CONVERGE brings catharsis to the Fine Line

CONCERT REVIEW :: CONVERGE & BRUTUS
Fine Line in Minneapolis, MN
May 24, 2023
Photos by Brett Zisler
Review by Nick

CONVERGE doesn't tour often especially to MN so when this show was announced for the very small Fine Line in Minneapolis, I snapped up tickets immediately. CONVERGE did not disappoint. A full headlining set with a different set list then when they came thru with MESHUGGAH last Sept. It was evident from the first note with the emotion that outpoured out of Jacob Bannon that this was going to be a special set.

CONVERGE is an insanely tight group of musicians that create complete choas on record and to think that they can replicate that sound live with just the four of them is mind blowing. Incredible bassist Nate Newton matches Bannon's insane energy, producer mastermind guitarist Kurt Ballou and insanely talented drummer Ben Koller all focus on bringing the maximum intensity throughout the entire set.

The set was heavy on the Axe to Fall record but still packed most of what you would want to hear in a Converge setlist considering their huge catalog. I was just happy to hear "Under Duress", "I Can Tell You About Pain" and "All We Love We Leave Behind" everything else was a bonus! CONVERGE could have went in to an hour of outtakes and I would've been happy as long as those 3 were in the set ... and there probably would've been a good chunk of the crowd that would have been excited about that.

The crowd hung on every note and every word of every song that was played. It was that I miss during bigger shows. The connectivity between the band and the fans in this small setting with no barricade is something that you never forget. Making this easily one of the best shows I've seen this year so far.

Belgium's BRUTUS were direct support to CONVERGE and made me a fan. I've heard since their album 2019 album Nest was released but never got to see them live until tonight. BRUTUS did not disappoint. Their swirling sound builds up to creshendos and definately best caught live in person. They played the first six songs from their latest record Unison Life along with a couple older tunes to a very attentive crowd.

My only small complaint was I wish vocalist and drummer Stefanie Mannaerts' vocals were a little louder in the mix during the heavier parts but in the more quiet moments, they were excellent. Like CONVERGE, BRUTUS also creates a wall of sound with only 3 members in the band. Along with Stefanie, guitarist Stijn Vanhoegaerden and bassist Peter Mulders create intensity that weaves in and out of each other in harmony.

As far as pairings go, it doesn't get much better than CONVERGE and BRUTUS together .. add in a very energetic and attentive crowd and you got a mixture that only bands and fans dream about.

SEE MORE OF BRETT's PICTURES OF CONVERGE and BRUTUS HERE!

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 05/26/23 - KINGS NEVER DIE

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 05/26/23
GUESTS :: KINGS NEVER DIE

HOUR 1
BUTCHER BABIES - "red thunder" // red thunder - single
HALESTORM - "bombshell" // back from the dead
THE WARNING - "more" // more - single
PLUSH - "left behind" // left behind - single
EVA UNDER FIRE - "death of me" // love, drugs and misery
COLD KINGDOM - "broken world" // love//life
THE SIERRA DAY - "closed out" // shanaska
FLYLEAF - "new horizons" // new horizons

SLEEP TOKEN – “the apparition" // take me back to eden
WEEKEND PICNIC - "before your time" // weekend picnic
THE FAILSAFE - "burn it to the ground" // burn it to the ground - single
SEVENDUST – “everything” // truth killer
SAUL – “a million miles” // this is it…the end of everything
OFF WITH THEIR HEADS – “nightlife" // home
DROPKICK MURPHYS – “the boys are back" // signed and sealed in blood
THE INTERRUPTERS – “a friend like me" // the interrupters

HOUR 2
KINGS NEVER DIE – “this one's for you” // all the rats
KINGS NEVER DIE – “stay true” // all the rats
KINGS NEVER DIE – “make them anymore” // all the rats

RANCID - "tomorrow never comes" // tomorrow never comes
MUTOID MAN – “call of the void” // mutants
CAVE IN – “new reality" // heavy pendulum
VIA - "reincarnate" // the day of purification
JOHNNY BOOTH - "collapse in the key of fireworks" // moments elsewhere
NITA STRAUSS feat ANDERS FRIDEN – “the golden trail” // the call of the void
EX-REGIME feat JT CAVEY - "keeping out the wolves" // keeping out the wolves - single
CONVERGE - "tender abuse" // all we love we leave behind

**SPECIAL THANKS to DAN from KINGS NEVER DIE for calling in to the Midwest Beatdown this week! KINGS NEVER DIE's first full length album "All The Rats" is out today via Metalville Records!

