That was the temper at Historic Crew Stadium as Sonic Temple opened on day two beneath a gentle drizzle of rain. Gray clouds cloaked the pageant grounds and rainwater soaked the grass – quickly to be mud beneath a trample of trainers — mere hours earlier than festivalgoers had been as a result of march by the entry gates.
However the spirit of heavy music persists come rain or come shine, and Fuming Mouth didn’t hesitate to take to Sanctuary Stage because the opening act for the second day. Rising puddles rippled with reverb, and throngs of individuals got here to see openers that included Level North as the primary on the Temple Stage and I See Stars simply subsequent door on the Sanctuary Stage. There was an air of pleasure that the climate clearly hadn’t dampened and an electrical power that grew because the variety of attendees grew in leaps and bounds from Day One’s turnout.
The rain started to ease as afternoon approached, and maybe it was Nonpoint’s unrelenting fury that chased the unsavory climate away from Historic Crew Stadium, as a result of these metallers left all of it on the Temple Stage. Though clouds remained, Soriano didn’t hesitate to return screaming onto the stage like a wrecking ball of metallic chaos. Flanked by guitarists Jaysin Zeilstra and Rasheed Thomas, this act immediately enthralled. “Sufferer” had the gang bouncing with their fingers within the air, and Zeilstra delivered smiles as he ran to the sting of the stage between Soriano’s leaping. The entire band was desperate to see the gang tear by hit after hit, and introduced completely “Ruthless” endurance for an early afternoon set.
Dirty Honey was subsequent on the Temple Stage, and whereas these Californians may need slowed down the tempo, they did so with their delightfully sultry model of exhausting rock. The wealthy velvet and gold embroidery of their stage outfits caught the little solar peeking by dense clouds, however you’d by no means have guessed it was overcast from their orange-tinted sun shades. Marc LaBelle was all smiles as he crooned his manner by songs of affection, heartbreak, and California solar. He devoted “Heartbreaker” to the women within the crowd, however proved himself the actual heartbreaker because the band drew its afternoon set to an in depth after simply 40 minutes of crowd-pleasing jams like “California Dreamin’” and “Gained’t Take Me Alive.” Their sound is hand-crafted for stadium anthems, and Dirty Honey delivered a powerful ode to rock that sounded wealthy and luxurious even on the large stadium audio system.
The sleek serenade of Dirty Honey’s relentless appeal crammed the stadium, however simply over on the Cathedral Stage Terror was busy encouraging the gang to an enthused violence, proving that the hardcore flame continues to be alive and nicely. This is only one of many such juxtapositions obtainable as a result of Sonic Temple’s diversely heavy lineup, the pageant primed with 4 levels to please exhausting rock and excessive metallic followers alike.
The latter followers had been definitely happy by Anthrax’s look on the Temple Stage. In case you suppose what excessive octane feels like, suppose once more: The latter followers had been definitely happy by Anthrax placed on an intense and punishing set that threatened to deliver down the heavens, and introduced with them a heavy legacy that’s rivaled by no different. Led by Joey Belladonna – sporting Anthrax’s personal tour shirt – these thrash metallic veterans lit a hearth below Sonic Temple and prompted the nascent mosh pits to swell to raging seas of sweat and screaming. The gang was desperate to take part, singing alongside and placing their fists within the air for thrash classics like “Steel Thrashing Mad,” “Caught in a Mosh” and beloved covers like Joe Jackson’s “Obtained the Time” for a delightfully balanced and equally punishing set.
With greater than forty years of beating insanity behind them, longtime members Charlie Benante and Scott Ian tore by the speed-fueled fury that granted them a seat among the many Large 4 of the style, joined by the towering presence of former – and now fill in bassist – Dan Lilker and the fluid riffs of the ever-headbanging guitarist Jon Donais. Though these pioneers of the style had an early afternoon set, they carried out with the spirit of a headlining act, and Belladonna incessantly moved from one facet of the stage to the opposite with enduringly youthful vigor.
If festivalgoers stepped outdoors the tempting embrace of the pageant’s levels – with not less than one act performing all through the day throughout the 4 levels – one would discover a wealth of artwork and distinctive merchandise awaiting them. In any case, Sonic Temple touts itself as an arts & music pageant, so it is just becoming that there’s artwork to accompany the music. The inventive choices included each quite a few cubicles for impartial artist distributors and dwell work occurring on the obelisk-like standees close to the primary entrance. One such artist, Terry City, was busy including thrives to a Limp Bizkit portrait with swathes of colourful paint as Anthrax rattled the earth. Different artists hovered above the gang in scissor lifts, cans of spray paint in hand, as they penned tributes to Sonic Temple in vibrant shades of orange and white.
