SEVENDUST, LACUNA COIL, AVATAR – Clifton Park NY

We embarked on a night if mayhem and metal madness when Sevendust, Lacuna Coil and Avatar light up the Upstate Concert Hall in Clifton Park NY.

It was the Gottenberg, Sweeden’s melodic death metal Avatar that kicked off the night with their carnival antics. After watching their debut video for “Black Waltz,” I really wasn’t too sure what I was going to be in for. I enjoyed the imagery in the video but had reservations about how their sound and imagery mixed together, and would they carry the imagery throughout their performance? To my pleasant surprise, that was only a small proportion of what this band has to offer and was definitely worth getting to the show early to check out. The beats and riffs had the crowd from the start and lead vocalist Johannes Eckerström with his skull cane, top hat and theatrics makeup would almost effortlessly mesmerized the crowd. Avatar had the crowd pumped up from the start and by the end of their set, the crowd was still ready to keep rockin! Avatar is out in support of their latest album, “Black Waltz.”

The madness continued as Lacuna Coil was next to take the stage. I’ve always been fond of watching the vocal duet team of Cristina Scabbia and Andrea Ferro “battle it out” on stage with such a profusion mix of styles and melodies. Both are very animated in their own unique ways which keeps your eyes bouncing back n forth. But make no mistake! You will be “Spellbound” by this band as one solid unit. Christina and Andrea are just two parts of this entity with Cristiano Migliore and Marco Biazzi ripping up fun guitar riffs, Marco Coti Zelati laying down groovin bass lines that just keep you moving as Cristiano Mozzati keeps a mean beat and solid backbone. They really are a pleasure to watch as they are out in support of their latest album, “Dark Adrenalin.”

There was a brief break before the chaos and mayhem would continue. The crowd anxiously waited for Sevendust to take the stage. Just before the lights went down, Morgan Rose’s shiny red drum kit was reveled and it was time. Man, do these guys spew such energy and steam you would never know it was only a wintery 10 degrees outside! And they do it with such passion, such intensity, such drive! There is just no way anyone in the club could not rock out! It was obvious that it was definitely a “Sevendust” crowd as they knew the lyrics word for word and filled the room over the bands amps. Yet a different mix than what I have witnessed before at Sevendust shows. Just one more sign that their crowd base continues to grow! And why wouldn’t it! I’ve been following this band since 1997 (see some of MPJ’s old photos here); it’s great to see a band continue to grow, while remaining with the same energy and feel that drew you to their music, that you fell in love with so many years ago. They kicked off their set with their newest single, “Decay” and went straight into the fave “Praised” then “Denial.” They continued on with other faves that include “Bitch” “Trust” “Pieces” “Waffle” and slowing it down a little with “Angel’s Son.” Their set also included a second new song, “Till Death.” They come back with the hard hitter encore of “Splinter” and “Face To Face” to close out the night. Sevendust is gearing up to release their ninth studio album, “Black Out The Sun” on March 26, 2013.

Overall this Rockin mayhem of a tour is surely one you will not want to miss when it comes to town. Avatar remains on the bill until March 9th, where Candlelight Red will jump on the tour. Then on March 28th, Coal Chamber will be re-unit for a co-headlining tour with Sevendust, Lacuna Coil with Stolen Babies and Candlelight Red also on the bill! Be sure to check out the remaining your dates below (Subject to change).

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.PHOTO GALLERIES :

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SEVENDUST :: PHOTO GALLERY

LACUNA COIL :: PHOTO GALLERY

AVATAR :: PHOTO GALLERY

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TOUR DATES :

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SEVENDUST, LACUNA COIL & AVATAR:
Sun 2/10 Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works
Tue 2/12 Fayetteville, AR @ George’s Majestic Lounge
Thu 2/14 Biloxi, MS @ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Fri 2/15 Broussard, LA @ The Station
Sat 2/16 Beaumont, TX @ Dixie Dance Hall
Sun 2/17 Little Rock, AR @ Revolution! Music Room
Tue 2/19 Springfield, IL @ Boondocks
Thu 2/21 Bloomington, IL @ The Castle Theatre
Fri 2/22 South Bend, IN @ Club Fever
Sat 2/23 Cedar Rapids, IA @ Pepsi Pavilion

SEVENDUST & CANDLELIGHT RED:
Fri 3/15 New Orleans, LA @ House Of Blues
Sat 3/16 Broussard, LA @ The Station

SEVENDUST, LACUNA COIL & CANDLELIGHT RED:
Sun 3/17 Abilene, TX @ The Lucky Mule
Tue 3/19 Farmington, NM @ Top Deck
Thu 3/21 Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory Concert House
Fri 3/22 Reno, NV @ Knitting Factory
Sat 3/23 Las Vegas, NV @ Boulder Station Hotel & Casino
Wed 3/27 El Cajon, CA @ Sycuan Casino

SEVENDUST, LACUNA COIL, COAL CHAMBER & CANDLELIGHT RED:
Thu 3/28 Tempe, AZ @ The Marquee
Fri 3/29 Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia
Sat 3/30 San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom
Sun 3/31 Sacramento, CA @ Ace Of Spades
Tue 4/2 Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theatre
Wed 4/3 Wichita, KS @ The Cotillion
Thu 4/4 Oklahoma City, OK @ Diamond Ballroom
Fri 4/5 Sauget, IL @ Pop’s
Sat 4/6 Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave II
Mon 4/8 Minneapolis, MN @ Mill City Nights
Tue 4/9 Joliet, IL @ Mojoes
Thu 4/11 Ft. Wayne, IN @ Piere’s
Fri 4/12 Detroit, MI @ Harpo’s
Sat 4/13 Toronto, ONT @ Sound Academy
Sun 4/14 Hartford, CT @ Webster Theater
Tue 4/16 Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
Wed 4/17 New York, NY @ Best Buy Theater
Thu 4/18 Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
Fri 4/19 Hampton Beach, NH @ Hampton Beach Casino
Sat 4/20 Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
Mon 4/22 Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head Live!
Tue 4/23 Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore Charlotte
Wed 4/24 Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle
Fri 4/26 Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
Sat 4/27 Corpus Christi, TX @ Concrete St Amp.
Sun 4/28 Dallas, TX @ The Palladium Ballroom