Midwest Beatdown · Kings Never Die interview

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 05/19/23 - UNEARTH

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 05/19/23
GUESTS :: UNEARTH

HOUR 1
MUTOID MAN - "call of the void" // mutants
DROPKICK MURPHYS – “turn up that dial" // turn up that dial
THE INTERRUPTERS – “bad guy" // bad guy - single
SCOWL – “psychic dance routine" // psychic dance routine
FOO FIGHTERS - "under you" // but here we are
THROW THE FIGHT - "obey" // strangeworld
AS EVERYTHING UNFOLDS - "slow down" // ultraviolet
NITA STRAUSS feat ANDERS FRIDEN – “the golden trail” // the call of the void

DIVIDE THE FALL – “fake love" // dead memories
COLD – “remedy" // year of the spider
MAMMOTH WVH – “another celebration at the end of the world” // mammoth II
THE LONELY ONES – “Gucci bags” // Gucci bags – single
COREY TAYLOR – “on the darkside" // CMF..B-sides
SLEEP TOKEN – “vore" // take me back to eden
UNEARTH - "giles" // III: in the eyes of fire

HOUR 2
UNEARTH - "the wretched; the ruinous" // the wretched; the ruinous
UNEARTH - "dawn of the militant" // the wretched; the ruinous
UNEARTH - "aniara" // the wretched; the ruinous
UNEARTH - "broken arrow" // the wretched; the ruinous

STORMBREAKER - "to the grave" // to the grave - single
OTTTO - "dance of the dead" // life is a game
CONVERGE – “I can tell you about pain" // the dusk in us
BRUTUS – “cemetary" // nest
GABRIEL AND THE APOCALYPSE - "blunt force drama" // blunt force drama - single
EVERNOIR - "concerning narcissists" // concerning narcissists - single
ALESTORM – “treasure chest party quest" // curse of the crystal coconut

**SPECIAL THANKS to TREVOR from UNEARTH for calling in to the Midwest Beatdown this week! UNEARTH's new album "The Wretched; The Ruinous" is out now via Century Media. UNEARTH will be a part of MILWAUKEE METAL FEST May 26-28 with LAMB OF GOD, ANTHRAX, SUCIDIAL TENDENCIES, MACHINE HEAD, AFTER THE BURIAL, THE HALO EFFECT and tons more!

Midwest Beatdown · Unearth interview 2023

CONCERT REVIEW :: AVATAR comes back bigger and better than ever

CONCERT REVIEW :: AVATAR, VEIL OF MAYA, ORBIT CULTURE
Skyway Theater – Minneapolis, MN
May 12, 2023
Photos by Brett Zisler
Review by Nick

The time has come… it was time for AVATAR to grace us with another headlining performance, the first time in MN since the release of this year’s Dance Devil Dance record. Waiting to get in, I saw lots of Hawaiian style Avatar shirts and people were excited for the Swedish band’s return.

Glory to the King! The crowd eagerly awaited AVATAR’s arrival chanting “Av-A-Tar” and the band did not disappoint when they came out sparks flying with “Dance Devil Dance” the title track of the new record. The band didn’t pause as they doubled down with “The Eagle Has Landed” and “Valley of Disease” before giving the crowd a chance to breathe. Vocalist Johannes Eckerstrom addressing the crowd and encouraging the pit to get primal for “Chimp Mosh Pit” which perfectly led in to “Scream Until You Wake”.

Like a magic show or circus performance, AVATAR has perfected being masters of distraction to keep the crowd guessing what’s going to happen next. Guitarists Jonas Jarlsby and Tim Ohrstrom had a little guitar duel before “Bloody Angel” and drummer John Alfredsson led bassist Henrik Sandelin thru a tempo change to “Puppet Show” before Johannes appeared in the balcony to make a balloon animal before the trombone solo.

Most bands give the drummer a solo to show off his chops while the rest of the band takes a breath. Not Avatar and not John. Dance break!

“Do You Feel in Control” was a nice dip in to the new album amongst older tracks before “Black Waltz”. “Colossus” and “Let It Burn” got the pits churning but the crowd was never louder than the King appeared for “A Statue of the King.”

By this time, Avatar is at an 1 hour 40ish minutes when they throw down with a heavy encore of favorites the recent single “The Dirt I’m Buried In” into “Smells Like a Freakshow” and ending with an epic “Hail the Apocalypse”. AVATAR gets better and better each time they come thru. AVATAR was showing off just what they are capable of with a 2 hour frenzy to make sure everyone went home fulfilled with the insanity that they just watched on stage. Who’s ready for an encore of the entire set? I am!

Chicago’s VEIL OF MAYA were in the middle slot. No stranger to Minneapolis or the Skyway Theater, the band came out to a loud response as they dived right in with “Viscera”. Playing a few tracks from False Idol and Matriarch before celebrating the release of their brand new record (M)other that was released earlier in the day. The very technical band is fun to watch as guitarist Marc Okubo, bassist Danny Hauser and drummer Sam Applebaum are each equally as talented as the other. The middle of the set is where the real standouts of the set came in the brand new “Red Fur” sounded just as much in place with the set as the previous track “Lisbeth”. “Godhead” and “Synthwave Vegan” from the new album went over very well. Vocalist Lukas Magyar’s vocals perfectly soared above the technicality on “Outrun” and the band closed out the set with a victorious version of “Mikasa”.

