All That Remains have been on the road celebrating the 15th anniversary of their seminal album ‘The Fall Of Ideals’, bringing along a plethora of metal talent with them. The band made a stop in the Queen City at the Neighborhood Theater along with Miss May I, Varials, and Tallah for what promised to be a crazy night of metal madness in Charlotte.
First up for the evening was the metalcore band Tallah, formed by drummer Max Portnoy. Yes, Max is the son of world-acclaimed drummer Mike Portnoy, co-founder of the progressive metal band Dream Theater. Max was not in attendance for this show as he was out on tour with Code Orange and although that was disappointing, it didn’t detract from the stellar performance put in by Tallah. Led by vocalist Justin Bonitz who was all over the stage, jumping and playing to the crowd, Tallah put in one hell of a set.
There’s just something unique about this band with Alize “Mewzen” Rodriguez on the turntables and keyboards and let’s not forget their ‘Talladdin’ EP that has five covers from the ‘Aladdin’ soundtrack. Their latest effort, ‘The Generation of Danger’, is hard-hitting with songs that are blistering. Their live set was off the hook with an undeniable energy that was palpable. Tallah is definitely going to be a band that I will have on my must see list.
Next up was the Pennsylvania metalcore band Varials. With a hardcore punk edge to them, the band hit the stage at warp speed, awash in deep, blue light. Lead vocalist Mitchell Rogers was front and center hands in the air to salute the fans. Musically, they were tight, the riffs were heavy and the breakdowns were ballistic. With their third studio album due out soon, the promise of new music was in the air but we did get to hear their latest ‘The Cycle of Violence‘ and it is a banger for sure. This was the first time I had seen Varials live and I’m certain it won’t be the last.
If you’ve ever been to Vans Warped Tour, then you’re probably very familiar with the metalcore madness that is Miss May I. Since their 2009 debut studio album ‘Apologies Are For The Weak,’ Miss May I has been tearing up the metal scene. The guitars of B.J. Stead and Justin Aufdemkampe are non-stop while bassist Ryan Neff and drummer Jerod Boyd bring the thunder. Vocalist Levi Benton is in a class by himself, both vocally and stylistically. He is a consummate showman and his interplay with the fans is something that isn’t matched. The stage light was an amazing visual treat with lights that interplayed with the music, sometimes leaving the band visual only as a silhouette.
Miss May I have a lot going on with their newest song ‘Unconquered‘ making serious waves and a European tour on the books for the fall with Bury Tomorrow and August Burns Red. If you haven’t seen Miss May I yet, what are you waiting for?
After a short break, the moment we had been waiting for had finally arrived. The masters of metalcore, All That Remains, were about to light up the Neighborhood Theatre literally and figuratively. Blinding lights flashed on and off from the rear of the stage while the band ripped into their set at a feverish pace. For the tour, they were playing ‘The Fall Of Ideals’ in full but with a twist. They played it from back to front, or in reverse order if you will. It was clear that the audience had fond memories of the album and were appreciative for the opportunity to hear it live in its entirety. It made for a unique experience and brought me back to the whole album-oriented rock era where it was the norm to listen to a full album rather than a stand alone single.
Jason Richardson and Mike Martin were a full on onslaught of guitar madness while Matt Deis on bass and Jason Costa on drums drove the pace. Frontman Phil Labonte was in exceptional form vocally. It was as if we went back in time to 2006 when the album first came out. I think the band was enjoying playing as much as the audience was enjoying seeing and hearing them. It made for a wonderful back and forth between us as All That Remains fed off the energy of the fans all night long making for a one of a kind concert. By the end of it, we were sweaty, sore, and sorry that it was over.
With live shows like that, it’s no wonder that the band has remained a constant force in the metal world for so many years.
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