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Stillborn Fest

Roseland Ballroom 12.27.04

NYC, NY

~Janee~

 
Stillborn Fest. The name should just give it all away. For those of you whose psychic powers aren't quite up to speed, Stillborn Fest is a three show mini tour, generally hitting Boston. NYC and Philadelphia presented by none other than Jamey Jasta's Stillborn Records. The line up usually features some of the best bands in hardcore and metal today. This year was no exception. The NYC lineup was The Autumn Offering, Full Blown Chaos, Candiria, God Forbid, Agnostic Front and headlining all the mayhem none other than Hatebreed.
 
I don't know how familiar any of you are with these bands, or my musical background. Let me break it down quickly to you. Full Blown Chaos and Candiria were bands that used to play this shitty DIY punk venue 4 years ago. They caused the place to explode with energy everytime they played. In short they were two of the best acts on the local scene and now they are both signed and getting airplay on MTV2 Headbangers Ball almost every saturday night. Agnostic Front is an old school NYHC band going into their 23rd year of making music.  God Forbid is one of the leaders in the new metal movement, the Autumn Offering is a younger band from down south who plays some heavy fucking metal and Hatebreed... Let me just say this... if you don't know who they are... you should be shot!  Being that this event was taking place in NYC it was just a recipe for some kick ass pits and one hell of a good time.
 
Unfortunately, due to some circumstances that were out of my control, I missed the Autumn Offerings set. However a reliable source told me the pits were cooking for them and that they just put on a short, but great set to kick off the night. I say that if listening to their album is any indication as to what these boys do onstage... I can't fucking wait until the next time they come around!
 
Full Blown Chaos took the stage next and everyone was ready for them being that they are some of the hometown boys. From the first song the pit was on fire as Ray, Mike, Jeff and Ed expressed their innermost demons through their brutal music and intense lyrics. Possibly the highlight of the set was when vocalist Ray Mazzola sent out a song to all the troops and to everyone who has friends and family in the military. The message was taken to heart by many and the song definitely heated the crowd up.
 
Next up was Candiria. Candiria managed to maintain the energy that was created by Full Blown Chaos and amplified it. Played a lot of material off their latest release "What Doesn't Kill you.." which is a highly emotional album for the band based on the fact that shortly before they recorded it the band was involved in a horrible crash with their van that left some members hospitalized. The phrase is "what doesn't kill, makes you stronger" and for Candiria.. their set was evidence of this. Crowd really dug what Carley Coma and the band threw at them and at that point in the night the pits were stronger than they had been since doors.
 
God Forbid took the stage next and poured all they had into their set. Unfortunately for them by this point most of the crowd had decided they were going to stop dancing and "save" themselves for Hatebreed. It wasn't from the lack of trying on the band's part though. Energetic although rather short set. The frontman also hinted at a new God Forbid album coming in 2005 so all you fanatics may want to keep your eyes peeled for that.
 
Agnostic Front, one of the legends in NYHC was up next. I don't know whether it was because the fans were still saving themselves, or if they were in total awe is to blame from the lack of pit reaction the band received. However AF was just as impressive as when I saw them last time. And I can't wait to see them again!
 
Finally, the band the majority of the audience was waiting for burst onto the stage. The band's name is Hatebreed. And with them.. if you don't want to dance.. you better get the fuck off the floor. The band opened with "Last Breath" and by the middle of "Straight to your Face" which was their third song or so... the whole dancefloor of Roseland Ballroom was a moshpit. This pit was divided into three sections. The major pit in the center. A smaller one to the right of the stage and a girls pit on the left of the stage. Those people who weren't actually in the pit, skirted the edges of it and were slamming side to side and jumping up and down. Jamey Jasta had complete control over the crowd and was as menacing and intense as ever. One of the funnier moments in the set was when Jasta  ordered everyone in the crowd to take a deep breath and look at the people around them. Then screamed something along the lines of because by the end of this next song, they will no longer be there. Another moment that stands out in my mind is when Jasta counted off the pits, and demanded for the next song that he wanted 3 defined circle pits. What that kid wants.. he gets. The three circle pits that formed were definitely some of the most devastating I have ever saw. It was incredible! Some of the songs where the place seriously felt as if it was going to explode were "Live for This" in which Jasta told everyone who was there that they all, and the whole experience of the show is the reason he lives, "This is Now" and the set closer "I will Be Heard". Of course, what is a great frontman without a great band? Sean, Beattie and Matt were totally on their game throughout the set. Hatebreed is one of the best live bands I have seen, and the whole night was just nonstop fun!
 
All in all.. one hell of a show.. Can't wait until the next Stillborn presented festival!