Lamb of God and Mastodon, two of the raddest metal bands on Earth, ripped through the KIA Forum in Los Angeles last week, celebrating the 20th anniversary of each band’s 2004 milestone albums, Ashes of the Wake and Leviathan. Lamb of God emerged from the bustling New Wave of American Heavy Metal scene in the early 2000s. At the same time, Mastodon sprawled out of the wonderfully old-time-filled world of the early millennium Relapse Records roster. Ashes of the Wake’s tight songwriting and stellar production launched Lamb of God into the stratosphere. At the same time, Leviathan introduced the world to Mastodon’s prog, which meets old-fashioned rock’n’roll tendencies that would eventually propel them to rock stardom. The Ashes of Leviathan tour finds Lamb of God and Mastodon rocking arenas together while playing old-school songs from their days in clubs and small theaters. You better believe their Los Angeles stop at the Forum sold out and made for one of the wildest metal shows in recent memory.

As we settled in, iconic Slayer guitarist Kerry King was annihilating the stage with his new solo band. The Forum is located in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Inglewood and is home to three of Southern California’s most famous concert venues, all within a mile of each other. By the time Kerry King wrapped up his set, the Forum’s massive general admission floor was complete, and the final waves of fans trapped on nearby freeway off-ramps made their way to their seats inside.

Mastodon hit the stage with roaring applause. The opening notes of Leviathan’s first track, “Blood and Thunder,” still rattle the soul two decades later, and the packed crowd inside the Forum ate up every second of it. Mastodon’s sound has evolved over the past twenty years. A modern Mastodon set would include ambitious prog epics, kick-ass rock tunes, and feature the band’s famed three-vocalist assault. Since this was an old-school Leviathan set, the band stayed in their glorious, frenzied metal mode. Bassist Troy Sanders handled most of the vocals, occasionally trading howls with guitarist Brent Hinds, just like it was 2004 all over again. Hearing songs like “I Am Ahab,” “Naked Burn,” and “Hearts Alive” in person once again was truly something special. For those who remember catching Mastodon at the Troubadour in Hollywood back in the day, this was a surreal trip down memory lane. For those who missed the band’s early days, this was a history lesson in the flesh…but with walls of pyro this time!

The audience was ready for the performance of the Lamb of God’s pummeling Ashes of the Wake. Opening track “Laid to Rest” has become more than just a staple of the band’s live set over the years; it’s a certified metal anthem. Saying this opening number whipped the sweaty masses inside the Forum into a frenzy would be an understatement. Frontman Randy Blythe hollered and leaped across the stage as walls of flames shot up behind him. Guitarist Mark Morton and bassist John Cambell’s long hair swayed across their faces amidst plumes of smoke and fog, while guitarist Willie Adler’s backward hat exposed his grin for all to see. Drummer and hometown hero Art Cruz appeared to be having the most fun. This LA native grew up listening to Lamb of God and was now rocking a sold-out gig in one of Southern California’s most iconic venues as a full-fledged member of his favorite band. The crowd’s energy never waned during the Lamb of God’s set. Watching Richmond’s favorite sons tear through rarely played gems like “Hourglass” and “The Faded Line” kept fists pumping and heads banging all night. Lamb of God’s headlining set at Sounds of The Underground 2005, in the parking lot of the old LA Sports Arena, left a lasting impression on everyone in attendance. We’re talking about multiple bonfires and thousands of sun-burnt, inebriated fans shouting lyrics from “Laid to Rest” [namely, “See who gives a fuck!”] as LAPD helicopters patrolled the sky. The band’s closing set on this Ashes of Leviathan will be another story for SoCal metal heads to pass down over the years. Everyone will be talking about the vast circle pit that engulfed the Forum floor during the band’s final encore song, “Redneck.” Lamb of God put on yet another masterclass for their rabid LA fans this night and proved that even 20+ years later, they’re still at the top of their game.

MASTODON

LAMB OF GOD