Concert Reviews

GWAR’S “Black Death Rager World Tour”

Published

3 years ago

September 23, 2022

Jason Sealand

BRINGING HEAVY METAL AND INTERGALACTIC DOMINATION TO THE BURGH’

GWAR WITH CROBOT AND NEKROGOBLIKON

@MR. SMALLS – PITTSBURGH, PA -SEPTEMBER 16th, 2022

Photos and Review by Jason Sealand

How does one prepare themselves for an Intergalactic Invasion of apocalyptic proportions that spews bodily fluids and killer heavy metal riffs? That was the question of the night as I walked around the crowd at Mr. Smalls. Fans of new and old, piled in while giving up their best GWAR stories of shows from the past. Some HAB’S were more prepared than others. I myself have been to a few heavy metal invasions from our intergalactic overlords… I first jumped in the pit around 1997 at The Agora Ballroom in Cleveland. Halloween show if my memory serves correct. It’s been a while though and I wanted to see what the new album, The New Dark Ages was about and the line up of bands had me stoked as well. Let’s just say this assignment did not disappoint!

The night started for me as Crobot took the stage and laid out some uncompromising riff laden high energy rock and roll. The crowd seemed pleased, and I can attest, this is a band you do not want to miss live. Their newest album FEEL THIS released in June is some of their best offerings yet.

After a quick set change, I got the feeling that the next band Nekrogoblikon had landed and brought some fans in tow for support of their latest album, The Fundamental Slimes and Humours, released April 22’. The stage was surrounded, and the buzz was heavy. When the first chords were struck and John Goblikon hit the stage and laid out his best Jesus Christ pose adorned in his Sunday’s best white dress shirt and chinos, the crowd went insane. My second time catching this melodic death metal 6 piece. Yes, 6 guys on the stage at the same time at Mr. Smalls. It is indeed possible and Nekrogoblikon pulled it off and took it to the next level. Some highlights from their set were “Bones” and “The Magic Spider”. It’s been a few months since my ears have been so joyfully pummeled into submission and I feared that GWAR had nowhere to go after this set. But Nekrogoblikon did what they came to do, and the night was not over yet…

The crowd without a doubt needed a break after this set and as soon as it did you could feel the anticipation build for what was to come. I mean, it’s one thing to hear GWAR’s music on a record. It’s another thing entirely to see them live and experience the guts, blood, gore, and good times that is had. I myself wasn’t sure on how they would start out. The venue was covered in black plastic and fans adorned in white t-shirts and goggles. I was just hoping they would give me and my camera a break and give me the first song to get some shots in before I fell victim to the slaughter.

This was not the case, as a GWAR “fan” that came on stage spewing his hatred for the new version of the band saying they aren’t as good as they used to be. The lead singer, Blöthar the Berserker, faced the “fan” with a giant sword in hand. With one foul swoop, the annoying character was beheaded, and fake blood gushed all over the front row including myself. The band fired up the sonic wave of destruction and laid into their first song of the night, titled “The Cutter” off their new album The New Dark Ages.

I retreated and escaped most of the blood bath and tried to regroup and find a better perch to shoot the band from. I just didn’t know a few minutes later I would be on the side stage almost at arms distance from one of the greatest metal bands in existence.

This 17-song set was most impressive and had a good mix of new and old. The Intergalactic Overloads of Gwar landed in the Burgh’ and slayed most righteously as they enslaved the lot of us with their heavy metal riffage and gore. I’m blown away by how they circled back the ships and landed with such a great album. Check it out here: The New Dark Ages and companion graphic novel “GWAR In The Duoverse of Absurdity”, in which the band are sucked off into an alternate universe to do battle with their evil twins and the specter of rogue technology. while you’re at it check out their documentary This is GWAR .

Signing out from GWAR’s “Black Death Rager World Tour” in the Burgh. Until next time keep it Heavy and stay Metal! \m/

GWAR SETLIST:

THE CUTTER 22′
THE ISSUE OF TISSUE (SPACECAKE) 94′
BRING BACK THE BOMB 04′
NEW DARK AGE 22′
MOTHER FUCKING LIAR 22′
RISE AGAIN 22′
BORED TO DEATH 22′
SADDAM A GO GO 94′
RATCATCHER 22′
WOMB WITH A VIEW 04′
BLACK AND HUGE 88′
VENOM OF THE PLATYPUS 22′
BERSERKER MODE 22′
U AINT SHIT 88′
NONE BUT THE BRAVE 95′
SICK OF YOU 90′
FUCK THIS PLACE 17′

About Author

Jason Sealand

Jason is one of the newest talents that has joined forces with Empire Extreme. Not only is he a skillful photographer and journalist, he is owner and founder of Mad Viking Beard and Mustache Company and Brewtality Coffee Co. www.madvikingbeard.com

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Concert Reviews

DARK WINTER TOUR:BALTIMORE SHOW REVIEW

Published

1 month ago

January 26, 2026

Ron

LORD OF THE LOST AND WEDNESDAY 13 CAME INTO BALTIMORE MARYLAND OR AS LORD OF THE LOST SINGER CHRIS HARMS CALLED IT BALTIMOST..

