I went down to St. Pete by myself to go checkout the Undoing Ruin Tour featuring Dead To Fall, The Acacia Strain, A Life Once Lost, Himsa, and Darkest Hour. I had only previously seen Himsa, so there were plenty of new bands for me to check out.
Dead To Fall opened the show and were solid. At one point, the singer grabbed my head and began head banging it for me. It was pretty cool. They were brutal. They have a new cd coming out, and I suggest that everyone gives them a listen. I hadn't heard them before the show, and I know I will be picking up all of their releases. They had the pits going. Great energy. Great Presence. Great performance, especially for the opening band.
The Acacia Strain seemed like they were having a lot of fun on stage. The singer was all over the place, screaming and hopping on one leg. The guitarist was making faces and dancing a bit oddly. It was fun to watch. Did I mention they can play as well. They reminded me of a metalcore version of The Agony Scene. Heavy with the scratchy vocals. They also had the pit going, as well as the kids hardcore dancing. They too have a new cd coming out, and again, I will be checking out, and you should as well.
A Life Once Lost came out to a stage full of fog. It suited them well. With their heavy distorted guitars, and roaring vocals. Another band I had only heard a handful of times before the show and I was impressed. They were very appreciative of the crowd, and thanked everyone for coming out probably ten times. Expect big things from A Life Once Lost in the near future.
Himsa are pretty much the closest thing you are going to find to compare to At The Gates. With their Gothenburg style guitars, they are everything metalcore is supposed to be. They are heavy as can be. At one point during the set, their singer took my hat off of my head, and wore it on stage. They played both old material, as well as a few new songs from their latest release "Hail Horror". During their final song, "A Girl in Glass", singer John Pettibone gave the mic to a fan in the crowd to sing the majority of the song. It was a great set. Go pick up a copy of Hail Horror.
Darkest Hour are one of the bands who I had never seen. I will see them perform every time they come back within a 300 mile radius. They were absolutely amazing. Once of the most brutal sets I have ever seen. Although they did not play their 13 minute epic instrumental "Veritas, Aquitas" they played an amazing mix of songs from "Hidden Hands of a Saddest Nation", "So Sedated, So Secure", and "Undoing Ruin" their latest release. At one point, vocalist John Henry and guitarist Mike S. told the crowd they did not know how to properly do a circle pit, so they demonstrated on stage. They played for nearly an hour, without an encore. Thrash metal at its finest. I did end up getting a drum stick, and I got to talk to their drummer Ryan for a minute.
It was one of the most solid shows I have ever been to. I suggest everyone checks out all of these bands.
