Day Three of Sonic Temple gave festival-goers one million and one causes to smile all through Ohio’s temperate Saturday afternoon. Afternoon cloud cowl provided a short respite from the unforgiving solar, and the temperature hovered round a snug 75°. Idle chat amongst pals and strangers agreed that there might be no higher weekend for Sonic Temple to have made its long-awaited return.
After two full days of heavy music and its associated festivities there was little alternative for downtime. Even because the competition neared its midway level there have been new attendees arriving, campers who had develop into inseparable pals, and numerous new meals and beverage distributors to strive. This ceaseless power was elevated by the official Sonic Temple MC, Jose Mangin, as he repeatedly stoked the gang to screaming whereas he launched bands throughout all three phases. Mangin, of Sirius XM Octane and Liquid Steel fame, arrived at Sonic Temple together with his signature million-dollar smile and acquainted radio-ready voice in tow. His infectious enthusiasm, experience, and pure ardour for all musicians in attendance made him an ideal selection for the in any other case demanding function. Lots of the bands featured at Sonic Temple are additionally Octane and Liquid Steel home bands, which made for a very poignant connection between the MC and the artists as they lastly appeared earlier than the gang. Mangin will take up the microphone once more at Inkcarceration this coming July (an occasion that’s not to be missed).
Because the Saturday crowd filtered via the gates of the Historic Crew Stadium, The Violent and Giovannie & The Employed Weapons kicked issues off on the primary stage. Giovannie & The Employed Weapons could have been billed as a rock and roll nation band, however their set was heavy and electrifying in equal measure. Of all of the devices to make an look at Sonic Temple, the stay efficiency on an enormous tuba was one to recollect, significantly for a rock-oriented crowd. Entrance-man Giovannie Yanez demonstrated completely glorious vocal management, whereas the massive screens caught each energetic cross-stage motion from The Violent’s ever-restless Mike Protich.
The primary band on the Soundwave Stage was Over the Moon. The Staten Island emo and different rock group have been particular visitors at Sonic Temple, as Over the Moon was the band who had battled via the ranks in a nationwide contest for the unique honor to taking part in Sonic Temple. The up-and-comers prevailed and seized the coveted spot over hundreds of different contestants. These vivid and enthusiastic musicians had their title added to the Day Three billing, and shared the Soundwave Stage with the likes of Mothica, Yelawolf, and plenty of others. Day Three required competition with the rabid mass of attendees, however reasonably than going through hundreds of opponents, they have been greeted with hundreds of individuals chanting their title.
“We’re very glad to be right here,” guitarist Lou Adipietro instructed Steel Injection. Adipietro continued, saying “[it was] an incredible expertise taking part in a competition, particularly within the early phases as a band – everybody has been so good, it is simply unimaginable.” Founder and vocalist Nick Mahoney spoke to the chaos and anticipation of taking part in a stage as huge as Sonic Temple, saying “preparation pays off – we ready like nutjobs.” As for essentially the most thrilling a part of the competition, Mahoney says it has “the fan response. We have been taking footage and signing autographs for over an hour [today].” Over the Moon hopes that Sonic Temple is only the start: in lower than two weeks the band begins its subsequent tour as a supporting act for Pink Jumpsuit Equipment.
Rival Sons illuminated the Temple Stage with their delectable hard-rock swagger. It is a band that walks the stroll and talks the discuss relating to being rockstars, from Jay Buchanan’s maroon three-piece swimsuit to Scott Vacation’s curled mustache shaded by a broad-brimmed hat, and with each tune they breathed life into the air. The set was upbeat, the sort of music that makes it unattainable to sit down nonetheless, and our bodies swayed whereas ft tapped all the best way up within the highest reaches of the stands. There may be little extra blissful than to shut one’s eyes, soak within the solar, and let the enjoyment of Rival Sons seep deep into each chamber of the guts. It was a homecoming for current followers and a heat welcome for brand spanking new followers alike.
