All That Remains 4/16/14

Before I begin this concert review, I want to bring you back to a memory of my career which I hold dear in my heart. The recent shut down of Manhattan’s Roseland Ballroom allowed me to reminisce of the past. The first time I saw all that remains was on the Dethklok 2012 tour with Machine Head and The Black Dahlia Murder. This show was amazing. Not only that, but this was the same time A.T.R released their current album “A War You Cannot Win”. This show was going to be fantastic bottom line. My brothers in Sussex county, a band called Seas of  Wake, opened the show with a massive audience. Being their reputation precedes them (opening up Mayhem festival, Whitechapel/Job for a Cowboy, Summer Slaughter in Philadelphia, Animals as Leaders, Born of Osiris and The Contortionist with Unearth just to name a few), Seas of wake brought a five song set-list to roughly 400 audience members who couldn’t stop chanting or rocking out. Shaun Mason, the bands vocalist, is a monster on stage. The man is already stocky enough to begin with, but his ability to raise his arms high as he hits high pitches or growls makes photography a pain. However, due to impeccable lighting and his intense ability to interact with the crowd and his band-mates, his best shots were of himself interacting with his band-mates. Every band member had amazing photos. I myself was surprised, since I am always shooting in New York City. I need to get out more often, no really its true. The range in intensity of the music, to Shaun’s varied actions on and off the stage made this “LOCAL” band one hell of an experience. He even came into the photo pit and started singing with fans over the barricade. Seeing them live is never enough on a small stage. The true experience is in the bigger venues. Only so many local bands get my seal of approval, this band has it without a doubt. Photos below. Their set-list is as follows:

1. Welcome the Blistering
2. End of Continuance
3. Dream Dweller
4. Lucid Fragments
5. Dying of Humanity

Michigan’s own Wilson was up next. Capping the beginning of the initial tour package, I was very eager to see this band perform. Thanks to the reputation this band has had from reading the news and listening to other fans and photographers comment, I had to witness it myself. I was not disappointed. The lighting was the same for Seas of wake so I knew this would be simple. Photogenic and entertaining as all hell, Michigan has been pouring out amazing bands. If you don’t know, I.E BATTLECROSS. While different genres of music, the caliber of potential coming out of that state is remarkable. Wilson is a blast live. I will be seeing this damn band again and you should totally check out their album Full blast f**kery when you get the chance. There was no set-list for this set but check out the photos below.

Darkest Hour was up next. The Sumerian records group is horrendous to shoot due to the lighting they have. I have shot this band twice and I dub them the “literal” Darkest Hour because of the past experiences. How wrong was I this time around. Cotton candy colors (red, yellow and blue) with rare instances of white and a ton of strobes. The 10 song set-list was awesome. John Henry, the bands vocalist however, was my most challenging subject of the night. When the light was perfect, he was moving and doing nothing special. When the light was harsh and unkind to my camera, he was pulling out all the stops. Jaw-dropping, virulent, the 18 year history of this band has talent that supersedes the test of time and STILL continues to do so with their mosh-pits and crowd roars. Seven albums in with an eighth due by Sumerian in 2014, this night proved that Darkest Hour held down the fort and continues to show the metal community that business is still open to an ass-kicking. With songs spanning albums like The human romance, Deliver us (produced, mixed and engineered by the amazing Devin Townsend), and Undoing ruin, you can tell the diversity has a stranglehold on the shows they put on display. Check the photos below with their set-list is as follows:

1. Doomsayer (The Beginning of the End)
2. Savor the Kill
3. A Paradox With Flies
4. The Rapture in Exile
5. Love as a Weapon
6. Misery
7. Violent by Nature
8. Convalescence
9. Demon(s)
10. With a Thousand Words to Say but One

The moment everyone was waiting for finally came true. With a near 30 minute early start, All that remains delivered right out the gate. Lets rewind a bit before they actually went on stage. I printed out a photo of lead singer Phil LaBonte from the Roseland show over two years ago. Thanks to social media, he recognized the photo and was honored to autograph it as I met him inside the venue before the festivities started. This is my second time meeting Phil and both times he has been a stand-up gentlemen to me. I had an issue with the venue prior to the show, where I was only allowed to shoot the opening act. If it wasn’t for Phil’s generosity and the tour managers approval, I would of never got to be able to do this review or take the photos I did. Also, if it wasn’t for the printed photo I had to be autographed, he would of never knew my potential as a photographer and probably would of said no due to the currents grounds I was placed in. Nevertheless, I was humbly grateful for his decision and I damn sure made it count. The Razor & tie record label group had incredible lighting. It was a smooth process to which I took the time out to enjoy myself head banging and singing in the photo pit. Playing songs off their current album like stand up, asking too much, and down through the ages. But, I waited impatiently for them to play what if I was nothing?. I watched the band play this song at the side of the stage and seeing fans singing their heads off and screaming the lyrics. Lighters were lit, horns were raised, volume was increased to a catastrophic level. The euphoria of singing a song that truly hits you, right in the pit of your soul, can easily cap off whatever negative emotions you have had prior. I know it did for me. The moments worth living and experiencing at concerts. The show went without a hitch, without a flaw. Check out the set-list below:

1. The Air That I Breathe
2. Stand Up
3. Now Let Them Tremble
4. For We Are Many
5. Forever in Your Hands
6. Some of the People, All of the Time
7. What If I Was Nothing?
8. Asking Too Much
9. Six
10. Down Through the Ages
11. This Darkened Heart
12. Hold On
13. The Last Time
14. This Calling
15. Two Weeks
I hope you encounter this band one day. I hope you encounter all these bands one day. The levels of professionalism and humbleness for the art and people are nothing short of extraordinary. The show was another favorite to the ones I have encountered this year. 2014 is very, very good indeed. Check out all the photos below and I will catch you all on the flip side.

—Derek Soto—

Here is the photo I got autographed with some new guitar picks for my collection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Flickr Gallery CLICK HERE!

Seas of Wake Gallery

Wilson Photo Gallery

Darkest Hour Gallery

All That Remains Gallery