Concert Review: Machine Head and Arch Enemy at House of Blues

by Kenneth Smith of 2K7 Photography

Besides some amazingly cool weather, the best thing going on in Dallas on Thursday night was definitely Machine Head's "Black Tyranny Tour" at the House Of Blues. Not to state the obvious, but black was certainly the word of the night. I've seen more colorful clothing at funerals. Making me extra happy was the fact that they brought Sweden's Arch Enemy with them.

Once openers Throwdown were done working the crowd into a frenzy, Arch Enemy were ready to take the stage. With a one by one entry onto the stage, the whole band came out leaving vocalist and death-growl extrordinaire Angela Gossow last to emerge. The crowd immediately opened up into a huge mosh pit as the band tore into their heavy paced songs. At one point Gossow jokingly told the people in the front row to "stop smoking weed because she was getting stoned on stage". Admittedly, the smell of marijuana was thick in the House Of Blues that evening. After closing with the hugely popular (and my personal favorite) "We Will Rise" they exited the stage one by one.

After what seemed like forever (and made worse by the fact that I was standing right under an air vent, and nearly frozen) the lights went black and the curtain opened. It was time for Machine Head. One thing I have to mention is their clever arrangement of speakers on either side of the drums. They had 4 stacked diagonally in a metal V to form one big diamond. They were each covered with cloth that came together to form the bands logo. Call me easily impressed, but that was pretty cool. The crowd went nuts and the circle pit immediately opened right back up as they went into their first song. Machine Heads brand of pure heavy metal was just what this crowd ordered. They shredded through song after song as the crowd got rowdier and rowdier.

This show came just at the right time for me and really hit the spot. It had been a while since I have been to a full on metal show. It was just what I needed and can't wait to see either of these bands again.

This review was submitted by a member of the Pegasus News community.