Black Label Society - Colston Hall, Bristol - 23rd February 2011 (Live Review)
Thursday, 24 February 2011
Written by Jon Stickler
If you went outside about 9:00pm (GMT) yesterday evening wherever in the world you may have been, looked up and listened carefully into the still of the night, you would've heard one of the planet's most stunning spectacles! Black Label Society live on stage!
Hoardes of metalheads descended onto Bristol's Colston Hall last night for one of the loudest bands ever to tread its stage. Zakk Wylde and “brothers” Nick Cantanese (guitar), John DeServio (bass) and Will Hunt (drums) were all once again on electrifying form, proving themselves as a one of rock's most brutal live acts as they thundered through a set including both old and new Black Label Society material.
Following a stunning support show from surely one of the UK's most popular rising rock bands, Godsized, Black Label Society's rampage began from behind massive BLS flag sheilding the entire stage from view. Making final preparations for the onslaught, the odd glimpse of the road crew could be seen from behind the flag until the music faded, sirens blared and the amps fired into life! Dropping the flag to a primevil roar from the crowd, Zakk and co, dripping with chains, belts and clad in the ever-present BLS attire, thundered straight into action.
Despite nearly dying in 2009, Zakk Wylde still boasts the showmanship and stage presence that rivals very of hs fellow rock and roll icons. Hunched over the microphone, leading the charge, one boot on top of the monitor, a menacing Wylde looks like a rock-god sent to earth to blow your eardrums to hell. Backed-up by a wall of Marshall amplification (its seriously a wall!) and flanked by Cantanese and DeServio, Zakk powers through the raw, blistering riffs and chops of 'Overlord', 'Parade Of The Dead' and 'Crazy Horse' from current album 'Order Of The Black'.
The set is vast and with eight BLS albums under Zakk's leather-studded belt, some older songs are also thrown into the show with the BLS signature sound blasting out 'The Beginning...At Last', 'Whats In You', 'Funeral Bell' and 'Fire It Up' during which some large white BLS beach balls were thrown into the audience and punched about. I for one wasnt expecting that!
The frenzied pace slows at one point for the piano-based ballad 'In This River', Zakk's tribute to close friend and former legendary Pantera and Damageplan guitarist Dimebag Darrell who was killed in December 2004. A common misconception is that Wylde wrote the song as a tribute to his buddy, where in fact, he wrote the song many months prior to the incident, and afterwards decided to dedicate the song to him. Its an emotional moment and I dont care how big, hairy or how many patches you have on your back, the hairs on the back of your neck were definitely tingling for that one. Admit it.
Those who were at the gig last night may have felt a slight ache in the facial muscles during the final third of the show. Wondering what that was? Well it was your FACE MELTING as Zakk unleashed a guitar solo that would've put Nigel Tuffnel to shame. Over-looking the crowd, standing tall on his flight-case podium, Zakk made the once rocking auditorium fall silent as jaws dropped to watch Wylde reinforce the statement that he is one of the most prolific guitarists on the planet. Stepping down from his perch to stalk the stage right to left, all the while creating some of the most awesome sounds ever to come from a Flying V.
Closing the show, the band broke out crowd-pleasers 'Suicide Messiah', 'Concrete Jungle' and 'Stillborn' to top an incredible gig. To have my hearng back by Christmas will be the best present ever.
Tinnitus [tɪˈnaɪtəs] - n - (Medicine/Pathology): A ringing, hissing or booming sensation in one or both ears, caused by infection of the middle or inner ear, a side effect of certain drugs or listening to Black Label Society rip the roof off Bristol [from Latin, from tinnīre to ring].
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Following a stunning support show from surely one of the UK's most popular rising rock bands, Godsized, Black Label Society's rampage began from behind massive BLS flag sheilding the entire stage from view. Making final preparations for the onslaught, the odd glimpse of the road crew could be seen from behind the flag until the music faded, sirens blared and the amps fired into life! Dropping the flag to a primevil roar from the crowd, Zakk and co, dripping with chains, belts and clad in the ever-present BLS attire, thundered straight into action. 
