Metal Reigns Free At Ozzfest
Tweeter Center
Camden, New Jersey
By: Steve Trager
For more then a decade Ozzfest has become a staple in a yearly concert spectacle. Year after year, Ozzfest has been one of the most anticipated metal tours to sell out hand over fist showcasing some of metal’s finest roster of bands. Each year the Ozzfest has captivated the broad spectrum of both platinum and well known artists which offered the most in ones’ musical taste crossing all boundaries in the genre’ of metal. Ozzfest has been the forefront as one of the most popular metal tours of its kind to grace stages across America. One can never imagine a concert like Ozzfest to actually be “FREE” until earlier this past summer, when Ozzfest was rumored to be just that. This year Ozzfest had a long list of bands rounding out the hot topic second stage to which have never performed other then Hatebreed who returned for the third consecutive time this year. With the likes of 3 Inches of Blood, Ankla, Chthonic, Devil Driver and The Show Down all gracing the second stage it was hard to really pick a particular set I liked more of. With never seeing any of these bands on the second stage other then Hatebreed who just rip any fan into shreds by themselves, I enjoyed The Show Down the most. Even with most of these bands playing twenty minute slots, you still get the most out of the second stage. The brutality of Hatebreed seemingly brings the hammer down toward the end of the second stage with just going in for the kill with a great show.
As if the second stage just isn’t enough, the main stage at each Ozzfest showcases some of the finer talent on this year’s bill. Opening the show, new comers Black Tide ripped through twenty minutes of hell raising guitar work. This band reminded me of the good old days when guitar solos were partial to a well written song. A brief set change, next to take the stage….. Finland’s finest Lordi. An unusual outfit indeed, didn’t quite follow the whole costume persona but, there’s nothing quite like Lordi to say the most of any band out of Finland these days.
From Lordi to Static- X we got at Ozzfest. Now here’s a band that can keep you entertained both musically and physically. Not a bad set at any given moment as Static – X performed some of their greatest songs within their catalog of music. Their set included “Push It”, “Enemy”, “Dirthouse”, “Destroy All”, and “The Only” which sounded amazing live.
A nice set well done and we move onto the Co- headliner at this year’s Ozzfest Lamb of God. This is a band that holds their own gracefully. The blistering vocals of Randy Blythe to the amazing soaring guitar work round out such a great band. I can’t say I own any of their music, but have witness countless performances at one time or another and have been totally blown away by their live sets. You want talk about stirring up a vicious mosh pit while these guys are on stage. Yeah Lamb of God can redefine the word vicious to a “T”. With much of their set consisting from earlier catalogs, Lamb of God had the bull by the horns at Ozzfest as Randy stormed out on stage and just worked the fans from the minute they began to play “Laid To Rest “. Other favorites tossed in were “Now You Have Something To Die For”, “Ashes of The Awake”, and “Walk With Me In Hell”.
Nothing completes an annual ozzfest without an appearance with the madman himself OZZY rounding out the mainstage each and every year. The songs get better and better much like a well aged bottled wine. There might be a few missed songs left unplayed or a few lil less self induced “ F “ bombs tossed out in the crowd. We still count on OZZY to close the show gracefully with trademark songs spanning his three decade career as both a solo artist and the main artery in Black Sabbath belting out the most popular hits we have come to expect. I think this year seem to be the best yet, he tossed in two new songs off of Back Rain which to some say is the best work from OZZY in several years as a solo artist. “ I Don’t Wanna Stop “ and “ Here For You “. I don’t think anyone can leave feeling less then over joyed with each performance he’s given back to the fans as a thank you for being loyal all these years.
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