Even before the first note rang out it was clear this show would be hard to top. The Ashes of Leviathan tour’s fully stacked lineup promised an evening of heavy riffs, screaming vocals, and crushing drums – and it did not disappoint.
Serving as a dual 20th anniversary celebration for both Lamb of God’s Ashes of the Wake and Mastodon’s Leviathan, albums that were released on the exact same day back in 2004, the Ashes of Leviathan tour brought together two of metal’s greatest bands for what could easily be heralded as the metal tour of the year.
Kicking off the show with an impossibly early 5:55PM set time were British metalcore band Malevolence. With a short but energy filled set, the band from Sheffield played to a surprisingly packed house before ceding the stage to possibly the stand-out act of the night, Kerry King.
Metal fans will no doubt be familiar with King from his 40+ year tenure as lead-guitarist of legendary thrash band Slayer. His newly formed solo project, fresh off the release of their first album From Hell I Rise, burst onto the stage with an explosion of sound and energy. Several mosh pits immediately formed across the venue floor as the band riffed through several songs from the release alongside two Slayer classics: “Black Magic” and the ever-popular “Raining Blood” which sent the already active crowd into a frenzy.
After King and co left the stage, Atlanta-based metal giants Mastodon took over the scene. Playing through Leviathan from start to finish, Mastodon’s set was full of pyro, crowd-surfing, and heavy bass riffs, with songs including “Blood and Thunder” and “Iron Tusk.” A concept album based on Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, Leviathan was released to massive acclaim and helped launch the band into the spotlight. With an unchanged lineup for more than 20 years, Mastodon consistently prove themselves as a standout act in the metal scene.
Just before 9:45, Lamb of God took the stage. Launching into their Ashes of the Wake set with “Laid to Rest,” the band unleashed a wall of sound onto the eager crowd. Fans were streaming over the rail like an avalanche as lead singer Randy Blythe stalked the stage with a vengeance. The mosh pits increased in intensity as Lamb of God tore through their set, with pyro quite literally adding fuel to the fire.
Closing out the show with two of their biggest hits: “Redneck” and “Memento Mori,” Lamb of God left the crowd buzzing with energy after one of the best metal shows Houston has seen in recent years.
I'm a Houston-based concert and automotive photographer. I've been a music fan my whole life, and previously was the director for Coog Radio, the University of Houston's student radio station. I listen to a bit of everything, from blues to rock to EDM, but predominantly metal. Some favorites include Slayer, Iron Maiden, and Metallica. When I'm not behind the camera, you can catch me skating, going to car events, and buying too many coffee table books.
