Concert Review + Photography: Scream the Prayer 2013 at Alrosa Villa (Columbus)

By Ryan G

Fit For a King

I rejoiced internally a LOT when I heard that Scream the Prayer would be returning to Columbus after years staked out at The Attic in Dayton. One Monday evening, I did what any working business professional would do after a long day at the office – I made my way to the Alrosa Villa for a night of metal.

I arrived just in time to hear The Overseer, who performed a set pretty much identical to every other time I’ve seen them. I’m pretty sure I can call these guys my friends now. “Secrets,” “Vulture,” “Amend,” and “Absolve” all made appearances, with Tony Rivera in his usual spot-on form and the rest of the band performing tightly. Abishai Collingsworth appeared a bit more serious than normal behind his drum kit, but perhaps this was fatigue-based.

Mirroring a show I saw at Kobo a few months ago, Everyone Dies in Utah followed The Overseer. This positive band, which seems to be following in the footsteps of The Devil Wears Prada slightly, rocked the still-filing in crowd, complete with lots of in sync head banging and a flailing mane of Claudio Sanchez, er, Danny Martinez. He DOES look like the Coheed and Cambria frontman, really!

The Great Commission is perhaps the only band that could introduce a song with a title like “Don’t Go to Church, Be the Church” and then promptly successfully lay their environment to waste. Heavy worship is the perfect mantra for the band, as they know how to work a room and bring forth genuine reverence in the process. Another highlight of the set was “Weight of the World.” All in all, the set was quite enjoyable and frontman Justin Singh wrapped up the set sans a mic by going on a diatribe against lies that organized religion had presented to him – namely, that listening to heavy music, having gauged ears, and tattoos would send him to hell.

Fit For a King followed. They were probably the band on the tour I was most excited to see. They have put out one of the catchiest heavy releases of the year and the fun of their live set matched this. The only downside was the lack of a lead guitarist – necessitating a backing track (Wolves at the Gate employs this strategy as well). Songs like “Warpath,” “Hollow King” and “The Resistance” revved up the room and it got this typically reserved concert goer moving a bit.

The true highlight of the evening would be the set from Wolves at the Gate, which gave me a huge dose of encouragement I didn’t know I needed. I moved up front and yelled out the words to many a tune along side Nick Detty and Steven Cobucci, including fan favorites “Dead Man” and “Heralds.” “Amnesty,” “In Your Wake,” and “Slaves” made appearances as well but the true highlight would Steve’s pause to share a parable Jesus told in Scripture – a lesson in forgiveness, segueing into our need for Jesus’ work that He completed on the Cross. “Man of Sorrows” ended the set – and I walked away thinking this was the best I had ever heard the band. Everyone was spot on, and my close proximity to the front revealed that yes, Detty does indeed scream with all his might even when there isn’t a mic in front of his mouth.

The evening ended with two bands I was less familiar with, but I enjoyed seeing the pit that opened up for each. The mighty Gideon and Impending Doom gave the venue a one-two punch that had me entertained and enthralled. A bit of deathcore emerged in the latter’s set, to no one’s surprise. My fatigue from 7 straight heavy bands prompted me to leave early but I left a happy concertgoer.

Now, enjoy some pictures, courtesy of our new photographer Joe Alexander. Don’t use without permission, please.