For these viewers members who have been pining for one thing heavier, each Atilla and From Ashes to New have been out there to scratch that itch. Attila glad the necessity for unforgiving breakdowns whereas From Ashes to New wowed with their fiery dual-vocalist strategy. From Ashes to New has typically been likened to Linkin Park, and as they dominated the Octane Stage, there was that very same spark within the air because the one which all the time accompanied one in every of nu steel’s most heralded acts. The gang grew ever bigger as a mix of harsh and clear vocals from Danny Case and rap vocals from founding member Matt Brandyberry crammed the early night air. Screaming, moshing, cheering, and clapping blended with the electrifying setlist for a pure expression of emotion in music. It was a set as nostalgic because it was recent.
From Ashes to New drummer Mat Madiro additionally had a brief stint with one in every of Day Three’s different heavy names: Trivium. And as all the time, Trivium’s enigmatic frontman Matt Heafy was a present stopping act in and of himself. There are few musicians so proficient as to wield guitar and vocal duties with such obvious ease, and even fewer nonetheless that stay as cellular and engaged as Heafy does. Not often chained to the microphone, and much more not often trying down at his instrument, Heafy gazed out on the crowd and smiled as he sang. Trivium’s newest two albums, “What the Useless Males Say” and “In The Court docket of the Dragon,” each focus extra on clear vocals than a few of Trivium’s mid-career work. To listen to Heafy’s ever-talented vocal evolution on such a formidable sound setup was a deal with to be indulged in. Over the course of forty-five minutes, Trivium left little doubt as to why they’ve dominated the scene for the higher a part of 20 years, and guaranteed that they have been removed from achieved with crafting their legacy.
Because the competition wore on into its third day, there was extra proof than ever that DWP and Historic Crew Stadium have been well-prepared for a competition of this dimension and depth, one other testomony to the continued excellence of one of many world’s premiere heavy music promoters. An abundance of safety employees expertly caught waves of crowdsurfers throughout Falling in Reverse, fastidiously watched the pit all through Varials set, and stored the gang cool through the warmest afternoon but. The medical personnel attended to the weary lots and all variety of illnesses with crimson medical baggage labeled with “ouch pouch” patches. There have been additionally employees devoted solely to serving to misplaced people discover their means, typically discovered carrying useful “Ask Me – I Know Issues” indicators and flags. For households and first-time festivalgoers, there was little extra that would have been achieved to make Sonic Temple a nice expertise.
What would a competition be with out the wacky, the bizarre, and the great? Whereas this might simply apply to the inflatable dinosaurs within the mosh pits, crowdsurfers in unitards, or kilt-clad males providing free hugs, the acts that almost all embodied this precept on Saturday have been Rob Zombie and Puscifer. The now-iconic tune “Dragula” made its look on the finish of Rob Zombie’s main-stage set, however solely after he spent the higher a part of a minute cajoling an viewers member to “share his inflatable penis with the gang,” and one other 5 minutes discussing UFOs and abduction experiences. At almost sixty years previous, Rob Zombie continues to seek out new and creative methods to impress the gang with leisure that extends properly past bodily feats, and with banter that usually attracts chuckles and cheers from the gathered crowd.
Day Three additionally featured Maynard Keenan’s second look at Sonic Temple, this time with Puscifer on the Octane Stage. As followers of Keenan’s completely different tasks know, he turns into a wholly completely different individual when shifting between his artistic endeavors, and the transition from Instrument to Puscifer was no exception. The theatrics and stage persona have been at an analogous stage of depth, however Puscifer is the experimental outlet that allowed Keenan to inform a winding story beneath the load of a swimsuit and slicked-back hair. Entrancing visuals, a story efficiency, and attentiveness to each small gesture made the journey throughout the “Existential Reckoning” track-list all of the extra thrilling. As with every part Keenan touches, the eye to element was immaculate.