Artwork of every kind was abounding on stage in addition to among the many pageant distributors, the previous together with the thrilling musicianship from Kublai Khan TX. With a spherical of guttural cries, vocalist Matt Honeycutt “ARF ARF”-ed his manner into the largest mosh pit that the Sanctuary Stage had seen at that time within the day. Backed by the relentless help of drummer Isaac Lamb, his sound rivaling the early hardcore model of thunder, these metalcore entertainers took Sonic Temple to new heights.
Soiled Honey weren’t the one heartthrob of the day. The air was peppered with cries of “I like you!” as Black Veil Brides’s Andy Biersack climbed the Cathedral Stage with a realizing smile on his lips. The stage had props and set items, giving an intimate and thrilling texture to an in any other case huge pageant. This ornamental ensemble was supported by the band’s blood-red make-up, painted thick throughout their necks in grisly mimicry of slit throats. Stage make-up apart, Biersack fortunately smiled and sang his manner by a medley of Black Veil Brides‘s classics and new pageant staples. Jake Pitts labored both sides of the stage with a equally coy smile, whereas Biersack belted out the spirited “Insurgent Love Track” to a crowd glad to sing alongside. Biersack is a person who knew who he was singing for, and he introduced all of it when he sustained a piercing scream by the band’s new single “Bleeders.” The set closed out with the band’s all-time hit “Within the Finish,” preceded by the anthemic “Knives and Pens.” Whereas many had been busy watching Biersack draw shrill cries from the gang as he prowled throughout the stage, one could be remiss to not watch drummer Christian Coma hold a gentle hand as he drummed with demanding precision.
A unique sort of consolation meals was offered by the exhausting rockers Seether, once more on the Temple Stage. Melancholic anthems like “Superb Once more” and “Damaged” – the latter accompanied by Corey Lowery on acoustic guitar – crammed a rising crowd with frontman Shaun Morgan’s soulful cries. “Treatment” closed out their set as an actual stadium-rock traditional with percussionist John Humphrey’s regular hand giving the viewers a rhythm to nod alongside to.
There was an equal quantity of soul on show over on the Sanctuary stage, this time by the aptly named Soulfly, launched by Sirius XM and Liquid Steel ambassador Jose Mangin as “one of many bands he listened to probably the most throughout his youthful years as they hailed from his state of Arizona”. Max Cavalera lives for the stage, and that a lot was clear as he roared on with the opening “Again to the Primitive.” It definitely wasn’t heavenly grace that parted the clouds, however nonetheless, the solar really shone for the primary time that day on Soulfly’s crushing set. The viewers was invited to take part in singing to “Bleed,” and inspired to mosh throughout “Jumpdafuckup.” Bassist Mike Leon was dwelling for the limelight, fingers regular as he despatched every heavy observe up into the stratosphere, all whereas emoting enthusiastically. Equally enthusiastic was the senior Cavalera’s son, Zyon Cavalera, punishing the drum equipment with hit after heavy hit.
Tempering this excessive rage with an analogous, parallel hearth, the Cathedral Stage turned a short lived residence for any homesick punk rockers of the early 2000s. Sum 41 might have only recently launched their album “Heaven :X: Hell” in March of this yr, however took the pageant set again to a nonstop roll of their traditional hits. From “Over My Head (Higher Off Lifeless)” and “Strolling Catastrophe” to the singalong “In Too Deep,” toes had been tapping and fingers raised to the sky as the gang cheered alongside to those acquainted anthems. Deryck Whibley guided the viewers verse by verse, bringing the identical power to the band he has for greater than twenty years, and giving a becoming prelude to the band’s ultimate tour. Guitarist Dave Baksh performed into the band’s boisterous perspective, leaping alongside in direction of the entrance of the stage whereas continuing by a spirited, punk-tinged cowl of “We Will Rock You.” The band additionally featured one of many extra fascinating set items of the day, a big inflatable skeleton with purple eyes and beckoning fingers that towered over Whibley and Co.
Only a brief stroll from one another, Falling in Reverse and Atreyu took to their respective levels concurrently, the previous on the lead Temple Stage and the latter on the Sanctuary Stage. Atreyu introduced a few of their heaviest fare to bat, Brandon Saller howling his manner by “Gone” whereas Marc McKnight carried its heavy bass notes. Different tracks from their newest album, “The Stunning Darkish of Life,” additionally made the setlist minimize, together with “Drowning.” Though it was nonetheless gentle out as night started to fall over Historic Crew Stadium, Atreyu crammed the stage with plumes of smoke and flashing strobe lights. This illumination positioned guitarist Dan Jacobs within the highlight as he tore by high-speed hits from “Falling Down” to “Blow.” Saller readily engaged with the gang that had gathered, maintaining them near the barricade whilst Rise In opposition to ready to go on the Cathedral Stage a brief stroll away.
