Headbalisser

The date was April 26, 2012 when after years of waiting, the dream of all Filipino Avenged Sevenfold followers finally came true. And it was every bit of what we dreamt and more.

It was only early in the afternoon but I already saw a few kids in front of Smart Araneta Coliseum, probably in the Patron Standing and Upper Box B section and they wanted to get a better spot for the show. I also saw a few who are pretty much known in the local rock and metal scene such as members of Jejaview, Intolerant, Valley of Chrome and Typecast.

Local band Slapshock opened the show with a few of their hits. Even though I’m not a big fan, I and everyone else should give them credit for being one of the best live bands in the country, they were explosive and an appropriate opener for the 2012 best live band Avenged Sevenfold.

After the Slapshock set everyone started chanting A7X, it was such a great scene. The lights went off and everyone started going nuts as the eerie intro for the song NIGHTMARE started playing in the background. And then the members started showing up one by one and everyone went wilder as the song went fast and heavy.  Everyone was banging their heads off and singing along. Shadows did an amazing job, he was impressive, and his voice gave me goose bumps throughout the night. He was hitting every note perfectly. After Nightmare the band didn’t give the fans time to breathe as the organ intro of CRITICAL ACCLAIM kicked in and, after long years of waiting, I have finally witnessed the two guitarists doing the dual lead section of the song side by side. Zacky the left handed one on the left side and Synyster the right handed one on the right side. And they did this multiple times throughout the show. It was a sight to remember and it sent chills throughout my body. During the chorus you can hear Rev’s vocals in the background; it was a teary moment for A7X fans as we remembered the great fallen one.

After the song Matt then introduced their current touring drummer (soon permanent hopefully) Arin Ilejay the former drummer of Confide who was precise and amazing the whole show, The Rev would be proud. He did a short drum solo as the fans cheered for him and then the band jumped in to the song WELCOME TO THE FAMILY and ALMOST EASY. My high school hero Johnny Christ kept on head banging, smiling and pointing to a few people in the crowd, such an amazing performer.

The band then slowed things down with the song BURIED ALIVE which I thought was one of the best parts of the show because during the heavy section of this song Matt took a fan named Nicole on stage and let her sing with them. She hurried up and attack hugged Matt before singing. She did a pretty good job! Everyone cheered for her because of that, people would have booed if she sucked. She was jumping around head banging and singing her lungs off. Before she went down back to the crowd she gave each member a hug. I saw her asking for guitar picks too, who wouldn’t right? I know I would. Same thing happened on the song SO FAR AWAY where Matt took another fan that chose to play the bass. And he was good too! I saw Johnny smiling clapping at the back while the dude was playing. They dedicated this song for The Rev and so we sang along to this with all our hearts.

The band then continued to play heavier songs such as AFTERLIFE and my personal favorite from what they played during that night, BEAST AND THE HARLOT, I was going nuts during that song! They then played a crowd favorite A LITTLE PIECE OF HEAVEN. A big LOL moment when Matt said “Let’s talk about Necrophilia.” and the crowd cheered then he told us “You guys are sick fucks by the way.” Yes Matt, we are sick fucks!

They were supposed to end the show with another crowd favorite BAT COUNTRY. (Of course they were just saying it.) After that song the lights went off again.

The crowd started chanting “WE WANT MORE!” over and over again, me and the rest of the Upper Box A people started stomping our feet on the wooden floor as we demanded for an encore. We made the earth shake! Then they came back for the ballad FICTION and then segued for the best closing song ever, UNHOLY CONFESSIONS. This is where it went on to another level, the pits weren’t just in the Patron section but in the Upper Box A and B as well! It was the best way to end the greatest night of our lives. Matt then promised to come back again and again. Until then, we’ll be waiting.

This was definitely the best concert I’ve been to. I don’t think any band can top what I felt during this show. Matt, Johnny, Zacky, Synyster and Arin did a job well done. They were perfect; they do deserve the title of best live band. A dream came true for the Filipino deathbat army. And if you love Avenged Sevenfold too and you missed this show, then I feel sorry for you. If I didn’t have the money I would have done all sorts of things just to get cash for this show. I would have sold some of my things, help the next door neighbor to clean up their house, feed their dog, cook their food, and babysit their child for a few extra bucks. Dayly Entertainment did a great one this time, I will always remember April 26, 2012 for the rest of my life.