For essentially the most engaged crowd of the day, the trophy should fall to the long-lasting king of other steel, Ronnie Radke of Falling in Reverse. The set-list was a superb mixture of Falling In Reverse classics and new materials. New materials even included the breakneck calls for of “Watch the World Burn,” Radke’s newest rap-forward, speed-induced endeavor. There have been additionally throwback tracks that brought about the viewers to scream alongside, together with the infectious “Raised by Wolves” and the number-one hit “The Drug in Me is You.” A particular shoutout is owed to Leah G. and James B., who acquired engaged simply behind the stage-left mosh pit through the first “The Drug in Me is You” refrain. Whereas James and Leah have been occupied with gazing into each other’s eyes, Radke moved on to conclude the setlist with “Common Monster,” pacing the stage very like a werewolf as he did so. There was little doubt this heavily-tattooed rockstar introduced his A-Recreation to Sonic Temple and its essential stage.
As night time fell, Sonic Temple attendees started to line up on the meals vehicles and different distributors, and site visitors elevated across the nonprofit companions concurrently. Whereas the Day Two recap highlighted longtime DWP nonprofit companion To Write Love on Her Arms, that was removed from the one charitable trigger current on the competition. Take Me Dwelling, a rock and steel themed animal rescue charity, was additionally fundraising for its nationwide nonprofit work. The fundraising efforts at Sonic Temple included each signed band merchandise and attire gross sales. A essential attraction included signed guitars from bands together with 9 Inch Nails, Pink Scorching Chili Peppers, and Kiss. The donations from the occasion will additional Take Me Dwelling’s low- to no-cost spay/neuter clinics, rural veterinary entry, and therapy of abused and uncared for animals. Apart from displaying up at DWP occasions, Take Me Dwelling has a webstore with a lot of the identical merchandise out there for on-line buy.
Theatrics have been the secret for Day Three, and Sweden’s Avatar arrived with a present that danced the road between a steel present and a manic circus. Though the theatrical efficiency and intense full-stage setup mirrored the competition’s headliners, there was little doubt that Avatar have been a number of the few oddballs within the Sonic Temple lineup. Oddballs although they could have been, they have been obtained with open arms, and the sweat-soaked rag-tag misfits gathered in entrance of the night’s Octane Stage have been desirous to shout together with the basic Avatar hit “Smells Like A Freakshow.” Different songs from the set embrace fan-favorites from their just lately launched album, together with the ballad-driven “The Filth I’m Buried In” and the mosh-inducing “Chimp Mosh Pit.” Johannes Eckerström smiledhis means via the night as he used an skilled hand to drag the gang via emotional highs and lows. From beautiful costuming, to completely choreographed performances, to tantalizing banter, Avatar is actually the full-package steel competition efficiency.
In fact, Avatar weren’t the one group to sport face paint on Day Three, and neither have been the followers with black stars dotting their eyes. The headliners for Day Three are nothing in need of worldwide icons, artists who’ve stood the check of time and can eternally go down in historical past as one in every of rock’s most achieved bands. They’re additionally taking to the stage for the final time this yr in a ultimate farewell tour.
Kiss have been lowered from the heights of the Temple Stage at ten o’clock within the night. They descended from the heavens on studded platforms amidst a sea of canons, fireworks, and fireballs. Studded in stardom and their standard costuming, these metallic mainstays dominated the stage with personas which have lengthy stood the check of time, and with devices that glittered beneath in any other case blinding lights. If one didn’t know that almost all males on stage have been of their seventies, there would have been no probability to guess on the age of those seasoned performers. Kiss dominated each second they have been on stage, from the opening hymn of “Detroit Rock Metropolis,” all over the encore’s closing hit “Rock and Roll All Nite.” Each second of the present was expertly orchestrated, from the brilliant white fireworks to the nice and cozy yellow flames, from each line of the long-lasting face-paint to the bedazzled guitars. This was a present that proved an artwork might be distilled to a fastidiously calculated science. And for all of its nearly unnatural precision, its pleasure was unparalleled, and there was a tangible sense of significance as these iconic rockers started their worldwide farewell.
Sonic Temple did certainly rock and roll all nite into properly after the lights went down. However the get together must prolong into the following day of daily, as Day 4 – Sunday – nonetheless awaited the insatiable lots. So with the promise of excellence to return, and with the style of Kiss nonetheless on their tongues, tens of hundreds of attendees filtered out of Historic Crew Stadium and into the star-filled night time.
Particular because of Samantha Buckman for her writing contributions to this article.
