DEVILDRIVER invade Lexington on Halloween Eve with Jinjer, Raven Black, Downtrend and Muisti
DEVILDRIVER is touring in support of their recent album Outlaws ‘Til The End, Vol. 1. The album, DEVILDRIVER’s first since the 2016 release of Trust No One, features a number of special guests including Lamb of God’s Randy Blythe and Mark Morton, Lee Ving from FEAR, Glenn Danzig, Testament’s Chuck Billy, and John 5. The songs on the album include some classic outlaw country songs with the arrangements getting the full DEVILDRIVER treatment: some of the artists covered on the album are Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Johnny Paycheck.
As the house lights dropped the Lexington crowd pushed to the barrier as DEVILDRIVER rocketed into “Ruthless,” “Hold Back the Day,” “These Fighting Words” and “Head on to Heartache (Let Them Rot)” came blasting off the stage.
The first of song from the new Outlaws ‘Til The End, Vol.1 album, a Willie Nelson cover of “Whisky River was next in the performance followed by “Grinfucked” and “My Night Sky”
Over the next 60 minutes, DEVILDRIVER gave fans, both new and old an evening to remember as an Awolnation cover of “Sail,” “Before the Hangman’s Noose,” “Nothing’s Wrong?” along with fan favorites “I Could Care Less” and “Clouds Over California” were included in the set before ending with “The Mountain”
DEVILDRIVER is Dez Fafara – vocals, Mike Spreitzer & Neal Tiemann – guitar, Diego Ibarra – bass and Austin D’Amond – drums
Providing the main support this evening was Ukrainian metalcore masters Jinjer. Fronted by the sinister Tatiana Shmaylyuk, Jinjer literally exploded onto the Manchester Music Hall stage, beginning with “Words of Wisdom” and their new single “Ape”. While all eyes are focused on Tatiana, the bass, the drums, and the completeness of the sound from the stage are overpowering. Tatiana was in complete control this evening as “I Speak Astronomy,” ” Dreadful Moments” come blasting from the stage before ending their set with “Sit, Stay, Rollover”
Touring in support of their most recent album “13”, Theatrical metal rockers Raven Black were next to perform. Self-described as “a viciously sweet metal medley of feminine and masculine power harnessed through a tiny half human | half doll surrounded by her misfits, tossed into a theatrical debauchery of creepy fun” Raven Black rolled through a dynamite (and way too short) set which also included songs from their debut EP Seven Sins.
It’s always awesome to see great local bands supporting the bigger, more established touring groups. Making the long drive From Pikeville, Kentucky (more than a 2-hour drive from Lexington) was Downtrend. Their all too short set was hard and fast with heavy bass lines. It’s not often you see the lead singer of a metal band tearing it up on the harmonica but that’s exactly as they closed their set with “With Love and Shame”
Opening the evening almost as the venue doors opened were Kentucky based Muisti. With a set combining thrash and symphonic metal, Muisti started the evening off in a good way.
