Blind Idiot God

The ride NEVER lets up. It's balls to the wall insane the entire time. Basically this. The POVs make it look like it peters out when it most certainly does not. The thing hauls from start to finish and does not let up AT ALL.

Cryptopsy/Disgorge/Erimha/Soreption/The Convalescence at Ralph's in Worcester. Ralph's is an awesome venue and I was stoked as hell for this show. My friends in Parasitic Extirpation opened and did an awesome job like always (even if Chris was having some technical problems). On the other hand, The Convalescence was unbelievably awful. They DID NOT belong on that bill and absolutely no one liked them. One of the worst bands I've ever seen on a tour package; they were so bad that I left after one song, sat downstairs, and left the building shortly after that because I could still hear them, which wasn't acceptable. Walked to a convenience store to grab a Monster and a candy bar; by the time I came back, they were done and Soreption was setting up. Soreption was tight and their guitarist was ridiculously good, but their vocalist sounded like he was constantly out of breath and carried himself like Robb Flynn circa 1995, which was annoying. Didn't care for Erimha and sat them out; thankfully, the main attractions delivered. Both were ridiculously tight and engaging, and Flo Mounier may actually be one of the best live drummers that I've ever seen. Wasn't a fan of McGachy's vocals, but he had solid stage presence and knew how to work the crowd. All in all, it was a great night.

Disgorge - Manipulation of Faith

Solium Fatalis - Corporeal Form

Symphony X - Domination

The Red Chord - Upper Decker

Arkaik - Womb of Perception

The Black Dahlia Murder - Denounced, Disgraced

I wonder what that's going to look like when that thing has a full train that's been running for a while on a hot day.

Blind Guardian - Sacred Worlds

Misery Index/Lord Dying at the Palladium. The local openers were absolutely horrible, attendance was dismal (<50 people in a fairly large city), and Lord Dying put on a very solid show but had to stop early because their drummer blew out the head of his snare (fist-sized hole, there was no salvaging it) and couldn't borrow one in time. Nonetheless, Misery Index was utterly amazing and played their hearts out to the people who were there. So unbelievably intense and tight, and the setlist was pretty much immaculate save for maybe the absences of Sensory Deprivation and Heirs to Thievery, but the fact that they dug up Ghosts of Catalonia and played the entire Faust suite more than made up for it. My only real issue was that the show had to end, and I hope that they go back to regular touring soon.

Jumpin' jesus on a pogo stick that thing is flying.

Scar Symmetry - Neohuman

Katatonia - My Twin

A Perfect Circle - Magdalena

Origin - Antithesis

Misery Index - Ghosts of Catalonia

Gruesome - Demonized

Immolation - Once Ordained

Nightwing was one of my favorites as a kid. Shame that it was apparently a maintenance nightmare, as I seriously miss the damn thing. I do kinda wonder how comfortable it would have been for my now-6'0", 170lb self, though.

Angra - Waiting Silence

Annihilated - Creation of Man

Continuum - A Surreal Descent

SFNE still has plenty left to do as a whole, but this thing is definitely a huge step forward as far as making it a good park again is concerned.

Forbidden - Adapt or Die