Metal Anarchy

Yesterday (August 26), I got a chance to see Pantera, Lamb Of God, and Spirit In The Room live at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre in Chula Vista, CA and it was an amazing show on all fronts.

The night kicked off with a performance from Spirit In The Room. The band put on a trance-inducing show full of catchy tunes that helped prepare everyone up for the night ahead. Some highlights from their set included: “I’m in Your Headlights” and “The Future Is Immediate.”

After Spirit In The Room, Lamb Of God took the stage for a pummeling performance. The group’s set began with “Memento Mori” before they broke into “Walk With Me in Hell” much to the delight of the crowd. Frontman Randy Blythe was especially on point with his harsh vocals commanding the crowd as he engaged in high flying jumps and humorous stage banter while his bandmates displayed nothing short of top-tier musicianship. Some highlights from their set included: “Now You’ve Got Something To Die For,” “Laid To Rest,” and “Redneck.”

As soon as Lamb Of God wrapped up, it was time for the headliners of the evening, Pantera! The new lineup, vocalist Phil Anselmo, bassist Rex Brown, guitarist Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society, Ozzy Osbourne), and drummer Charlie Benante (Anthrax), were firing on all cylinders as they rocked classic songs spanning the band’s catalog. Wylde and Benante were especially impressive, paying tribute to the late “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott and Vinnie Paul Abbott by honoring their work to the best of their abilities. Anselmo and Brown also played their parts flawlessly, as Anselmo continuously expressed gratitude to those in attendance. It’s obvious that there are a lot feelings surrounding the band’s return, but it’s worth noting that they did their best to pay respect to the Abbott brothers while giving younger fans a chance to experience these iconic songs live for the first time. Some highlights from their set included: “I’m Broken,” “5 Minutes Alone,” “Fucking Hostile,” “Walk” (featuring Anthrax’s Scott Ian and members of Lamb Of God), and “Cowboys From Hell.”