Review and Photos by Fred Kuhlman
Promoter: Live Nation (https://www.livenation.com/ )
Venue: Arizona Financial Theatre (https://www.livenation.com/venue/KovZpZAEk7lA/arizona-financial-theatre-events )
Date: Friday October 14th, 2022
Tour: The Omens Tour
Tonight, we got to see 3 very impressive Metalcore/Thrash metal bands, Lamb of God, Killswitch Engage & Fit For An Autopsy. The odd band out had to be Animals as Leaders which is a Progressive Metal band. All of the bands were very good, but Lamb of God definitely had the best performance of the night. Their pyrotechnics put them over the top.
It was great to see some of my metal friends at the show. I can usually count on seeing a number of them at these shows. If you love metal music and especially Metalcore or Thrash metal, then this is a good show to see.
Lamb Of God
Lamb of God is an American Metalcore band hailing from Richmond, Virginia in 1994. They have release 9 albums as Lamb of God with their latest Omens being release in October of 2022. Even though it was called the Omens Tour, they only played 2 songs from that album. Instead, they pick songs from 7 of their other albums. It was like a greatest hit show, but with a band that is still producing new work.
Lamb of God consists of bassist John Campbell, lead singer Randy Blythe, lead guitarist Mark Morton, rhythm guitarist Willie Adler and drummer Art Cruz.
If tonight’s show is anything like the show you will see when they come to your city, it will be an extremely high energy show filled with amazing lighting and some very hot pyrotechnic effects. When the fire pots went off, the pit got very warm so those people in the front will feel the effect. All of the band members (except drummer) were constantly roaming all over the stage. However, lead singer Randy Blythe was especially energetic. During the second song, “Walk With Me in Hell” as the fire pots were going off, Randy climbed up on the drum kit platform and then jumped off this 6 plus foot platform. During “Walk With Me in Hell” they had the fire pots go off multiple times generating a stream of flames from multiple sources.
As a special treat, those people that bought a VIP package, they got to be in the pit during the first 3 songs and got to photograph and video the band with their cell phones. This alone might be reason enough to get a VIP package.
If you are a Lamb Of God fan or just a diehard Metalcore fan, then you definitely need to see this show. Lamb of God definitely sounds better in concert then on their albums. They generate an energy that is infectious and the crowd responds accordingly. The mosh pit was active from the very first song until the end of the show.
Lamb Of God will be starting their European tour in Frederiksberg, Denmark on November 18th. They will be in Europe through the end of December. Check out their website site for tour dates at a city near you.
You can find out future tour dates on their website and Facebook page. You can check out a number of their videos on their YouTube channel.
Website: https://www.lamb-of-god.com/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/lambofgod/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/lambofgod
Photos by Fred Kuhlman, All Rights Reserved
Lamb of God Setlist: (Album)
Memento Mori (Lamb of God)
Walk With Me in Hell (Sacrament)
Now You’ve Got Something to Die For (Ashes of the Wake)
Resurrection Man (Lamb of God)
Nevermore (Omens)
Ruin (As the Palaces Burn)
11th Hour (As the Palaces Burn)
Omerta (Ashes of the Wake)
Omens (Omens)
Contractor (Wrath)
512 (VII: Sturm und Drang)
Grayscale (Live debut)
Vigil (As the Palaces Burn)
Laid to Rest (Ashes of the Wake)
Redneck (Sacrament)
Killswitch Engage
Killswitch Engage (KSE) is an American Metalcore band from Westfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1999. The band consists of lead singer Jesse Leach, bassist Mike D’Antonio, Adam Dutkiewicz on lead guitar, Joel Stroetzel on rhythm guitar and drummer Justin Foley. Joel and Adam also provide backing vocals.
This was the third time I have seen Killswitch Engage. The last time was in 2017 and they have only gotten better. Since then, they have released a new album, Atonement in August of 2019. Tonight’s show had a number of songs from that album. They also played 4 songs from the 2006 album, As Daylight Dies. It was interested that they played “Holy Diver” which was a Dio song. They got a great response from the crowd when they played that song.
They fit perfectly with this tour. Their energy set the stage for Lamb Of God. Killswitch Engage will be touring the Northeast coast at the end of December. If you get a chance to see them, you will have a good time and enjoys some great music.
You can find out future tour dates on their website and Facebook page. You can check out a number of their videos on their YouTube channel.
Website: http://www.killswitchengage.com/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/killswitchengage
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/killswitchengagetv
Photos by Fred Kuhlman, All Rights Reserved
Killswitch Engage Setlist: (Album / Cover)
Strength of the Mind (Incarnate)
This Is Absolution (As Daylight Dies)
Rose of Sharyn (The End of Heartache)
Beyond The Flames (Disarm the Descent)
Unleashed (Atonement)
The Crownless King (Atonement)
Hate by Design (Incarnate)
Know Your Enemy (Atonement)
My Curse (As Daylight Dies)
As Daylight Dies (As Daylight Dies)
This Fire (As Daylight Dies)
The End of Heartache (The End of Heartache)
In Due Time (Disarm the Descent)
Holy Diver (Dio cover)
The Signal Fire (Atonement)
Animals As Leaders
Animals As Leaders was the oddball out band of this tour. All of the other bands were extreme metal/Metalcore/Thrash metal bands. Animals As Leader is a 3-piece Progressive Metal band fronted by the amazing guitarist Tosin Abasi. I first saw Tosin when he was part of Steve Vai’s Generation Axe tour back in 2018. It was the first time I ever saw anyone play an 8-string guitar.
Animals As Leaders consists of guitarist Tosin Abasi, guitarist Javier Reyes and drummer Matt Garstka. Don’t expect to hear any singing during their performance. They are all about the technical excellent of the musicians.
Personally, I believe Animals As Leader would be better served touring with another Progressive Metal band like Mastodon or Dream Theater. However, they did get exposed to a different group of metal people which some might become fans.
In December they will be performing in South America. In January they tour the UK and Europe. If you are into Progressive Metal, then you might want to check out Animals As Leaders.
You can find out future tour dates on their website and Facebook page.
Website: https://animalsasleaders.org/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/animalsasleaders
Photos by Fred Kuhlman, All Rights Reserved
Animals As Leaders Setlist: (Album)
Intro
Arithmophobia (The Madness of Many)
Gordian Naught (Parrhesia)
Micro-Aggression (Parrhesia)
Red Miso (Parrhesia)
Monomyth (Parrhesia)
CAFO (Animals as Leaders)
Fit For an Autopsy
Fit for an Autopsy is an American extreme metal band from Jersey City, New Jersey, formed in 2008. Fit For an Autopsy consists of guitarists Pat Sheridan and Tim Howley, drummer Josean Orta, lead singer Joe Badolato and bassist Peter “Blue” Spinazola. I was surprised I have never seen them before.
They did a short 6 song set that consisted of 2 songs from their last 3 albums. I really enjoyed seeing them and hope to see them in the future in a smaller venue as the main act.
You can find out future tour dates on their website and Facebook page.
Website: https://fitforanautopsy.co/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/FitForAnAutopsyOfficial/
Photos by Fred Kuhlman, All Rights Reserved
Fit For an Autopsy Setlist: (Album)
The Sea of Tragic Beasts (The Sea of Tragic Beasts)
Your Pain Is Mine (The Sea of Tragic Beasts)
Pandora (Oh What the Future Holds)
Far From Heaven (Oh What the Future Holds)
Heads Will Hang (The Great Collapse)
Black Mammoth (The Great Collapse)
