The KillThrax tour

The KillThrax tour made its stop in Houston Monday night at the House of Blues. As if the co-headlined tour couldn’t be any better with Killswitch Engage and Anthrax on the bill, special guests The Devil Wears Prada and openers Code Orange were there as a great mix of metal to make everyone happy.

The night kicked off early at 6:45 pm with Code Orange. I was eager to see this band on a bigger stage and was curious to how the crowd would react. The hardcore pits are something that I would imagine most Anthrax fans are not used it.  But even with going on early there was already a healthy size crowd there in support. With only 25 minutes, they made use of their set. Each song is intense and doesn’t give you much of a break. It’s not happy music, but their intention is just to be as heavy as possible. Unlike their recent headlining show, the pit was free of blood. Fresh off supporting Gojira and joining System of a Down next, 2017 will be massive for Code Orange.

Forever

Kill The Creator

My World

Bleeding in the Blur

The New Reality

I Am King

 Spy

Next up was The Devil Wears Prada. This is the band I knew least about on this bill. I had an idea of what to expect and that was a metalcore sound. They are a very intense live band with singer Mike Hranica barely staying in one spot for more than a few seconds. Being my second time catching this band up close, the one big take away I have again is you feel their performance. Not just their lyrics and music, but physically. They love having the bass and kicks turned up.

Daughter

Sailor’s Prayer

Planet A

Outnumbered

Worldwide

Assistant to the Regional Manager

Dead Throne

To the Key of Evergreen

Mammoth

After a short set change the first headliner, Anthrax, was up. House of Blues was now packed and the Among the Living intro taped started. It only took about a minute until the crowd surfers starting coming over the barrier. It’s hard to believe that a majority of the band are all in their early 50’s, but the age simply doesn’t show. With a simple twist of his finger, guitarist Scott Ian showed he was ready for the crowd to go nuts with “Caught in a Mosh.” Bassist Frank Bello and singer Joey Belladonna rarely stay still and are constantly moved all over the stage the whole night.  The set was a mix of a classics, a few new ones and even a Stormtroopers of Death song thrown in as well. For being around for over thirty-five years, these guys still show no signs of slowing down.

Among the Living

Caught in a Mosh

Madhouse

Fight ‘Em Til You Can’t

I Am the Law

Breathing Lightning

Efilnikufesin (N.F.L.)

Evil Twin

March of the S.O.D. (Stormtroopers of Death cover)

Blood Eagle Wings

Antisocial (Trust cover)

Indians.

Killswitch Engage was a next and tonight’s closer. The curtains opened and the band immediately kicked into “Hate by Design.” It’s an intense opener from their latest album that got the crowd wild right away. I was constantly having to move to avoid being hit by crowd surfers while taking pictures. It only took two songs before one person on the barrier was already bleeding from his forehead, but an open wound did phase the kid and he stayed put. I’ve seen this band with both singers but I believe singer Jesse Leach has finally found his perfect zone. He even joined the crowd on the floor for a song or two. When I returned back to the crowd, the pits were rowdier than any other point in the night. Everyone on stage might as well have been in the pit as well, with every member of the band moving and jumping around. The set covered everything in the band’s nearly twenty-year career.

Hate by Design

Vide Infra

My Last Serenade

A Bid Farewell

No End in Sight

Just Barely Breathing

Alone I Stand

The End of Heartache

Embrace the Journey…Upraised

This Fire

Rose of Sharyn

This is Absolution

Beyond the Flames

My Curse

Strength of the Mind

In Due Time

Holy Diver (Dio cover with Joey Belladonna)