Photos + Review by David Molnar – The MassMutual Center in Springfield, Massachusetts shook under the weight of pure metal on July 18, as heavyweights Lamb of God, Hatebreed, and hometown heroes Shadows Fall delivered a night of blistering performances presented by MGM Springfield.
The energy inside the arena was electric from the first downbeat, with fists pumping, fans crowd surfing and a roar of support for metalcore’s elite. The Shadows Fall set carried extra significance as the City of Springfield officially proclaimed July 18 as Shadows Fall Day, honoring the band’s roots in the City of Firsts where the band formed in 1996.
In a moment of nostalgic reflection, both Lamb of God frontman Randy Blythe and Shadows Fall vocalist Brian Fair reminded the audience that both bands shared the stage back in 2003 at the now-closed Fat Cat Bar and Grill, just an eight-minute walk North from the arena. Shadows Fall lit up their set with a mix of classics and included the crushing debut of their latest track “Souls Devoured.” Fair, known for his wild dreadlocked stage presence, amped up the chaos by leaping into the audience to crowd surf, further cementing the bond between the band and their hometown fans.
Hatebreed brought an intensity to the evening, backed by a massive inflatable demon and a chaotic large Ball of Death that ricocheted through the crowd. But it was headliner Lamb of God who closed the night with ferocity and spectacle. Unleashing a barrage of pyrotechnics and hits including a thunderous rendition of “Now You’ve Got Something to Die For.” The performance at the MassMutual Center by the three metal titans was a celebration of heavy metal music and the metalcore community marking Springfield not only as the birthplace of Shadows Fall, but a city where metal history continues to be made.
HATEBREED
SHADOWS FALL
