Mayhem Festival – Featuring: Korn, Rob Zombie, Lamb Of God & many others – At Glen Helen – San Bernardino, CA

In the beginning the god’s created Ozzfest, but due to unforeseen circumstances Ozzfest ceased to operate and out of Ozzfest’s retirement came the birth of Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Fest.

2010 is the 3rd year in a row of Mayhem fest’s chaotic metal circus that comes to a town near you only to leave it in destruction. Kevin Lyman (founder of Vans Warped Tour) started the annual Mayhem Festival in order to give metal bands a touring festival in Ozzfest’s absence. It has served very well in bringing old and new bands together on 3 different stages for a low price that makes standing in the sun and head banging all day very worth while.


Saturday marked the kick off of this year’s festival, so to say that everyone in attendance was beyond energetic is a total understatement. Fans from all over southern California swarmed in on Devore’s Glen Helen Pavilion early in hopes of catching the fest openers on the side Jagermeister and Silver Star Stages. Los Angeles metal act Winds of Plague opened the event with their hybrid mix of death metal and symphonic synth attack that got fans moshing up a tornado cloud of dirt, dust and hell. Vocalist John Plague thanked the crowd for coming as early as they did despite the misprint on the ticket that stated the concert would begin at 2:30 as opposed to 1:45. Winds of Plague played a few tracks off their newest release “Decimate the Weak” before closing their set with fan favorite anthem “Reloaded”. It’s hard for many bands to open up huge events with such fan participation so early on in the day but Winds of Plague succeeded in doing so, be on the look out for them, they are on the heavy metal rise.

The sun is not too friendly to me this time of year, so I decided to play it safe and go over to catering in search of some much needed water. In the catering hall I bumped into the members of Hatebreed having lunch, after a brief chat with them I was able to talk their lead guitarist into doing an interview later on in the day. Be on the lookout for that soon, a Big Wheel exclusive!

The time had come for me to venture back out onto the huge grass area and catch more side stage bands, up next were heavy metal heroes Shadows Fall. By now a few more thousand fans had made there way into the festival grounds and to the side stage area. Shadows Fall had the pleasure of rocking the crowd to fan favorite songs like “King of Nothing”, “War” and set closer “Light that Blinds”. Shadows Fall were great at getting the crowd amped up for what was to come shortly, yes the almighty Hatebreed were due to destroy the Jagermeister stage next!

Hatebreed fronted by vocalist Jamey Jasta exploded into their set with a track off their new album self titled album “Hatebreed”. By now a few thousand more fans had made there way down to the side stage, chaos ensued through all of Hatebreed’s set never slowing down once. Judging by what I saw in the mosh pit crowd favorites were the songs “Destroy Everything”, “Live For This” and their biggest single to date, the song that broke them into the metal world; “I Will Be Heard”. The band played their set to the largest crowd of the side stage area of the day before making their way over to the Jagermeister stage where a long line was already forming to get posters autographed by the band free of charge!

The concert main focus shifted now from side stage area to the large main stage amphitheatre where Lamb Of God was set to destroy everything and everyone in attendance. Front man Randy Blythe had the hard task of working such a large stage and crowd but made it seem like cake as he ran from side to side effortlessly yet still screaming his uncompromising brutal assault of lyrics. In between songs smoke machine would fill the stage with a cloud of fog that looked ultra evil and hellish as red and purple lights lazered up and down the stage in synchronized time. The energy from the stage manifested itself in the orchestra section as 3 large circle pits broke into one very huge circle pit; hell it’s safe to say it was the largest pit of the day. Randy mentioned in between songs that he had spoke to production and that ticket sales have been down on recent summer tours, but not Mayhem tour as it was up 60% from last year and that fans must be tired of stupid top 40 bullshit! He then thanked everyone in the crowd for coming out and showing support despite a poor economy. Lamb of God closed their set with the track “Black Label” but not before the fans set off the WALL OF DEATH!! It was scary just watching safely from the side stage area, but very entertaining as well!

15 minutes later Film director / rock star Rob Zombie made his way to the stage. Fans love Rob, his stage persona and his songs mesh so well together, having awesome pyrotechnics and stage prop video screen help’s play on the importance of his image based live show. Hits like “Dragula” “Living Dead Girl” and “Thunder Kiss 65” got the largest praise. His set was definitely one for the fans whether you were in the lawn section or up front, to say people were blown away by the stage show would not do it justice. Rob Zombie is a show that gives you something to be excited for, just don’t try it at home, leave it to the professionals only!

The main event of the night was late 90’s metal heroes Korn who were welcome openly by all in attendance. Korn is a band that does something very different in unique in metal and often breaks barriers musically. They’re brand of metal went over really well with the young and old crowd who were upwards of 25,000 strong. Everything from Oil wells to bagpipes and pyro went off on stage through out their set that was comprised of early hits to newer singles. Their break through hit “Blind” had the largest sing along of the night, I surprisingly enjoyed myself, I gave Korn 2 thumbs down in 1998/1999 when they were all the rave, though they get 2 thumbs up in 2010, watching them with an open mind allowed me to really enjoy what they had to bring.

In closing to say that Mayhem festival was once again a success would be an understatement. I’ve been to many festivals in California and other states over the years and can honestly tell you that Mayhem fest is the biggest bang for your buck. There are zero emo screamo bands (who get better slots than genuine bands) trying to convince the young and impressionable masses that they are Punk rock, there are no hipster rap core groups and there are zilch scenester teeny bop pop bands paying their way onto the main stage like other summer tours allow. Ask yourselves what kind of a warped world do we live in in which that would be allowed and the norm? …I don’t feel I really need to mention what tour does that, though they are mentioned once or twice in this review already.

I look forward to Mayhem fest in 2011, though if you live outside of California Mayhem fest is likely still coming to a state near you!
Check out www.mayhemfest.com for more dates and info!

 

-Louie Bones-
Big Wheel Music Scene Reporter

 

 
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