Scarz Within started the evening off and they received a lukewarm reception. Anita Ibanez's vocals was not a good match for the music. She also appeared as if she did not know what to do with herself between song verses. The rest of the band was not too bad, but I can listen to so much of people trying to emulate Dimebag before it starts to get old. In the end I could not wait for Scarz Within to finish their set, they are not a thrash metal band and never should have been a part of this bill.
The Day of the Beast was up next and they did not disappoint the crowd as they went through several songs from their first CD. These guys are definitely worth a listen.
At War is a band that I have never heard of, despite them being around since 1983. I am almost embarrassed by the fact I have been listening to metal for over 30 years and had never heard of them. As they were setting up we noticed the huge drum kit used by Dave Stone. It took up most of the stage and did not leave much room for the rest of the band. Most of the audience was familiar with them as they went through their set which included their classic songs "Eat Lead" and "Semper Fi". Listening to them makes me wish I had heard of them long ago.
Warbringer is the band I actually came to see, and although I had read various comments about them, I wanted to judge for myself. The place went nuts once John Kevill started singing the first notes, John Laux, Adam Carroll and Ben Bennett bounced from place to place onstage and they enjoyed being less than three feet from the crowd. Headbanging, moshing and jumping off speaker cabinets went into overdrive as they played a nice mix of songs from their two CD's. If you want to see a band that embodies what thrash metal is, see Warbringer!!
I have heard of Exodus and listened to a couple of songs from their various albums/CD's, but I never heard enough of them to want to get a CD. This show would give me the opportunity to see and hear them live. While the music was fine, Rob Dukes spent a fair amount of time complaining about the crowd response as opposed to their show the previous evening at the JAXX in Springfield with Kreator (I would have loved to see Kreator but I couldn't make the show). After Warbringer I don't think the crowd had too much left for Exodus. They went through both old and new material and threw in "Bonded by Blood" and "War Is My Shepard". And while Exodus put on a good show, I think Warbringer kicked their butts!
Peppermint Beach Club @
- Virginia Beach @
, VA @
- 05/18/2009 @
Favorite moment: Warbringer's performance was insane, they were everywhere!! @
Opening act(s): Scarz Within, The Day of the Beast, and At War @