Zakk Wylde brings his Berzerkus Festival to Long Island with guests Lamb of God, Black Label Society, Down, Suicidal Tendencies, Zakk Sabbath, and Dark Chapel.
As summer winds down, Zakk Wylde storms Long Island for the first time with his Berzerkus Festival, bringing a wicked lineup of metal, thrash, and rock. The festival also included a car show, a hot sauce-eating competition among a few hot sauce vendors, and a strongman competition. It was sure to be a killer day on the bay under clear blue skies.
Kicking off the day was Dark Chapel, and they hit the stage wasting no time with their melodic hard rock style as they grabbed the crowd’s attention rather quickly. The band released their debut album, Spirit in the Glass, last year, establishing their identity with killer guitar riffs and melodic hooks rather than relying on speed and aggression.
Frontman Dario Lorina is best known for his work with Black Label Society. The band worked the stage, opening the set with “Afterglow,” which rips right into some fierce guitar work by Lorina. They definitely brought a strong emphasis on songwriting, giving the songs enough weight to connect with the festival crowd.
Dark Chapel may have been the opening band of the day, but they sure as hell brought it with a tight 30-minute set.
Following a great set by Dark Chapel, it was about that time for the ultimate Black Sabbath tribute band Zakk Sabbath, fronted by the legendary Zakk Wylde, to hit the stage. The crowd was more than ready as the band immediately dove into “Children of the Grave” from their third studio album, Master of Reality, which gained full-on sing-alongs from attendees.
The set continued with “Snowblind,” “Orchid,” “Fairies Wear Boots,” and “N.I.B.,” each song receiving a heavier, more aggressive treatment from the band. The setlist was just a taste of the massive Sabbath catalog which was just perfect to bring to the Jones Beach Amphitheater, and the crowd responded accordingly.
Zakk’s unmistakable stage presence and guitar wizardry really brought everything together as they tore through an epic performance with much love and respect to one of the greatest of all time, the late Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath. They closed out their set with “War Pigs,” with the whole place singing the lyrics as Zakk stayed silent was epic in every way. Overall, Zakk Sabbath absolutely crushed it. As they concluded their set, the audience chanted “Ozzy, Ozzy” and the love was certainly felt.
Without a doubt, as the day carried on, the anticipation for the West Coast hardcore punk/crossover legends Suicidal Tendencies tore through Berzerkus Festival as Mike Muir and the fellas wasted no time pushing straight into their classic, “You Can’t Bring Me Down,” from their 1990 release Lights… Camera… Revolution, driving the pit into a frenzy with non-stop crowd surfing.
TFew bands that can turn a large festival stage into something completely out of control, but in the best possible way, as Suicidal has been doing for decades. Cyco Mike brings pure energy to every performance, whether he’s standing on the stage or moving through the crowd, bringing the whole Suicidal experience on a more personal level. The band’s mixture of hardcore aggression, punk attitude, and skate culture still remains distinctive.
The current line-up brings an interesting dynamic with Dillinger Escape Plan’s guitarist Ben Weinman as he brings a very unpredictable level of intensity. He’s constantly moving all over the stage, either climbing stacks and jumping off things or having the crowd hold him upright while he shreds those riffs.
Suicidal Tendencies delivered one of the festival’s most unpredictable and memorable sets with Mike Muir’s legendary stage presence, Weinman’s chaotic guitar work, and Trujillo’s powerful bass playing that left fans buzzing.
As the sun began to set over the bay of Jones Beach amphitheater, Down took to the stage and the atmosphere immediately changed. The band brought their sludge metal assault on in full force as frontman Phil Anselmo worked the crowd, who were amped up. Down opened their set with “Lysergik Funeral Procession,” which established the mood from the get-go, followed by “Blood Oath,” one of the newer songs in their set and a reminder that the band’s classic material isn’t the only thing keeping them relevant.
Then came “Lifer,” and this was when the crowd really began to erupt. The unmistakable weight of the riff had fans moving throughout the venue, while Anselmo commanded the crowd and stage with the intensity that has defined him throughout his career. For the brief 45-minute set that Down had to work with, they took full advantage of every minute as they blasted through an 8-song set that had the pit moving non-stop.
Down closed their set with “Bury Me In Smoke.” What began as a crushing rendition turned into a full-on, all-star jam as they were joined by Kenny Hickey of Type O Negative on guitar and Greyson Nekrutman of Sepultura on drums, which brought an incredible end to the Down set.
It was that time of the evening for the creator of Berzerkus Festival to take the stage for the second time, but this time with the one and only Black Label Society. The crowd was well primed for total destruction by this point. They opened their set with “Funeral Bell,” and it was an instant reminder that Black Label Society doesn’t need any sort of stage production for an impact, as Wylde and Lorina let their guitars do the talking. You could just feel the energy building within the venue.
Zakk’s unmistakable guitar wizardry and style were well pronounced as the band was one hundred percent locked in with that kind of groove that has become the foundation of Black Label Society’s sound. BLS ripped through a massive set that rocked the amphitheater. They had the whole place on their feet.
The songs “Name in Blood” and “Destroy & Conquer” kept the intensity high, with Wylde moving between the crushing riffs. His extended guitar work was captivating, as was the stage lighting, which really helped bring everything together. The songs were delivered with weight and aggression, and the crowd responded accordingly. One of the biggest moments came with “No More Tears,” especially with Wylde’s long history and brotherly bond he had with the late Ozzy Osbourne. During the song, videos of Ozzy were displayed on the backdrop. It was a beautiful tribute to a dear friend.
Black Label Society closed out their set with “Stillborn,” one of their defining songs. Wylde’s unmistakable vocals, pounding drums, and tremendous guitar sound gave a perfect ending to their epic set.
Closing out a killer day at Berzerkus Festival was the one and only Lamb of God. Randy Blythe and the fellas hit that stage with relentless energy, transforming Jones Beach into a massive pit of controlled chaos as they opened with “Ruin,” a vicious track that wasted absolutely no time establishing the mood.
Randy Blythe was everything you’d expect, commanding the stage under low red and green lighting and bringing that dark feel as they busted into “Laid to Rest” and “Now You’ve Got Something to Die For,” instantly turning the performance into some of their most punishing material. Blythe has never been the kind of frontman to simply stand in one place; but rather, his performance style is more physical, confrontational, and unpredictable, as he’s in one spot one minute, then he’s jumping off the drum riser, catching some wicked air the next.
One of the most impressive aspects of their set was how naturally the newer material fits in with the classics. The set then moved into “Blunt Force Blues” from their newest album, Into Oblivion, which is an absolute banger from the first to last track. It’s the perfect example of the band’s ability to balance groove with outright aggression.
Lamb of God’s Berzerkus performance was exactly what a festival closer should be. It was raw, tight, energetic, and lit from start to finish. They grabbed 13 killer cuts from their catalog that had the crowd headbanging and moving the whole time. If you know, you know Lamb Of God is killing it every single time, and being up there amongst the best. They are not to be missed.
LAMB OF GOD
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BLACK LABEL SOCIETY
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SUICIDAL TENDENCIES
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ZAKK SABBATH
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