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photographer: paul birman

Dethklok, High On Fire, Converge & Mastodon @ Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC (night 2) - pics

words by BBG, photos by Paul Birman

Jacob Bannon of Converge speaks softly
Converge

Gene Simmons is fond of saying some bands get it and some don’t.

Dethklok, the death metal band based on the popular Adult Swim “Metalocalypse” cartoon, definitely gets it.

At Tuesday’s stunning show at a packed-to-the-rafters House of Blues – the first of a two-night stand – Dethlok ringmaster Brendon Small and his metal compatriots played in the darkness, the better to provide the frantic soundtrack to the videos of the cartoon band that were shown on a screen behind them.

It was a mesmerizing and intense audio/visual experience that simultaneously celebrated and poked fun at the genre. How else do you explain fret-snapping songs with such titles as “Burn the Earth” and “Birthday Dethday”?

Mastodon preceded Dethklok with mind-bending videos of its own. The Atlanta band performed its acclaimed new album “Crack the Skye” in its entirety. A mix of psychedelic [, satanic] and interstellar imagery splashed across the video screen as the band tore through space-metal opuses “Oblivion” and “Divinations.” …

The bill also included influential Boston hardcore group Converge, which got the night’s first circle pit going with the scathing “The Broken Vow” from 2001’s “Jane Doe.” Inevitably, crowd surfing ensued. Vocalist Jacob Bannon even tossed his microphone to fans at one point for a good, old-fashioned hardcore gang chant. -[Boston Herald]

The review comes from the 10/27 Boston date of the Mastodon, Dethklok, Converge, and High On Fire tour. The four bands played Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC two days later (10/29), and then again at Hammerstein the night after that (10/30). More pictures from that last NYC show, below…

High On Fire

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Converge

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Dethklok

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Mastodon

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Pictures from the night before, HERE.

MASTODON – 2009 TOUR DATES
Nov 3 2009 The Norva NORFOLK, Virginia*
Nov 4 2009 The Fillmore Charlotte, North Carolina*
Nov 5 2009 Tabernacle Atlanta, Georgia*
Nov 6 2009 House of Blues Myrtle Beach, South Carolina*
Nov 7 2009 Hard Rock Live Orlando, Florida*
Nov 8 2009 Pompano Beach Amphitheater Pompano Beach, Florida*
Nov 11 2009 House of Blues Dallas, Texas*
Nov 12 2009 Verizon Wireless Theater Houston, Texas*
Nov 13 2009 Austin City Music Hall Austin, Texas*
Nov 14 2009 Brady Theater Tulsa, Oklahoma*
Nov 16 2009 Pan American Center Las Cruces, New Mexico*
Nov 17 2009 Marquee Theatre Tempe, Arizona*
Nov 18 2009 House of Blues Las Vegas, Nevada*
Nov 19 2009 Palladium Los Angeles, California*
Nov 20 2009 Hollywood Palladium Los Angeles, California*
Nov 21 2009 Event Center San Jose, California*
Jan 15 2010 Big Day Out Auckland
Jan 17 2010 Big Day Out Gold Coast
Jan 22 2010 Big Day Out Sydney
Jan 26 2010 Big Day Out Melbourne
Jan 29 2010 Big Day Out Adelaide
Jan 31 2010 Big Day Out Perth
* w/Dethklok, Converge, High On Fire