Page 59 - Black Velvet Rock Magazine - Issue 100

BV100 pg59_BV100 pg59 12/03/2019 01:44 Page 1

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GODSMACK / LIKE A STORM – BIRMINGHAM O2 INSTITUTE, 01.03.19
Forming in 1995, Godsmack is almost as old as Black Velvet. But the interesting thing is that during their show at Birmingham O2 Institute, frontman
Sully Erna asks who is seeing the band for the first time and the amount of hands in the air is huge. While this is eye-opening to the band that so many
people haven’t yet seen Godsmack despite them being around for nearly 2 and a half decades already, it’s also amazing at how many new rock fans
are still awakening to the band. That must be a sign of a timeless band, and definitely shows how keeping going can always bring new people to the
fold.
They’ve chosen a great outfit to support them on this run – Like A Storm – who put on a killer show. You don’t hear of that many bands coming out of
New Zealand and achieving success in the rest of the world, but Like A Storm have done that. And it’s no surprise why when you see them. They have
everything – the large ‘Catacombs’ backdrop to signify their latest album, which almost gives a feel of being in the catacombs itself – the didgeridoos
held by metal skeletons at the front of the stage, giving their stage an impressive look - the smoke blasters at the sides of the stage that turn their set
into a real show – plus the band’s music and stage performance itself. Their eight-song set makes us crave a full headline set from them. Songs such
as ‘The Bitterness’ and ‘Become The Enemy’ are dark and heavy but have a ray of melody infused. Using the didgeridoo at the start of songs such as
‘The Devil Inside’ adds that extra element of ingenuity. Frontman Chris Brooks invites the crowd to sing ‘hate me’ for the band’s final song, ‘Love The
Way You Hate Me’, but if you see these guys, you won’t be hating them, you’ll be loving them for sure.

Godsmack released their 7th studio album in April 2018, ‘When Legends Rise’,
so it makes sense that they kick off their set with that – after an intro tape that in-
cludes a medley including Queen’s ‘We Will Rock You’ – and straight from the off
Godsmack show that they WILL rock the audience. Big show-stopping lights and
an even bigger sound set the show off perfectly. Sully Erna has a strong voice
while Shannon Larkin at the back is a powerhouse drummer. Tony Rombola on
guitar comes across like an elder statesman compared to the rest of the band,
he’s more reserved and refined, someone you’d look up to and respect like a
teacher, while Robbie Merrill on the bass could almost be one of those unruly chil-
dren that the teacher would scold for racing around and not standing still. The
chugging riffs of ‘Cryin’ Like A Bitch’ get the audience banging heads in time, while
there’s a cheer for the mountainous ‘Straight Out Of Line’. Before ‘Awake’, Sully
shows off his talk box talents, while ‘Awake’ itself has a dark, hard and heavy
essence. It’s metally, with pounding beats and savage riffs – which is what you
get for a large portion of Godsmack’s set. Later on in the set, Sully puts his guitar
down for ‘Speak’, and they switch things up with a cover of The Beatles’ ‘Come
Together’, although it’s ‘Under Your Scars’ in the encore that really hits the spot
as Sully talks about setting up a foundation to battle addiction and empower those
that have been a victim of it. Sully plays the piano and it’s a real poignant moment.
Wrapping things up with the tough and imposing ‘I Stand Alone’, Godsmack are
definitely not standing alone tonight, but they are still standing strong, and, from
the looks of it, will continue to be for a long time yet.
YYYY
Shari Black Velvet
Sully Erna (Godsmack) Photo By Shari Black Velvet
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