AUGUST 17th 2024
ASHES OF LEVIATHAN TOUR
Review by Metallic Barbie
Photos by Peter Ruttan
GALLERY http://www.metaltitans.com/concertpics/ashes-of-leviathan-tour
Of any reason to travel to Kent, Washington, a double drop kick like the 20th anniversary of two heavy-ass iconic albums from two of metal’s most respected bands would have to top the list. Lamb of God unleashed Ashes of the Wake following Mastodon’s delivery of their hellchild Leviathan (both birthed August 31, 2004), supported by Kerry King and UK heavies Malevolence at the accesso ShoWare Centre on Saturday night.
Finally gaining traction across the pond, Malevolence jump started the audience with a toothsome feast of tracks pulled mostly from their 2022 release, Malicious Intent. A proper primer for what was to come.
Reputation aside, Kerry King and his supergroup absolutely crushed any longing for the Slayer days of gore with a murderous set administered by co-conspirators Phil Demmel (guitar), Kyle Sanders (base), Paul Bostaph (drums) and vocalist Mark Osegueda, each metal gods in their own right. The absolute domination they displayed darkened the corners of everyone’s rooms this night. Drawing largely from the recently released From Hell I Rise, King charged through singles “Residue”, “Toxic”, “Trophies of the Tyrant”, and closed with the title track. Not to disappoint the purists, a sprinkling of Slayer tunes did find their way into the setlist.
From thrash royalty to resolute murky sludge, Mastodon transformed the room into their own hunt for a white whale, erecting huge screens and running headbangers through a sonic and fully immersive visual experience worthy of Leviathan. While it was a change of pace, the impeccable musicianship of Troy Sanders (bass/vocals), Brent Hinds (lead guitar, vocals), Bill Kelliher (guitar, backing vocals), and Brann Dailor (drums/vocals) swallowed everyone present, spitting them out the other side, whole and triumphant. Not to leave anyone wanting, they closed out the 13-song set with the epic “Steambreather”.
If that wasn’t’ enough, Lamb of God was in the wings ready to charge the stage. With such a devastating lineup it seemed unreal that there was still a whole album to crush, but Randy Blythe (vocalist), Mark Morton (guitar), Willie Adler (guitar), John Campbell (bass), and Art Cruz (drums) did more than that. They demonstrated that when it comes to heavy metal, they are, and were 20 years ago, ahead of the game and have since become the overlords of their genre. Cover to cover, Ashes of the Wake carved out new scars in minds and flesh, the band’s energy permeating the saturating, everyday noise, making it easier to “Walk With [LOG] in Hell” and accept their “Redneck” invitation to just exist in the moment.
The Ashes of Leviathan tour will continue through the end of the month melting faces and unapologetically aurally ambushing audiences across North America. It will be impossible to duplicate this lineup and this experience, so when on your deathbed, instead of saying “I stayed home” get your ass to a show so you can say “I fucking lived to tell of that night…”