The next band up was another first experience. The band is called August Burns Red, and the music is some sort of -core, perhaps experimental metalcore? I don't know. Half the time I just make the terms up, whatever seems to sound right. There's too much divisive labeling going on anyway. Whatever you want to call them, there was no denying that they impressed.

August Burns Red's music was heavy, diverse, and very tight. There was something about them that really got to me. I cannot say that they were great by any stretch, but there was definitely something about the heavy riffs, breakdowns, leads, and in your face energy that I really liked. The set reached its peak with a cut from their latest album, The Messengers. The song is called "The Eleventh Hour." The song was easily the best one of the set, it offered up the most complete sonic experience of their half hour, and of the show so far.

This is definitely a band to keep an eye on, and one I will definitely acquire some music from.

The further into the show I got, the better the music became. This is the sign of a good show. Well, sure, we would all want every band to be excellent, or at least great, but if a show features a build up to the headliner paved with successively better performances, that's the next best thing.

The final opening act was Darkest Hour, a melodic metalcore act that I was first introduced to earlier this year when I reviewed their latest album, Deliver Us. It is a very good album, not exactly groundbreaking, but definitely worth the listen. Their live performance takes the album recording to the next level. Live music is easy to get into and Darkest Hour make it that much easier. Their set began the same way the album does. "Doomsayer" got the set off to a great start.

Their music is heavy and very catchy. The live versions of their songs were that much more addictive. The energy flowed freely between the crowd and the band, everyone feeding off everyone else. Three songs made it from the new album to the live setlist, making the number of songs I recognized, you guessed it, three. In addition to "Doomsayer" the set also included "Demon(s)" and the title track, "Deliver Us." Even knowing so few songs I was right there with the crowd, feeding the band with out cheers. They sounded great, crunchy riffs, driving drums, raw vocals, and some nice tandem soloing. Their music is not quite as inventive as August Burns Red was, but it was still one hell of a performance.