Photo credit – Jared Burnett

Once I got over my incredulity that this show would be allowed to happen at the Basement (they are not shy about shutting down shows when the crowd gets too rowdy – namely hanging from the ceiling sprinkler system) I knew I would have to go. I nearly chickened out in the face of the merciless cold, but thankfully I got in line in the nick of time and made it indoors.

Rising stars Amative of Columbus kicked things off with their rendition of creepy yet catchy metalcore. Frontman Jonathan Mansour leerily eyed the onlookers over an eerie synth melody, courtesy of his brother who was sporting a keytar. This is the first time I’ve ever seen such an instrument used in a live setting in metalcore. The group bounced in unison for much of the set, but the true highlight was a cover of “Bulls on Parade” by Rage Against the Machine which was completely on point and successful in stirring the adrenaline of everyone watching. Carev Dvor’s Ilija Necovski grabbed the mic for much of the song while Dry Bones drummer Jack Sipes was on hand to film the whole thing.

Punk-minded hardcore band Push Ahead played next, stirring the audience into a frenzy that was rather inconsistent, given the intensity of their set. I found their sound enjoyable, but the dichotomy of indifference and chaos during their set to be perplexing. Oh well, I’ll be seeing them again, I’m sure. Well done anyhow, boys.

Razor and Tie signees Death of An Era played a set that was juxtaposed with at times demonic rage and heartfelt gratitude from onstage. The spectators were a bit more in sync with what the band was trying to get across this time around. While I wasn’t super enthralled with their sound, I appreciated their musicianship and stage presence. The sound guy told me he’s had to shut down their set early before, so obviously the energy level exists to whip the right audience into chaos, even if it’s not in a reasonable way.

The main event, Beartooth, took the stage and to say chaos ensued (there’s that word again) would be an understatement. The audience was immediately doused with several cans of pink glitter and cake mix (or maybe it was flour) that seemingly appeared out of nowhere as the band opened with the appropriately titled “Set Me On Fire.” Caleb Shomo expressed his trademark insatiable thirst for stage dives as the band churned through a mixture of pulsing tunes from the already released Sick EP and the forthcoming full length on Red Bull Records Disgusting. New fan favorite “Go Be the Voice” had fans swarming the stage to compete for the microphone, screaming that awesome refrain “GO BE THE VOICE OF GOD, GO LIVE THE LIFE PUTTING DEATH TO SHAME!”  Another highlight was the two minute long ironically titled “Dead,” given that it produced some of the most pronounced movement of the night, which is saying something. Toward the end of the set, the band paid homage to the influence of punk in their lives by playing a cover of The Ramones’ “Blitzkrieg Bop.” The band ended their set with the now staple “I Have A Problem.”

Check out Beartooth this year as they open for Memphis May Fire (and probably steal the show), as well as all summer long on the grueling Vans Warped Tour.