Death Angel

First up on this bill was Death Angel. They kicked off the night with fire and fury by mixing old and new songs, all of which sound very similar. These guys have stayed true to their sound for over three decades, and they came to Boston to show they have not lost a single step. This was very evident when listening to the vocal prowess of Mark Osegueda. That man can still hold a note like a boss.

The guitars were on fire. Both Rob and Ted know how to work the stage and the crowd. They never failed to energize the crowd by tossing picks, making eye contact, and throwing fists in the air to get the masses chanting. The House of Blues also had the sound mixed really well. You could hear the bass and drums quite well, and the vocals never got covered by the dual guitar assault. Damien and Will held the tempo in close check, providing an excellent foundation for everything to rest upon.

Killer energy and a great set really riled the crowd up. They headbanged, moshed, and surfed, keeping the pit crew busy for the last few songs. Not all opening bands have enough name recognition to pull the numbers Death Angel did. Those who were there early enough got a treat the stragglers missed out on. Sucks to be them.

Exodus

Exodus is something altogether different from so many bands. The gritty, Udo Dirkschneider style vocals of “Zetro” are something to behold. To hear him speak, you would never know his voice is capable of what you hear when he sings. Whether he’s belting out the new bangers like “The Beatings Will Continue (Until Morale Improves)” or the classics like “Toxic Waltz,” he gives you everything he has. Working the stage from side to side, he excites the crowd and gets them ready to scream and sing along. He is a force, and freak, of nature.

Tom Hunting took the time to come out from behind the drums and thank the audience for coming out and supporting him after a health scare. Gary Holt did what he does best, shred. He and Lee Altus took turns warping the minds of those assembled with frenetic solos and killer riffs. Jack Gibson laid down a wall of sound to make sure those guitars never faltered. Exodus has never lacked for power, and they showed every bit of that intensity on a rainy Monday night in Boston. Rarely is a Monday night worth writing home about. Exodus made it so.

Testament

Headlining this night was Testament. Chuck Billy and crew came to melt faces. Mission accomplished. One of the more melodic thrash bands, Testament has a pair of guitarists that are equal to any team in any genre. Alex and Eric can weave some of the most epic riffs together that you will ever hear from a band. I almost hate to use the term rhythm section when talking about the bass and drums. Steve Di Giorgio and the legendary Dave Lombardo are not an ordinary “rhythm” section.

Testament played songs spanning their entire career, going almost all the way back to the start. They brought “Zetro” out for a song, just for Boston (Over The Wall). Chuck works the crowd like the seasoned veteran he is. Alex and Eric trade places pretty frequently, so the audience sees each of them play. Steve stalks the stage, heading to the back, near his compatriot Dave, then comes to the front and sings/growls those parts of the songs that are his. Through all of this, the fans sing along with every word, yelling at the tops of their collective lungs. There was a special energy in the air.

Testament owned the stage. They appeared larger than life at that moment, and that is an image I will gladly keep intact. Some bands just know how to project a presence.

All three bands spoke of their history with the city of Boston, talking about some of the venues they’ve played over the years. Combined, these three bands have over 100 years of touring and recording experience. These guys are masters of their craft. All of them. If you don’t get a chance to catch this specific tour, see the bands individually. Maybe you will get lucky enough for this to happen again. They rocked Boston, and I guarantee they rocked every other city listed on the tour poster.

San Francisco invaded New England and totally owned the city for this one special night.

Share