Just about everyone was surprised when the legendary Mayhem were able to acquire work visas for a tour of the United States (probably no one was surprised when Marduk were having trouble obtaining visas). Naturally, I had to get a ticket for the Blackened Fest’s date at the HOB on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, regardless of Marduk’s fate. A chance to see the founding fathers, if you will, of Norwegian black metal was not to be passed up. Rounding out the bill were the decidedly non-black metal bands of Cephalic Carnage, Withered, and Cattle Decapitation (not again).
I wasn’t able to arrive in time for Withered. In fact, I’m not even sure that they played, as the bartenders’ band schedule had them crossed off the list (as well as Marduk, who may not even play any dates on this tour from some of the rumors beginning to float around). At any rate, regarding Withered, their merchandise was on sale in a small corner of the venue, but I didn’t bother asking anyone about the band’s status that evening.
Cattle Decapitation were up first and I can’t really begin to describe how boring this band has become. A couple of lineup changes are taking their toll on the band’s creative output, and, although “The Harvest Floor” has been well received, Cattle Decapitation show no sign of improvement in a live setting. I spent their short set, marred by poor sound as usual, propped up against the bar.

Last year’s inaugural version of Paganfest came with some heavy hitters anchoring a solid lineup. Ensiferum and Turisas gave the tour some needed weight and Eluveitie simply stole the show. Overall, that tour package was quite memorable and is one of the better outings of the last few years.
Paganfest II is the second of what may turn out to be an annual tour package. The lineup for this year’s version was, in my opinion, of lesser quality, but was anchored by a couple of solid bands. Frankly, I was here solely for Moonsorrow, one of my favorite Viking bands, but Korpiklaani and Primordial, veteran bands with solid fan bases, were on board and have never previously toured the United States. Rounding out the bill were Blackguard and Swashbuckle, relative newcomers each (Eluveitie had dropped off the tour before it began). I must admit that, although I have a passing familiarity with Primordial and Korpiklaani, I am unfamiliar with most of the other bands on the bill. Here’s my brief impression of each.
Unfortunately, I missed Swashbuckle (goddamn traffic), but the band re-emerged, still in full pirate regalia, during the final song from Blackguard, the first band that I managed to see. Blackguard’s brand of melodic folk/ thrash is well done and played with obvious enthusiasm by the young band members. The enthusiasm was infectious as the HOB Sunset Strip crowd immediately started a circle that continued for most of the 30 minute set.

The spring concert season in Los Angeles gets into full swing as the Kreator/ Exodus headlining tour roars into the HOB Sunset Strip on a Saturday night. I haven’t seen Kreator live in concert since 1985 when they opened for Voivod on their debut trek across the United States in support of “Pleasure To Kill”, and Exodus are one of the few major thrash bands that I’ve never gotten around to seeing in concert. So, as you might imagine, I was greatly anticipating this tour, as was just about everyone else in the Los Angeles area (everyone was out for this one). Rounding out the bill were the monstrous Belphegor, Warbringer, and Epicurean.
Epicurean kicks things off for the evening just as I arrive. Not being familiar with Epicurean, I was not particularly impressed with their brand of melodic thrash metal, but the band’s level of musicianship and songwriting skill was evident. Most of the crowd seemed unfamiliar with Epicurean, as well, but the band was well received for their 25 minute set.
Warbringer were up next with Epicurean drummer John Gensmer filling in for the injured Nic Ritter. I must say that I’ve never been all that impressed with Warbringer, but the band has definitely shown some growth in the 18 months or so since I had seen them the last time around. Warbringer just roared through a crushing half hour set that immediately had the crowd opening up a huge pit. The band played a couple of tracks from their soon to be released second album, and I must say that I am now looking forward to that album as Warbringer were just full of energy with great songs.
I thought that Belphegor’s inclusion on this tour was a bit unusual, as none of the other bands are flirting with death or black metal. I, for one, was looking forward to Belphegor, having been greatly impressed by their last couple of full-lengths, but I wasn’t sure what the crowd’s reaction to a blackened death metal band on an all out thrash metal bill would be. Belphegor were well received, after all, as the band blew through a 45 minute set hitting songs from their last three full-lengths. Most impressive is front man Helmuth’s absolutely roaring, brutally guttural vocals in a live setting. As an added bonus, Belphegor also had some blasphemous t-shirts; hence, my t-shirt purchase for the evening.