AVENGER OF BLOOD with D’ANGELED and FARR BEYOND DRIVEN at SINWAVE

We had a solid night of great live music once again at my fave live music club in Las Vegas, SINWAVE, with Avengers of Blood, along with D'Angeled and Farr Beyond Driven. The turnout for this show was really great especially with so much going on around town for Halloween, those who made it out to SInwave were treated to a night of brutal metal music from all three solid live bands.

Kicking off the show was the Pantera tribute band FARR BEYOND DRIVEN, and I was told it has been years since these guys have played a show - that baffles me with the rise of Pantera out on the stadium circuit. Farr Beyond Driven is an in-your-face tribute band that has you constantly thinking... this is what early Pantera must have been like, when they started out in smaller venues. Their sounded and the way they carried themselves onstage would make any Pantera fan proud. I was constantly looking over at their guitarist, and getting flashes of Dimebag, and their singer really gave you early Phil Anselmo. Farr Beyond Driven brought with them the biggest fan base of the evening, and during their last song Farr Beyond Driven were joined onstage by the singer for D’Angeled, with a crowd roaring sing along to “Walk”. A powerful set and a great tribute to Pantera metal.

Next was D'Angeled, and I have been following this band since their very first show earlier this year, and this marked the third time I have seen them live. I love the progression I am seeing from them, and they seem more comfortable with each show they get under their belt. The band members are Jesse Campbell (Vocals/guitar,) Matt Daffenberg (Guitar), Zac Piper (Drums) and Lloyd Varnon (Bass), and they are really starting to make a mark on in Vegas. Two things from this set - One, I LOVE and I do mean LOVE the song “D’Angeled", (I mentioned to Lloyd that I think this would make an excellent acoustic song, but he said that would make him lose his metal card) but could also bring a new and different sound to this talented band, and Two, I LOVE the new song they played at this show. You can see what I'm talking about if you come check them out when they return to Sinwave on December 14th with ROSE OF SHARYN.

AVENGER of BLOOD closed out the night, and were like a throwback in time from when you turned on MTV and watched Slayer, Testament, Overkill and other thrash legends. The band wore spiked wrist bands and bullet belts that gave the classic early thrash look, and their wall of sound was non stop - each song made you want more and more. I do believe I may have witnessed history on this night, when a group of older white haired and bearded thrash fans in the crowd started the only 60+ mosh pit I have ever witnessed! It was inspiring to see no matter what your age, you can relive that thrash metal era of your younger self through the power of live music. Avenger of Blood put on a hell of a show and glad to see them back out and raising horns.