Falling in Reverse had a equally spectacular setup on stage as they returned to Sonic Temple as soon as extra, this time together with pyrotechnics as part of their efficiency. Though the dynamic throes of “The Drug in Me is You” and the heavy ambiance of “Fashionable Monster” let frontman Ronnie Radke entertain with the chops of a seasoned performer, the band’s set floor to a halt after “Watch the World Burn.” Radke stopped “Ronald” in its tracks as soon as it turned clear that guitarist Max Georgiev and drummer Luke Holland had been burnt by the pyrotechnics of the continuing track, the flames knocked astray by surprising gusts of wind. Though it took 3 times for the track to hit its stride, each Georgiev and Holland made it to the tip earlier than receiving medical consideration from on-site medical workers.
Rise Against was the ultimate act on the Cathedral Stage, and their lights illuminated the lots as night time fell in earnest. Their fiery model of punk rock opened with “Re-Training (By Labor)” and gave strategy to the relentless “Satellite tv for pc.” Tim McIlrath was equally watching over the viewers from his place excessive atop the stage, smiling and dealing the gang alongside the charismatic lead guitarist Zach Blair. Rise Against joined Seether in that includes an acoustic track, this time being Rise Against’s comforting “Swing Life Away.” Heartfelt cries from the pageant’s attendees introduced “Make It Cease (September’s Kids)” to life with 1000’s of voices singing alongside. There’s little query that Rise Against has rightfully made a reputation for themselves within the rock scene, and this was evidenced by the lots of festivalgoers singing alongside to each phrase that rose to the heavens from McIlrath’s lips. The communal celebration of the band’s music made Rise Against’s set some of the thrilling of the day.
Code Orange simply may be the heaviest factor to return out of Pittsburgh for the reason that metal mills largely shuttered their doorways. This former quintet has lately elevated its dwell act by the addition of drummer Max Portnoy, releasing frontman Jami Morgan to wreak havoc on the entrance of the stage as if he had been “Out For Blood.” Morgan was accompanied on this endeavor by vocalist and guitarist Reba Meyers, with Meyers towards the displays as she shredded by the demanding hardcore fare that Code Orange has develop into so well-known for. From “Drowning In It” to “The Masks of Sanity Slips,” Morgan was intent on inciting the gang to an impassioned violence, calling for each an immense wall of demise and a circle pit that just about engulfed everything of the Citadel Stage.
Because the mud settled from Code Orange’s fury, it left Avatar to the Sanctuary Stage and the unique Misfits on the primary Temple Stage to deliver Day Two to an in depth.
Sonic Temple 2024 marked Avatar’s return to the pageant, having attended final yr and performing an thrilling however early-evening set. However because the lots packed in tight to the barricade on the Sanctuary Stage and even spilled over into the close by Citadel Stage, it was clear that these Swedish circus metallers had greater than earned their placement on the prime of the invoice. Full with elaborate stage costuming, set items, and pyrotechnics, Johannes Eckerström embodied a sinister ringleader as he marched throughout the stage and effortlessly commanded the eye of 1000’s. “Dance Satan Dance” and “The Eagle Has Landed” gave ample area for mosh pits to kind and dozens of crowd surfers to make their pilgrimage to the barricade. Including to an already dynamic set, Eckerström shocked the viewers as a piano was rolled onto the stage and he delicately performed and sung his manner by the transferring ballad “Tower.” It was not possible to look away from these well-rehearsed performers, as John Alfredsson tore up the drums with unparalleled expressiveness and bassist Henrik Sandelin headbanged by track after track. Their on-stage chemistry was as participating because it was charming. Each a part of Avatar’s set coalesced in a superb show of musicianship and artwork, and so they proved simply how they’d fought their strategy to well-earned fame with their extraordinary model of metallic music.
The Temple Stage closers and headlining act are a reputation that heavy music followers will know nicely, none aside from the Unique Misfits. With a setlist that boasted two dozen songs, together with an encore, these headliners proved themselves punk rock royalty. From frontman and storied musician Glenn Danzig to the brand new addition of Slayer’s Dave Lombardo behind the equipment, the high-energy efficiency they delivered to Sonic Temple’s Day Two headlining spot proved that the Misfits proceed to dwell as much as their identify and the legacy as greater than only a mere comeback act. However even because the lights dimmed on the Misfits’ set, it was clear that Sonic Temple’s weekend was simply starting.
Particular because of Samantha Buckman for her writing contributions to this article.
