Zakk Wylde and his mighty Black Label Society bring a night of head-bangin’ and guitar twangin’ to the metalheads of the Motor City.
It has been two years since the Detroit chapter has had a visit from its international mother chapter, Black Label Society. They return to celebrate their 20 year anniversary with a Metropolitan stop of their Doom Trooping Across North America tour. BLS has arrived at a packed house that proudly displays a “sold-out “status at the box office. Metalheads from across the big mitten have traveled far and near to spend this long-awaited evening with their society brothers and sisters in one of Detroit’s most iconic venues, The Fillmore.
9:15 PM has arrived, and the instantly identifiable intro to the Black Sabbath classic “War Pigs“ begins to pour through the sound system of The Fillmore. The Black Label Society tapestry is backlit and glows with a purple hue as the “War Pigs“ intro is mashed into Led Zeppelin‘s “Whole Lotta Love.“ The mix swaps back-and-forth between the classics, but it’s cut short with an unexpected interruption… the intro to Black label Society’s “Bleed for Me.“ The tapestry is dropped to the floor revealing all four members of BLS, ripping into the first jam of a very long night. Zakk Wylde, leader of the international mother chapter, stands tall on his center stage riser, wearing his warrior kilt, and wielding his mighty axe in a manner much like that of Braveheart. He begins grinding out his famous pinch harmonics while flipping that metal-headed mane of Medusa left and right to roaring applause of a packed house.
This stage is set to those iconic stadium concerts of the 80s and 90s. You remember those… the ones that included walls and walls of amplifiers. Black Label Society has brought twenty-eight 4 x 12 speaker cabinets stacked behind the band, and immediately evident by the booming low end penetrating the souls of the main floor. The first tune comes to an end with a bonus Zakk-attack outro solo, before he lifts his axe high above his head as an offering to the mighty guitar gods. Next up is “Demise of Sanity,” followed by a guitar change (to Zakk’s hybrid flying SG-V,) and then into the funky wah-wah intro of the classic hit “Overlord.” Bassist John (JD) DeServio steps forward to deliver a thundering bass-a-riffic intro to “Heart of Darkness,” while he gives the crowd a dose of the meanest bass face mugs in metal. It should be noted that BLS’s current rhythm section of the Servio and drummer extraordinaire Jeff Fabb, are tight, in the pocket and can spank a thunder groove the way it was meant to happen. Fabb’s heavy kickdrum feet pound harder than a 15-year-old’s heart in his first mosh pit. The nylon string intro to “A Love Unreal” rolls next, and Wylde is onto his fourth signature model guitar. “The Blessed Hellride” is received well by the crowd while Zakk pounds out the notes on his double-neck orange bull’s-eye axe.
The show takes a turn when the lineup changes, and we now see Wylde behind the piano for “Spoke in the Wheel.” Guitarist Dario Lorina steps into the spotlight and rips a powerful and emotional guitar solo that has Zakk smiling behind the keys. Zakk then humbly points to the sky as he begins “In This River,” paying homage to the late Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell of the legendary metal band Pantera. Lorina again takes center stage with another moving solo, showing he too is a master of his craft. “Trampled Down Below” and “Destruction Overdrive” are up next followed by the brand new track “Set You Free,” from the band’s upcoming album Doom Crew Inc. which is due to be released just after Thanksgiving, on November 26. This new track is received well by an electrified audience, banging heads to the tune’s catchy hook. Zakk and Dario trade solos, melting fretboards as the tune comes to a close.
ZW takes to the mic and shouts out “Let’s fire this motherf***er up!” A blasted fog tower is shot into the air, and BLS launches into “Fire It Up.” A few Easter egg surprises happen next, and you must go see this show in person to be entitled to these awesome secrets. But I assure you, they’re well worth the price of admission, visually spectacular and entertaining the way rock ‘n’ roll is meant to be. BLS ends the night with “Suicide Messiah,” and an extended play, smoking version of the classic “Stillborn.”
Black Label Society comes as a highly recommended and energetic concert experience that will recharge your love for live metal and leave those eardrums burning with memories that only BLS (and twenty-eight 4 x 12 speaker cabinets) can give. Get out there and catch them on the Doom Trooping Across America Tour, and mark those calendars for the release of their new album Doom Crew Inc. on November 26. Check the band’s official website for appearance dates, details, and current news.
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