Black Label Society & Down @ Upstate Concert Hall

It was a hot and steamy night of rock when the Revolver Golden Gods Tour packed the Upstate Concert Hall in Clifton Park NY. Black Label Society, Down, Devil You Know and Butcher Babies sold out the Monday night show.

Unleashing their fury, the Butcher Babies took the staged. They kicked all kinds of ass and set the mood of the night. There has been so much buzz around this band and their performance, I couldn’t wait to see what they were about. Although they started earlier than the listing I saw, I did catch the last few songs. Their ear bleeding screams were like a banshee – savagely fierce, wildly reckless, and full of adrenalin rushes! Butcher Babies are out in support of their debut album “GOLIATH,” via Century Media Records. Watch for them to come to town, as they are also doing off dates from the Golden Gods Tour, including the central NY Date of May 14 at the Lost Horizon in Syracuse NY.

Second to take the stage was Devil You Know. They are another one of those metal “super groups” that keep spouting up. Vocalist Howard Jones (Former Killswitch Engage and Blood Has Been Shed), Guitarist Francesco Artusato (All Shall Perish, Hiss of Atrocities), Bassist Ryan Wombacher (Bleeding Through), Drummer John Sankey (Australian band, Devolved, plus played with Fear Factory and Divine Heresy) and guitarist Roy Lev-Ari (Hiss of Atrocities) pack a hardcore punch! With just under 2 weeks of their debut album, “The Beauty of Destruction” was released via Nuclear Blast Records, it was great to see the response this band is getting. It only takes a few seconds of this band, and you will know they mean business. After the Revolver Golden God’s Tour, Devil You Know will head to Europe to play on some of the summer festivals.

Next to bring their insane rage to the stage was the heavy hitter, power group Down! The band’s current lineup consists of vocalist Phil Anselmo (Pantera), guitarist Pepper Keenan (Corrosion of Conformity), guitarist Bobby Landgraf, bassist Pat Bruders (Goatwhore), and drummer Jimmy Bower (Crowbar, Eyehategod, and Superjoint Ritual). They sounded tight as ever. “Lifer” which Phil dedicated to Dimebag sounded sick. While mere days away from the band newest album release, “Down IV Part II” (the long awaited sequel to “Down IV Part 1), fans were eager to get their hands on the new music. There’s no rest for this monstrosity as on off dates of the Revolver Golden Gods Tour, DOWN will be performing headlining shows, festival appearances that includes Austin TX, “Rock The Heart” benefit concert for the late Mike Scaccia’s (Rigor Mortis, Ministry) “Heart Rock” Foundation, which will raise awareness for heart disease.

Headlining the night was the one the only, Zakk Wylde and his band, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY! The line-up has changed some since we last saw these guys, the group recently added guitarist Dario Lorina. He is a perfect fit for BLS. Watching Dario play, brought me back to the day I first saw a young Zakk step on stage with Ozzy. BLS always puts on memorable performances : tight, to the point, while having fun. This time around, their set included new songs of “Catacombs of The Black Vatican” (released April 2014) – “Angel of Mercy,” “Damn The Flood” and “Fields of Unforgiveness.” Black Label Society will continue to headline the Revolver Golden Gods Tour across North America until June 7th. They will then be heading overseas to Europe, returning to America for one show in Oshkosh, WI (July19), then heading to South America and Mexico. (See BLS’s website for updated tour dates)

Overall, I would say that The Revolver Golden God Tour is truly an impressive tour! Packed with legendary musicians, how could you go wrong? The tour showcases many different forms of metal, while keeping things heavy and technical. Kudos to whoever put these bands on the same stage! Keep your eye out for the tour to come to your town!