Anthrax and Killswitch Engage at the Forge

Round II / Sold Out with – Heavyweights Anthrax and Killswitch Engage Share Tour

The Forge Joliet IL, USA, Feb 27 2018

By Jake Warkel

 

I want to start by saying yes I’m glad I’m here covering this sold out show Anthrax and Killswitch in the small venue The Forge in Joliet Illinois at the same time I don’t understand why these two bands would want to play this venue when there’s many other venues with larger stages with more room to move around on. The Forge has a stage set up with the two main structure beam supports on the right and left of the stage but in the middle enough of the stage to cause problems which is enough to hinder any proper stage movement from a band such as Anthrax and hell pretty much most bands. I’m curious how Scott Ian is going to do his famous war dance and then jump on the mic with the dam beam in the way.

Last March when I covered Anthrax I thought they were lights out at Arcada Theatre they just killed and my anticipation right now to see how they do tonight is up there I’ve seen Anthrax more times than I can even count starting in late 80’s and I’ve only been disappointed once at a Anthrax show and that was back in May 2008 at the Double Door when they bombed with Dan Nelson as the singer and I only went because I wanted to see what Anthrax was trying to do without Joey Belladonna who is Anthrax in my eyes and always will be. I’m a John Bush fan Armored Saint fan but when John was in Anthrax I was a Pissed off Anthrax fan. They did some great work with John Bush played killer shows yes but I never considered it Anthrax. Let’s just say I’ve been a happier Anthrax fan since 2010 when Joey Belladonna came back into the picture. The Resurrection of Anthrax came from the release of Worship the Music album in 2011 which was by far one of the best albums and then to comeback in 2016 for the album release For All Kings that was even better than Worship was amazing. Both these albums that they released raised the bar for the other Big 4 bands in my opinion. Anthrax just put out the better albums out of the Big 4 bands in the last 10 years.

 

Killswitch Engage rose to fame with its 2004 release The End of Heartache and has been a force to be wrecking with since. The band formed in 1999 with singer Jessie Leach but then Leach left the band in 2002 when Leach was replaced by vocalist Howard Jones. Jones is who I saw singing the last time I saw Killswitch Engage but as time goes by Killswitch Engage found themselves singer-less for a second time in 2012, Leach was full of piss and vinegar to reclaim what was once his spot. Jessie Leach proved that he can take the role as lead singer and continue as a forceful lead singer and here we are getting ready to see them in action tonight.

The crowd is filling in as the thrash metal band Havok from Denver start to get this crowd warmed up. Havok is a high energy band that has this crowd early. They are great musicians with some technical nuances, which is why these guys are the younger thrash metal bands that will carry the torch going forward. Havok definitely won this crowd over and gained some new fans, as they just primed the crowd while waiting for Killswitch Engage to take the stage.

This co-headliner tour has Killswitch Engage playing second and Anthrax Headlining tonight. I love this tour for the simple reason the crowd is so mixed full of older people and younger people, it’s great to see. The lights are out and the crowd is ready for a great night as Killswitch Engage blasts the stage right off the bat starting the night with an old favorite “Rose of Sharyn”, also out of the 17 song Setlist of old favorites “My Last Serenade”, “Hate By Design” and “The End Of Heartache”. Jessie Leach commanded the crowd with his stage presence back and forth all night. Adam Dutkiewicz was crazy on guitar all night jumping around with his knee brace on and at one point decided to sneak out into the crowd and play guitar which had some of his road crew leary about that decision but at the end of the day the fans loved it. To finish the night off for Killswitch Engage they played an a amazing cover of Dio’s “Holy Diver”, featuring Joey Belladonna to close their set. Having Joey come out and sing that song is so perfect. The Crowd was rowdy and moshing it up with some bodysurfing of course and I will only expect the same when Anthrax takes the stage now.

Iron Maiden “Number of the Beast” is now playing which means it’s almost time for Anthrax to take the stage. In regular fashion “I Can’t Turn You Loose” song by The Blues Brothers and has been one of Anthrax’s staples before running out on stage. What makes this so perfect for the first time is that Anthrax is actually in Joliet where Joliet Jake spent his time in the big house in the Movie Blues Brothers. Joey Belladonna and the guys came out in full force crushing their classic “Among the Living” followed by “Caught in a Mosh” which had this crowd body surfing and moshing without hesitation. Frank Bello is like the energizer bunny, the guy is just killer, most wish they can move and have that constant day in day out adrenaline to own a stage like Frank.

Anthrax’s setlist was full of classics other than 2 songs on the night “Fight ‘Em ‘Til You Can’t” that was from the first single from Anthrax’s 2011 album Worship Music and the second song was “Breathing Lightning”, the first official track from Anthrax’s latest album For All Kings. Joey Belladonna all night was interacting with the fans in the crowd, too side of the stage, in front of stage and also the balcony. Charlie Benante was killer on drums as usual here in his home state. Johnny Donais was fluent and slick like he wasn’t even there. Johnny is a great guitarist and makes it look so easy but a very quiet guy. Scott Ian did take to the microphone to point out during the show how cool it is playing here in Joliet while their Blues Brothers intro song mentions Joliet Jake and the movies based out of this area. While Scott Ian was on the microphone Joey was like a little kid throwing stickers into the crowd and guitar picks. Tonight we had no encores but finishing their set with 3 strong songs “Be All”, “Anti Social” and “Indians” to finish the night.

The fans were definitely leaving happy other than 2 that I witnessed getting thrown out earlier and one of the guys that got thrown out was a gentleman in his mid 50’s who was tossed out halfway thru the set and yes he started crying. I can’t make this shit up but he started to flat out cry once he realized he couldn’t talk his way out of getting the boot.

The only disappointing part for me was Anthrax only played 11 songs as the headliner tonight which flew by so fast. Anthrax is one band I never can get enough of. For a band that has been around as long as they have and are as old as they are no one can touch them, when it comes to larger than life stage presence. They’re nonstop in your face energy and craziness keeps you so involved and wanting more. That’s what happens when you own the crowd.

Anthrax will be back here in Chicago area with Slayer May 25, 2018 at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Tinley Park so make sure you pick up your tickets for this show and all Anthrax shows near a city near you.

Anthrax Setlist Feb 27 2018

• Among the Living
• Caught in a Mosh
• Got the Time
• Madhouse
• Fight’em
• Breathing Lightning
• Medusa
• I am the Law
• Be All
• Anti Social
• Indians

Website | Facebook | YouTube | Twitter | Instagram | Anthrax @UnRatedMagazine

 

Anthrax Photos

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Killswitch Engage Setlist Feb 27 2018

• Rose of Sharyn
• Strength of the Mind
• Self Revolution
• My Curse
• New Awakening
• A bid Farewell
• As daylight Dies
• Fixation
• Hate by Design
• Vide Infra
• Always
• Serenade
• Upraised
• Beyond the Flames
• Heartache
• In due Time
• Holy Diver (cover) song Dio

Website | Facebook | YouTube | Twitter | Instagram | Killswitch Engage @UnRated Magazine

Killswitch Engage Photos

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