Pouring on the Sweat

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The usual temperatures and puns aside, this summer has shown the Phoenix area is a hotbed for ferocious metal, and its not over yet. Seems a lot of bands have come through recently, kicking up the dust and ensuring happiness for chiropractors all around the state.

A Life Once Lost is no exception.

Formed in Philadelphia during 1999, A Life Once Lost had released material through hardcore tastemakers Loudnet Records and Robotic Empire before hooking up with Converge singer Jake Bannon's Deathwish imprint, who issued the vinyl for "The Fourth Plague: Flies" in addition to their underground breakthrough. It was the strength of the "A Great Artist" recording that won the band the attention of Ferret Music's Carl Severson, who got to know the guys when he'd pass through Philly with his band, Nora. "A Great Artist" also helped get them on the road with a number of likeminded bands, like Breather Resist, Between the Buried and Me, Throwdown, Dead To Fall and God Forbid, taking them all through North America including treks to Mexico and Canada. In 2005 A Life Once Lost entered the studio to craft 'HUNTER' , their debut album for Ferret, which capitalized on the dark but urgent promise of "A Great Artist".

Hitting the stage to the roar of the crowd, ALOL kept the audience in the palm of their hands the entire show. Lead singer Robert Meadows kept the crowd’s attention by pacing the stage, growling with conviction the entire time.

Performing such songs as Rehash, Vulture, Needleman, Grotesque, Pain and Panic, the crowd moshed with headbanging delight to each song. The crowd was fired up, and gave ALOL a great reception. Throughout the thunderous roar of metal during their set, mosh pits increasingly grew in size to impressive proportions. Once again, the Arizona metalheads displayed much appreciation for the band’s tour stop here in the valley.