Sometimes we need to admit to having our opinions change. I see no shame in it, but it happens not too often that a band I once shrugged off comes around and changes my opinion. Such was the case of Wovenwar: I was a fan of As I Lay Dying, and as that whole fiasco went down with the band, Wovenwar just didn’t seem like it was directed at me and the way my musical taste was going at the time. Things can always change, obviously, and there definitely is a thing called a “second chance” in this world, so it suffices to say that Wovenwar has come around and changed my view of them while on the Fury Tour.
Let me just clarify about my day leading up to this point: I made the mistake of not requesting off of work in hopes of getting a few extra hours in. The resulting day was, essentially, me running around doing several things in the workplace in multiple different departments and having to catch a train right after my shift. The resulting train ride was not made any easier considering how packed it was, in which the overcrowded train tried to unpack itself at Newark Penn Station, which left this little girl singing nursery rhymes staring right at me in the most haunting of ways like out of a bad nightmare. Finally getting off the train and making my way to Gramercy Theater, I was almost immediately stopped by a man on the street for the fifth time in the past few months as he tried to sell me his mixtape, asking where my “girlfriends” were. The icing on the cake was getting to Gramercy and finding out the start time the venue gave for me was wrong and that Wovenwar was just going on as I was checking in. Just perfect.
As I bolted into the venue like a bull in a china shop, ripping my camera out of its case and managing to somehow be organized enough to get right to work, I was quickly comparing the band’s performance to when I had seen them last opening for Periphery. Despite being down a guitarist, the band’s sound was undoubtedly better, tighter, and more lively than it had been before. Perhaps a part of me was enjoying this more immediately because I was lacking an annoying concert-goer from screaming in my ear like the last time, but even then having the band in a smaller environment than Irving Plaza and being right in the thick of the band’s electrifying performance was just enough to make a stronger impression this time around.
One of the biggest draws to the band’s performance was that vocalist Shane Blay was now leaving all guitar duties to Nick Hipa. This, in turn, allowed Blay more movement on stage and interaction with the crowd, all the while helping make the performance more dynamic overall. That didn’t stop Hipa or bassist Josh Gilbert from moving around and taking sections of the stage for themselves, though. Even with backing vocal duties and wild lead guitar parts respectively, the entire band had more room to move freely and be more commanding in their presence.
The set itself seemed to rely heavily on newer material with a song or two from the band’s self-titled debut making an appearance. The songs from Honor Is Dead were ultimately heavier and leaning more on the more extreme aspects of metal, being complimented by the heavier songs from the debut included. Across a brief, seven song set, Wovenwar made a sizable impact on the night, and made it clear that my rough day prior was going to be made up for by one hell of a night.
Immediately it was obvious that across the three remaining bands (Apologies for missing out on Darkness Divided) were going to be backlining several aspects of their live rig in order to make traveling and setting up much easier. For Battlecross, Michigan’s thrashy, melo death inspired outfit, the band was quick to set up and be on stage for some pre-set banter thanks to vocalist Kyle Gunther. While ultimately funny and delivering a few laughs, the band saw that it was their scheduled time to start and got right to work. Last I had seen Battlecross was on their run on Mayhem Fest some years back, and they ultimately impressed with not only their songwriting but the technicality and cleanliness they incorporated as well.
Like fine wine, Battlecross’ set was improvd upon what they delivered in 2013. More jaw-dropping bass solos, more break-neck guitar solo trade offs, and more hellacious vocal deliveries by Gunther. In a genre where vocals usually end up sitting secondary to impressive instrumentalists, Gunther is only getting better with time and building off a strong vocal foundation. Battlecross, as a whole, seems to be doing a lot right, and given how favorable the crowd was to their performance, they’re going to be moving upward in the future.
Everyone knows about Unearth in the metal community. They’ve been a hard-hitting act that delivers quality music and, apparently up until seeing them, always went 110% live. I’ve enjoyed some Unearth over the years, but somehow I had completely missed them at the 2011 Mayhem Fest. (Apparently I’ve seen a lot of bands there…) I immediately regret that, seeing as Unearth proved to deliver on everyone’s hype. Out of the bands performing, Unearth brought the most energy, often having all four of its members not confined to a drum kit doing something on stage to catch your attention.
From synchronized headbanging to all-around chaos with a passing breakdown, Unearth were showing what a veteran metalcore act can look and sound like. Vocalist Trevor Philips at one point jumped to the barrier and got in the crowd’s face for the opening track. The high octane energy continued throughout their set, right up until the band concluded their stage time in a dynamic, heavy fashioned. Unearth are still thriving while many of the metalcore acts from their age are faltering, and it’s clear why: Unearth bring everything they’ve got to every show.
Thus making way for the headlining Soilwork, the addition of the keyboards was all that was needed to transition, seeing as they were using Wovenwar’s kit. (Along with Unearth) As I noted back in April, Soilwork received such a reception that a headlining tour seemed likely in the near future. Lo and behold, here we were, with the band assuming the duty. Much new can’t be said for Soilwork, aside from some fan-favorites thrown in that couldn’t be featured on the run with Fear Factory. Songs like “Follow the Hollow” were an excellent addition, while mainstays like “Stabbing the Drama” were refreshing to hear. It’s just a proven fact that Soilwork know how to give a show and do a good job at it, too.
At the end of the night, it seemed to be a relief that my entire day had turned around with a good show all around. Had Wovenwar not delivered earlier on and not changed my opinion of them altogether, perhaps I would’ve been in a different mentality the entire night. Things had started out on the wrong foot for the entire day, but in the end it just goes to show that some good music can fix anything.
