The final night of the Killswitch Engage/Dillinger Escape Plan/Every Time I Die/Parkway Drive show ended up being sold out at the Webster Theater in Hartford, CT.

Parkway Drive opened the show. The crowds quickly filled the room as Parkway began playing their set, bouncing about the stage. The band oozed great stage presence, and it was nice to see such a great commanding vocalist take hold of the crowd and the stage. Music was of the typical Metalcore atmosphere; it chugged along with the vocalist’s deep growls. While certainly holding their own in stage presence category, their set made it hard to differentiate between themselves and the other 2000 something Metalcore bands that are out today, which is sad because the crowd was enjoying their set.

Next, Buffalo, NY natives Every Time I Die took the stage. The songs fell together well, with tight hooks and smooth, blues influenced riffs that gave them a truly original sound. The vocalist, Keith Buckley, sometimes felt as if he didn’t fit the band. Great screamer, but his singing almost, at points felt southern rock meets lounge singer. Guitar work was fun to watch, as the band was very visibly exciting; with tilt-a-whirl-like guitar playing and drummer Mike Novak twirling his stick in the middle of snare hits. Time changes were done at a very fluid pace and the heavy thud of bass guitar work while the vocalist played a mean air guitar with his microphone stand. Surprisingly, Buckley pulled it off without cheesing up the act too much. Enjoyable band overall, and they worked the crowd to their advantage. The lights filled the room once more, and it was time for another break.

The waiting for Killswitch was torture due to the sold out venue. Waiting in line, in the same spot, for almost 10 minutes just to go to the bathroom was a struggle, and getting a drink was absolute madness. Without forcing way into the main floor—where mosh pit kings and queens lay about in a broken pile—there wasn’t much else to do but sweat, get a beer, or wait by one of the exit doors to cool off whenever it opened.

About 25 minutes later, Dillinger Escape Plan, the Mathcore lords, took the stage. Mathcore is hit or miss, but for the most part, headbanging with a calculator; extremely technical metal with various influences from other music forms. In most cases, the music resembles pure sonic abrasions against the ear. In Dillinger’s case, this was not the exception, but the law. The lighting improved on this band’s set, mixing strobe with blue shades. Breakdowns fizzled into slight plucking of strings. The band was always extremely energetic, but the music, ranging from solid hard rocking, up-tempo pieces to blurry fragments of metal filled with blast beats and screaming vocals that bring the groove to an incomprehensible halt. The show’s speed kicked back up with Killswitch’s arrival.

Killswitch Engage’s lead vocalist and Waterbury, CT native Howard Jones leapt into a sea of sweaty fans for fun up to three times during their set. His smile said everything: it’s truly rare to see such happiness from a band on tour, especially one that puts in 110 percent. Killswitch Engage is a band that is primarily comprised of members from the Connecticut/Massachusetts area, all of which felt extremely blessed to play at the Webster. Jones thanked the fans in the area because “It all started with you, New England.” before climbing back into the vocal seat, stomping through the stage, smiling while delivering smooth vocals with harsh screams.

One of the guitarists, Adam Dutkiewicz, was prancing around in a black cape and pants that were cut into strips. His knees bowed as if he were marching to his own oddball beat, and he really put a humourous feel to his stage presence. This unfortunately makes the band feel less serious and more slapstick. Dutkiewicz should leave the clowning to his obvious idol, Devin Townsend, who happens to be much better at it.

One original highlight, however, was the introduction of each member when the band came on stage. Bob Barker’s famous game show theme began playing in the background with an announcer saying each member’s name and telling them to “come on down!”

The pit was larger than most at the Webster; the stench of sweat and skin stronger with each inch towards the circle of slinging bodies and crowd surfing. Dutkiewicz called for a “Wall of Death” which was outlawed in several states across the country. The pit split into two walls, and upon the breakdown, the two sides clashed, fighting with fists and shoves for some sort of internal reward. The band’s reward, after closing the show with the Dio cover “Holy Diver,” was the short distance to bedtime after putting on a solid final show.

| 02.05.2008 | Review by Michael Levy |