Sweden’s ORBIT CULTURE opened the show with a furious 30 minute set that was greatly received by the crowd. The crowd was loud from the very beginning of the set with “Open Eye” and chanting along “Get Out!” during “Strangler”. We were treated to a couple new songs in the set list than they played on the In Flames tour last fall including a crushing new track “Alienated” that will be on their new album Descent that will finally be released this summer. ORBIT CULTURE has gotten even stronger live than the previous fall and the crowd size definitely grew when the band went to the merch booth afterwords to sign and take pictures. Awesome to watch this band grow and the crowd responding in size. Maybe we’ll see them get longer than a 30 minute set next time they come thru!

SEE MORE OF BRETT's AVATAR PHOTOS HERE!

PHOTO GALLERY :: SHINEDOWN @ Target Center in Minneapolis

PHOTO GALLERY :: SHINEDOWN
Target Center in Minneapolis, MN
April 30, 2023
Photos by Brett Zisler

SHINEDOWN brought their The Revolution's Live tour to the Target Center in Minneapolis, MN with THREE DAYS GRACE and FROM ASHES TO NEW opening! SHINEDOWN brought their biggest tour production to date with a stage that went out in to the crowd and lots of pyro!

CHECK OUT MORE OF BRETT's PHOTOS FROM SHINEDOWN HERE!

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 05/12/23 - JAMEY JASTA - MILWAUKEE METAL FEST

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 05/12/23
GUESTS :: JAMEY JASTA / MILWAUKEE METAL FEST

HOUR 1
SAUL - "a million miles" // this is it...the end of everything
THE WARNING - "more" // more - single
LOST ISLAND SOCIETY - "another year" // another year - single
DREAMS ASIDE – “heavy" // heavy - single
JOHNNYROOK – “happy birthday" // the more things change
ROYAL THUNDER - "fade" // rebuilding the mountain
AVATAR – “on the beach" // dance devil dance

VEIL OF MAYA – “outrun" // outrun - single
ORBIT CULTURE – “flight of the fireflies" // shaman
GREG PUCIATO feat REBA MYERS - "lowered" // mirrorcell
THE BURN VAULT – “even rock stars die too" // demo
RANCID – “tomorrow never comes” // tomorrow never comes
SCOWL – “opening night" // psychic dance routine
RAD OWL - "hannah barbera" // madison beast
MOON TOOTH – “nymphaeaceae" // phototroph

HOUR 2
SEVENDUST - "everything" // truth killer
BUTCHER BABIES - "red thunder" // red thunder - single
JASTA feat JESSE LEACH - "strength to draw the line" // the lost chapters II
BODYSNATCHER - "dead rabbit" // dead rabbit - single
AFTER THE BURIAL - "death keeps us from living" // embrace the infinity
DYING WISH - "torn from your silhouette" // torn from your silhouette - single

LAMB OF GOD - "ruin" // as the palaces burn
ANTHRAX - "earth on hell" // worship music
VENDED - "overall" // overall - single
UNEARTH - "erdicator" // the wretched; the ruinous
DEVILDRIVER - "bloodbath" // dealing with demons vol 2

**SPECIAL THANKS to JAMEY JASTA for calling in to the Midwest Beatdown this week to talk all about the MILWAUKEE METAL FEST happening Memorial Day weekend in Milwaukee, WI! If you're up for a road trip, the lineup is stellar!

Midwest Beatdown · Jamey Jasta Milwaukee Metal Fest interview

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 05/05/23

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 05/05/23

HOUR 1
DEVILDRIVER - "this relationship broken" // dealing with demons vol 2
DREAMS ASIDE - "reflections" // lotus
JOHNNYROOK - "feel it all again" // the more things change
YOURS TRULY feat YOU ME AT SIX - "hallucinate" // is this what I look like?
AGAINST THE CURRENT - "jump" // fever
BEARTOOTH - "sunshine!" // sunshine - single
DOROTHY - "a beautiful life" // gifts from the holy ghost

VVAKEFIELD - "bitter" // bitter - single
COMMON CHOIR - "deformed//devoid" // deformed//devoid - single
THROW THE FIGHT - "obey" // strangeworld
ALTER BRIDGE - "holiday" // pawns and kings
SEVENDUST - "fence" // truth killer
PLUSH - "left behind" // left behind - single
STORMBREAKER - "to the grave" // to the grave - single
3TEETH feat MICK GORDON - "merchant of the void" // merchant of the void - single
VEIN - "rebirth protocol" // errorzone

HOUR 2
BETTER LOVERS - "30 under 13" // 30 under 13 - single
GREG PUCIATO - "do you need me to remind you" // child solider
MOTIONLESS IN WHITE feat BRYAN GARRIS - "slaughterhouse" // scoring the end of the world
KNOCKED LOOSE - "mistakes like fractures" // a different shade of blue
AFTER THE BURIAL - "nothing gold" // embrace the infinity
SPIRITBOX - "the void" // the void - single
MURDERDOLLS - "my dark place alone" // women and children last

GEMINI SYNDROME - "IDK" // 3rd degree - the raising
INFECTED RAIN - "pendulum" // the devil's dozen
BLACK SATELLITE - "void" // void - single
AVATAR - "valley of disease" // dance devil dance
VEIL OF MAYA - "synthwave vegan" // (m)other
CURRENTS - "remember me" // the death we seek
UNEARTH - "the wretched; the ruinous" // the wretched; the ruinous