Words : Aaron James Photos : Ed Clinton Go / Yelli Alvarez

After the success of The Blooddrunk tour (they’re not into touring, are they?) Finland’s finest metal maniacs are set to bringing the The Ugly World Tour to the Filipino haters.
In fact these guys just finished their North American tour and made a roundtrip hell back to Europe to nail a few more gigs. Eternal Now, a local progressive metal band will open for them. Get down! Follow the reaper to lake bodom.

Struggling to pass through the cornfield with  a little light coming from the moon, its like a maze but this chase seems no ending. I’m sure that this heinous cult they talk about would eventually abduct me in the field anytime so I could speak to the bringer and offer myself as a sacrificial lamb which by all means should complete his prophecy.

 Haha that is just insane isn’t it? I was just trying to quote on “Children of the Corn” a movie in the early 80′s. But my point is who wouldn’t follow Korn! We have a very awesome gig to look forward to, a band from Bakersfield, CA will travel a thousand miles to play in SEA. We are lucky to score them a date and that deserves a big attention. Korn is one of a few bands from the 90′s that managed to still put up great music, staying strong despite losing a member. David Silveria’s departure did hurt so much that I couldn’t even move from where I am sitting damn it! The event made possible by Ovation productions, lets thank them for that and hate them for a sucky promo for the concert I mean you guys can do better than that thing on top seriously! Lets follow the leader, when they say jump we jump get it?! See yah!

If Not Now, When? I wont talk about their latest cd this is not an album review kinda stuff rather a note to my self. This is going to be the 3rd time for the boys to play a night of megalomaniac hence I still don’t feel like spending to seeing them, not yet. It was in 2004 when these guys first rock’d Manila in support of “A Crow Left of the Murder” Incubus is a great band though I don’t posses even a single copy of their work but I know you would agree. Incubus has balls to prove in every side of their musicality so if its a feast there is always a new dish on your plate but problem is styles don’t make a band, diversity does.

Mark your calendar and light grenades

Lately I’ve been thinking about my childhood days, its making me sick! I should have lived the dream! Dreaming of Deftones rocking out was one of the fondest imaginations of me a dirt-bag dude back in the day. Learned about Deftones when I was 13 the year when nu-metal conquered the airwaves. Chino Moreno’s air gasping voice makes me wanna do every suicide-girl with a knife, drive a convertible car mouth stuffed with freshly baked leaf and a lit cigar  “half naked” drown my miseries into a sea of blood but no sharks okay!…Got carried away busy updating my facebook status about this concert well I’m so freaking excited finally  the long wait is almost over! Everyone…. shove it!!!

Kicking the 2010 “Into The Mouth of Hell We Tour” but that title eventually changed to “My Heavy Metal Valentines” when they landed in Manila. What a transition right? Hey that didn’t turn out to be a huge buffet party for couples, its a straight up date for metal minions in your honor! The audience salivated in hunger for destruction at the latter part of the first set, we were just so psyched to see the band that we almost forgot that we were in the core but after that monster pull a knife out because we had killed it! That night serves as a welcome platform for the band’s official new drummer Nick Augusto and all got hit by a novice  track Shattering the skies above which I filmed for your viewing pleasure.

So Trivium is the cover of Dec-Jan issue of PULP magazine, I got my eyes laid on it just recently on the internet because its terribly hard to get yourself a copy of this magazine, they’re like pancakes you know! Still reading? Cheers! well I wont say much you might miss the score. Finally these lads will be now for sure invade the not so slum society of Filipino Metalheads but atleast we’re blood by blood family. Dont forget to mark the date or else miss it remember they supposed to play in August of 2007 (speculation) but it was not pushed through since we lost the slot to Japan grrr. I want to thank Karen of PULP for escalating the link on my Facebook. Tickets are now available, selling like pancakes too.