Zakk Wylde’s Black Label Society @ UNSW Roundhouse, 28th November ’15
Stepping into The Roundhouse on this late spring eve, the palpable buzz of anticipation from Sydney’s metal community was undeniable.
Afterall it is not every day a legend of the genre, a certain Mr Zakk Wylde, strolls into town. The denim jackets and BLS patches are everywhere as the lights dim and the sounds of Sabbath fill the room, an introductory soundtrack guaranteed to pour more fuel onto the already pulsing sea of metalheads.
Ostensibly in town to showcase last year’s ‘Catacombs Of The Black Vatican‘, a sizeable portion of that record is pumped out.
The likes of ‘Heart Of Darkness‘ and ‘My Dying Time‘ are appreciated but as with any longstanding act it is the dips back into the archives that stir up the more frenzied responses. The band went right back to 1998’s ‘The Beginning.. At Last‘ before ploughing through a number of tracks from ‘The Blessed Hellride‘, the title track and ‘Stillborn‘ bringing up the rear of the set.
As well as the relentlessly storming music, Zakk Wylde’s Black Label Society have a commanding stage presence that is lead by the intimidating frontman. Zakk Wylde resembles a pillaging viking as he stands front and centre, a flurry of hair and dancing fingers.
The chest beating at the end of ‘Bleed For Me’ was primal and scary which is what you want from the lead of a serious metal act. Well assisted by long serving bassist John Deservio and the relatively new combination of Dario Iorna (second guitar) and double kicking drummer Jeff Fabb, the current line up of BLS society put on a show as brutal as it was entertaining.
Photos: Benon Julius William Otto Koebsch
He can also be found clinging to his youth on a skateboard or wandering aimlessly through the bush.
- The Beards @ The Metro, 2nd July ’16 - July 8, 2016
- Parkway Drive @ Wollongong Uni, 25th June ’16 - July 1, 2016
- Basement @ The Factory, 27th May ’16 - June 3, 2016
