Enslaved

First off, the Bowery Ballroom is the perfect place for these kinds of events because they don't have that hard-ending time tht many venues now have. And have had for a long time, like Hammerstein or Roseland. You just feel underage when you go out of a Metal show at 10:30. I didn't get why Pallbearer and Royal Thunder played such short sets, but the truth was revealed after 2 and a half hours of Enslaved just ripping thru a lot of repertoire. Lots of new songs, but classic just as well. You had to be a fan to withstand the onslaught.

Enslaved kicked off their US tour in Philly and it was every bit as good as the last time. Because of their song length, the headlining set only ended up being about 8 songs, but they still managed to throw in some unexpected cuts, including a song from 1992 (which was chock full of as many great riffs as their newer stuff). Great time, will definitely always catch them when they come through.

I used to listen to Enslaved in the mid-90s and back then they were one of my all-time favourite bands. I have amazing memories of the last time I saw them in concert in 1995 in Montreal. Which is why I am so disapointed with the way they have turned out more than 15 years later. I understand they changed their musical direction in the late 90s and went for a slower, more melodic style, and I can't say that the music is bad per se. However, this style just doesn't work in a live environment because there is just isn't enough intensity and energy to stimulate a metal crowd. Also, the constant guitar-hero posing on stage and the bad jokes between songs really has to stop.

Alcest was fantastic, and Enslaved was amazing! My hearing will never be the same.

Enslaved was amazing and are great entertainers. Alcest was really good too. Biggest surprise was Junius! They were effing spectacular. Bummed that Ghost had to cancel but discovered a great band.