FREEDOM MORTGAGE PAVILION
CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY 09/15/2022
By: Steve Trager
Perhaps one of the best tour packages combined together this time around could very well be the best yet with two great well-rounded artists that have carried their weight in the world of heavy rock separately for decades leaves nothing off the table with still being popular today despite all the ups and downs in the world of music.
For many of us who have waited for two plus years for music to finally make a solid impact that have often tingled our senses and have wowed our visuals this was certainly a top notch four band package with the likes of Five Finger Death Punch and Megadeth as headliners not mentioning New comers from Mongolia The Hu and hailing from Austin Texas Fire From The Gods as a direct support for one incredible evening.
Despite critics who bash the brand of metal and clearly say it has hit a downward spiral for a lack of a better term here, there are numerous bands still alive and well hence the whole lets go out as a headliner and bring along some top notch names to add to the already blistering fire pit of metal we clearly still have that urge for heavy rock.
Even with the low turnout fan wise, roaming the parking lot I could hear FFDP music blearing from the speakers and smell the grilled food and the abundance of cannabis lofting in the air, that truly puts the emphasis on one hell of a show even before the decibels could be heard from the back of the general admission lawn.
Sitting through a few bands you know absolutely nothing about other than YouTube Videos and general info pivoting you toward going hey these guys are great attitude throws your sensibility into an endless circle with Fire from the Gods who are entertaining, have a great stage presence, and a bunch of great tracks spanning their latest CD Soul Revolution.
I honestly think I remember seeing their name in Vans Warped Tour, never seen they play in that cycle back then but they mentioned it a few times saying it’s great to be back and thanks for having us share the stage with some great acts.
The next band that truly wowed not just me but every single metal head that had that jaw dropping effect with The Hu, their second time on the east coast not as a headliner but one unusual band consisting of several members with that twist of Asian flair sprinkled with heavy metal style all of their own.
Being in the front row nestled behind the most pit area, just watching The Hu, play these unique instruments was a full blown visual to be seen, we all think differently about the cultures of different countries at hand here and this band absolutely brings that abundance of Asian flair with metal written all over it. I give credit where credit is due, an almost non speaking band other than a few words; every song was in their native tongue, and not mentioning the instruments played so surreal watching a YouTube video is nothing like the real visual.
Right smack in the middle of the whole production of this show we have thrash titans Megadeth with Marshall Cabinets spread across the stage with the drummer hoisted above the rig, thinking well done for this band once again bringing the full on mega decibels. Since the actual formation of this band going fast forward, many lineup changes like a fast paced revolving door, now with only one original member holding the fort down Dave Mustaine still churning out great music all these years with current line up with former White lions James LoMenzo belting out the bass lines from older to current material in their set.
There numerous songs they could do, throw in older iconic songs that have never been played before or at least in years yet still sticking with the vintage favorites like
“Trust”, “Symphony of Destruction”, “Peace Sells”, “Sweating Bullets” and opening with “Hanger 18” And obviously never going away empty handed with “Holy Wars”.
While this band comes around super often, you miss them once twice okay; they will eventually come back around on their own or with someone else to kick the metal up against your face.
The best is nothing but the greatest when it truly comes from a band with attitude and that no holds bar packing a punch with brass knuckles that is not only surreal, it’s one of their key elements with five individuals that branded themselves as Five Finger Death Punch.
With an all new show and fantastic stage production at hand, Vocalist Ivan Moody delivered a full on great show which we fans of FFDP have come to expect live in concert.
While this wasn’t the first time Camden’s waterfront hosted this great band, this summer marks the return with a new addition to the fold lead and rhythm guitarist Andy James or as moody introduced him to us better known as “AJ” replacing Jason Hook leaving the band a few short years ago.
The band was performing on all cylinders opening the sixteen song that included “Inside Out” from 2020’s release F8.What they do quite well is the cover of Bad Company’s classic “Bad Company” definitely never disappoints as many times as I have heard it live. Other great favorites “Trouble” from And Justice for none and “Wrong Side of Heaven” from the same title of volume 1.
Bands like this don’t always come around often and when they do its nothing short of stellar, high decibel guitar riffs not mentioning a mind blowing drum solo from Charlie “The Engine”Engen throwing that into the mix makes it a great visual spectacle by far. Let’s face it they also released a new record and could have easily filled the set list with 5 to 6 new songs and scrap the popular ones and just roll with that, the opposite here a new song or two tossed in and the hits that made them popular from the very initial beginning.
Ninety blistering minutes of pure adrenaline song after song everything a fan of this band has always had extreme high expectations of a great show and we got that and then some as people leaving with smiles, that right there says it all.
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