This was a night for the hard and heavy! The band that everyone came to see was ACT OF DEFIANCE featuring ex-MEGADETH guitarist CHRIS BRODERICK and drummer SHAWN DROVER, with support from Vile Child, Shattered Sun and Nebula X. Every band on this bill gave the crowd exactly what they came for, and kicking off the show was local boys VILE CHILD. This is a heavy hard rockin band who are influenced by old school metal bands such as Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, and a great band with one of the best shredders on guitar we have seen locally.
Vile Child Photos: Harold Mountain / JustAFanPhotos
I have waited a couple years to see NEBULA X since they had some internal strife and stopped playing. NEBULA X returned to the stage for this metal show, and was always one of my favorite local bands, and have a guitar sound like no one else playing around Vegas. This time they played as a trio, and what may be a first, their entire set was sung by guitarist Javier Rojas entirely in spanish, and no one even cared because their sound is that damn good. Joining Javier in this trio was big John Kidd on drums and Lloyd Varnon on bass. It was great seeing this band play again and hopefully it won’t be a few years until we see next time.
Nubula X Photos: Harold Mountain / JustAFanPhotos
SHATTERED SUN once again tore up the stage at the Dive Bar, another talented band that keeps getting better and better, but on this night we noticed something a bit different as lead singer Marcos Leal was missing. It was announced that he was back home awaiting the birth of his child, and we wish him the best. I did not catch the name of his replacement but he did an excellent job filling in.
Shattered Sun Photos: Harold Mountain / JustAFanPhotos
Headliners ACT OF DEFIANCE featured ex-Megadeth guitarist CHRIS BRODERICK and drummer SHAWN DROVER along with Shadows Fall guitarist MATT BACHAND on bass and HENRY DEREK on Vocals - Power, in your face and a good time describes this band. Unlike Megadeth this band is a bit harder, dirtier, grungier, and just plain badass. Chris’s guitar playing and solos were killer and drove the crowd into a wild mosh pit that was one of the more violent I have seen there. Henry’s vocals were down right guttural at times and fit this band perfect, and of course the engine that drives the train, Shawn delivered the pounding beats along with the killer base of Matt. The show started hard and heavy and never slowed down, and fans mobbed the stage hoping to get as close as possible to this band. Once again the Dive Bar and Area702 Presents hosted one hell of a show.
ACT OF DEFIANCE Photos: Harold Mountain / JustAFanPhotos
