Friday 07/07/06 Ozzfest 2006, Second Stage @ The Cricket Pavilion, Phoenix, Arizona

Small wandering thunderstorms dot the landscape and travel against a partly cloudy sky. It’s perfect weather for Ozzfest in Phoenix, Arizona and keeps the temperatures in the low 100F providing occasional shade with a gentle breeze. A black clad crowd, pieced, tattooed, tanned and eager is already pressing against the second outdoor stage anticipating the best variety of metal available on the major tour circuits.

Visualize that fiery crack in the earth where orcs and goblins are burning trees, smelting crude broadswords and being born from the mud in The Lord Of The Rings and this is where one would expect to find Strapping Young Lad entertaining the troops. This Canadian band’s brutish brand of extreme death metal/thrash with a twist of humor opens Ozzfest 2006. Gigwise barely catches the end of their thunderous set and is suddenly pulled back to the press tent while access issues are straightened out. We return to the stage with A Life Once Lost as their new wave of metalcore washes over the masses with top notch poetic lyrics and a bitter harsh delivery. They play ‘Needleman’ and crash their way full throttle through ‘Rehashed’ as Doug Sabolick stands high on a platform and stirs the mosh pit up with flaming licks from his searing pink guitar. The crowd is really into this band.

An announcer says “The first Ozzfest was held right ****ing here in Phoenix!” The rabble cheers and All That Remains take to the stage. Vocalist Phil Labonte begins ‘This Calling’ with a long primal roar against the backdrop of Shannon Lucas’s brisk rolling drums. Crowd surfing commences as the first crystal clear chorus of “And I hear this calling…” rings out between the thrashing verse. Guitarist Mike Milton and Oli Herbert come together and jam a clean melodic bridge then Jeanne Sagan holds her bass high in the air and riffs away. It’s a well constructed and dynamic piece that leaves the crowd screaming.  Next they play the murderous epic love song ‘Tattered On My Sleeve.’  They top if off with ‘Indictment’ a piece from their new album Fall Of Ideals. Phil steps out on the barricade rail and screams at the turbulent cheering horde finishing the set with a flourish.

The Christian metalcore band Norma Jean brings high energy to the forefront. With scorched clothing and their faces blackened they look like the victims of their latest barbeque. They have a purely harsh, straightforward presentation with impressive drumlines that produce a unique resonate thunder throughout their set creating an almost tribal atmospheric sound. They are joined by Marc McKnight the bassist from Atreyu for a vocal chorus and a second mystery drummer plays throughout the set giving twice the wallop to the skins.

Unearth now has command of the stage and the fast churning beat of ‘The Great Dividers’ slams into our senses while a massive roar erupts from the crowd. Their brand of metalcore bares a strong bass undercurrent and is peppered with melodic, intricate guitar riffs…they grab Gigwise’s attention immediately. Guitarist Ken Susi has his trademark spurting phallus drawn with a magic marker on his arm. He’s fun to watch as he greedily works the crowd, flips people off, grimaces, jumps and climbs on everything. Mum must’ve had her hands full raising this cheeky lad. They perform a new song ‘Sanctity of Brothers.’ The crowd beat their fists to the maddening rhythm as vocalist Trevor Phipps leans backwards and delivers the final roars skyward to end the piece.

Security doubles and is now shoulder to shoulder in front of the stage. They spray the sweltering mob with water and prepare for the entrance of Atreyu. For months we've heard talk about this band from scenesters at other venues and on the streets. It takes something special to generate such underground interest and we’re on the verge of discovering the reason for it. A clear, cool and cascading guitar lick brings in Alex Varkatzas voice which drifts in and out of harshness and clarity during ‘The Crimson.’ Marc throws his head back and swings his bass upward as he plays while head banging hard, driving the mob insane. They perform a newer song ‘Ex’s’ and Oh’s’ and Gigwise gets a chill. This song says it all about this band. Its polished guitar work, searing vocals and drumline are incredible. They show a mature and polished, metal blended with post hardcore side that has all the signs of greatness assaulting our ears. This is what it’s about. Atreyu is a band that has found themselves. They perform ‘Deanne The Arsonist’ then ‘Lip Gloss and Black.’ The mosh is turbulent and the audience is screaming as the set draws to a close.

A Black Label Society banner is draped across the front of the stage as they prepare for their set and huge lads in motorcycle garb draw in closer. The crowd is chanting “Black, black, black” and pounding their fists in the air. This heavy metal band is fronted by Zak Wylde who is also Ozzy Osborne’s guitarist. When the banner is lifted and the band begins to play, the crowd loses control and the raucous din drowns out the first song. Zak’s vocals are raw and metallic. His exquisite guitar riffs are comparable to none. Crowd surfing reaches a new level as we see a man who must weight 280lbs lifted easily skyward and passed forward. Everyone is rocking out hard. Gigwise is now pulled back to the Press tent and misses the end of their set. In the distance we can hear the crowd’s thundering cheers as the ground vibrates beneath our feet.