WEDNESDAY 13 opened and had a killer set. It’s tough when you have such a great spanning career to choose which songs to play, but Wednesday nailed it. From new to old, the band played a ton of great songs and got the crowd hyped and ready for a night of kick-ass music. When between band breaks,outside, I was outside and a guy who has never seen Wednesday 13 before was like “I’ve never seen an opening band, with so much energy and having the crowd pumped up like that before”. We got to see Wednesday throw out some plastic spiders from a Halloween pail,say… and this time his umbrella didn’t break when he performed “I Love to Say..Fuck”.

Lord of the Lost came to Baltimore last year and was super amazing and such a great show that I was excited to see them again. They did have a member of the band missing; their bassist was taking time away from the band to focus on his own mental health, which I applaud because in a world of music and entertainment we lose too many people who are afraid or ashamed to work on their mental health. This was the first day of the tour, and not knowing what song was gonna be played was kinda thrilling, but I knew that at one point that Wednesday 13 would come back on stage and play “I Hate People” which is the latest single from Lord of the Lost. The band sounded amazing, and I loved their cover of “She’s Got the Look.”

Overall this was a great day for music and such a great show. Go out and check it when they come to your city and just enjoy seeing live music.

About Author

Ron

Ron has keen eye for new talent, a love for the underground, and a tremendous passion for music of any genera. You’ll probably bump into him at a horror convention or some seedy club checking out the next need-to-know band.

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Concert Reviews

Let’s go back to 2000’s Ozzfest with Darkest Hour, Bleeding Through and God Forbid.

Published

3 months ago

December 19, 2025

Ron

DC’s Hometown Hero’s Darkest Hour came to the Filmore in silver spring Maryland to celebrate 30 years and not only did they kick some ass the made us go back in time to a killer lineup of bands.

God Forbid celebrating the anniversary of “Constitution of Treason” opened up the show and got the crowd rowdy. It’s been years since I’ve seen God Forbid but I remember all those tours and ozzfests when they played and always kicked so much ass. The band still sounds great and singer Byron Davis still looks and sounds amazing. We got to hear songs like “The End of the world” “The lonely dead” and “under this flag”.

Bleeding Through was next up and they were celebrating the anniversary of “The Truth” and throwing a few extra songs from previous albums and new material. Brandan still puts on a hell of a show and always finds a way to hurt himself at shows I’ve seen him perform. In Pittsburgh years ago he stepped on a water bottle and fucked up his ankle and 2 seconds into this show he almost fell straight off the stage. But that didn’t stop him from getting off the stage jumping in the crowd and killing such a great set. Then you add bad ass keyboardist Marta to the mix and this is why I’ve always loved this band. We got to hear songs like “Love in slow motion” , “Line in the sand” and “Love lost in a hail of gunfire “ the crowd went crazy.

It’s been years since I’ve seen Darkest Hour too, I always remember those tours and seeing them with so many kick ass bands, it’s crazy to think they they have been together for 30 years and still bring it to the stage. I loved the energy and fun the band has on stage, loved the intro from a guy in a tux and also loved that the fans were engaged the whole set. I got to hear some great tunes like “The Sadist Nation”, “ Sound the surrender” and “Knife in a safe room”.

This small 3 date tour was great and put me back into the days when I was younger and listened to some great metal.

About Author

Ron

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Concert Reviews

All Time Low: EVERYBODYS TALKING TOUR

Published

3 months ago

November 30, 2025

Kylie Thomas

The appropriately named “Everybody’s Talking” tour from All Time Low featuring Mayday Parade, Four Year Strong, and The Paradox was one of true pop-punk nostalgia. The stop over at UPMC Events Center on November 19 was a must for any fan of the year 2005. Being able to see some of the top names in this genre all with a room full of old-school emo kids is a blessing on its own.

Opening the show first was newer band The Paradox, a mix of core pop-punk anger and modern hip hop nuances. Think heavy riffs over more melodic vocals that float over top.

Four Year Strong, a band more on the hardcore side, follows this up with a pit for the ages. It’s a time for moshing to begin as the members take the audience through years of heavy breakdowns. These guys are a throwback for the ones who always went to Warped Tour.

The third opener, Mayday Parade has the power to pull together an entire crowd just by playing their hits “Jersey” and “Jamie All Over.” This band has been around the scene for a long time and there’s no doubt you’ve heard a song or two of theirs on the radio. Their energy is infectious from singer Derek Sanders to guitarist Brooks Betts and all the rest, too.

At the end of the day though, it’s obvious this crowd is here to see all eras of All Time Low come to life. After 22 years together, there are many layers to this band but their set manages to hit on them all. Whether you’re there for the songs from the beginning years like “Time-Bomb” or brand new ones like “SUCKERPUNCH,” you’re bound to hear something you like. One of the best parts of an All Time Low concert though is the party vibe. Alex Gaskarth, Jack Barakat, Zack Merrick, and Rian Dawson all carry an energy that’s similar to walking down Fremont Street in Vegas. It’s all flashy lights, big personalities, and good times. But, don’t be led astray, there are tender moments as well. It all creates a story of love and heartbreak alongside the highs and lows of life.

The “Everybody’s Talking” tour from All Time Low is one that chronicles their history. It’s a show that reminds audiences of their place in pop-punk and a chance for these audience to disappear back to high school again when all that mattered was eyeliner, CDs, and hair dye.