The nights are getting colder in Boston. Fall has slowly made the days bleaker and bleaker, and people are feeling the effects. That’s probably the reason why Tombs and Pallbearer sold out their show a week before the event: the nastier weather kicked everyone’s seasonal depression up a notch or two and the appeal of a really great metal show rose as well.
Vattnet Viskar opened up the night and performed at the same caliber as both the bands that would follow. There was pressure on them, as the Great Scott had already filled up for the sold-out show. It says a lot when an opener blows the entire audience away; the night can only get better from there. The band had admirable energy, and crushed song after song. They finished off their set with one of the members playing atop a large stack of Orange amps and then jumping off in dramatic fashion.
Tombs have made a name for themselves in the metal world as hard workers. They have consistently released great music on top of other nonmusical projects; for example they have their own brand of coffee (Christmas is coming soon, folks).
Musically, Tombs put forth a muscular set reliant on catchy, black metal-influenced riffing and punchy blast beats. As a band, they’ve always had a gift for balancing their influences while maintaining their own distinctive finish—a highly sought after trait for metal bands. The band pummeled through their beefy set, and although there was no mosh pit, it was obvious enough that their brutality came from knowledgeable musicians.
Pallbearer capped off the night with their own signature brand of music. Their set proved that they are one hundred percent deserving of the critical accolades constantly given to them.Their songs suffered no losses when translated live. Each nuance was picked up and carried with expert craft to their fullest extent. Pallbearer’s music is expansive and dynamic, and none of the little details were overlooked.
Vocalist Brett Campbell soared; he sounded better live than their recorded work, and that’s saying something. Pallbearer utilize such a unique sound with so little fluff that it almost becomes a mystery to figure out how they do it. Their songs have no need to be flashy. Musicality let itself take over, and each member knew their instrument well and contributed just the right amount to their overall songs.
Pallbearer’s songs are notoriously lengthy (but I mean… so are half of all metal songs) so it was pleasantly surprising when they didn’t only play a few songs. The band played a great set, using material that went back into their short discography.
Overall, each band brought their own distinct style to the metal genre but handled their respective approaches with mastery. The show was a welcome punch in the gut the darkening weather, and some powerful metal was the perfect remedy to the cold.
If you’re hankering for more Pallbearer, we recently did a video feature with them. You can check that out here.